The move came at the end of the grace period given to the owners of these plants to take remedial measures. Electricity was disconnected at these businesses.
Last month, the municipality took 54 samples of water from small bottling plants in order to carry out laboratory tests. It was revealed in the tests that three of these samples had been contaminated with e coli bacteria. There was also no health technician available at these plants.
The municipality has taken a series of measures to ensure the safety of bottled drinking water distributed by seven large bottling plants located in the industrial city as well as 182 small bottling plants spread over various districts in the city.
The municipality’s inspection teams have found that some of the water bottling plants are failed to fulfill the health and safety conditions and requirements.
The municipality also advised residents to take adequate precautionary measures while using the tap water.
There have been reports following the Jan. 26 floods that the tap water pumped through the municipal mains was mixed with sewage in some parts of the city.
Ahmad Nabeel Abu Khutuwa, adviser to Jeddah mayor on environment, said the municipality conducted laboratory and field studies through the involvement of experts and specialized agencies to ensure safety and non-contamination of water supplied through the pipeline networks from the water distribution centers throughout the city. All residents should be keen in keeping their water tanks clean and tidy, he said.
Abu Khutuwa warned residents against either drinking hot water from boilers or use it for cooking. It was revealed in laboratory tests that such water contained higher percentage of lead or other metal substances compared with cold water.
He also warned against increasing the level of bromine in the bottled water distributed by some plants.
The bottled water contains bromine to a level of 10 micrograms per liter, higher than the level prescribed by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization.
Bromine is a nonmetallic chemical element which is highly toxic and extremely reactive, requiring extreme care when it is handled. As an assortment of industrial compounds and cleaners, it is used to treat water.
Despite assurances from the authorities that water supplied to households by the National Water Company is safe most people in the Kingdom, especially in major cities, use only bottled water for drinking and cooking.
