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Groceries need approval to sell five-gallon water bottle

SHARJAH — Groceries in Sharjah can sell five-gallon bottles of drinking water only after receiving approval from the Sharjah Municipality, Khaleej Times has learnt.

The civic body earlier sent circulars to all groceries asking them to stop selling five-gallon water bottles with effect from March 28. But for the convenience of residents who depend on these groceries to supply them with bottled water at any given time of the day, the municipality has agreed to allow groceries to sell five-gallon water bottles of reputed companies in the interest of public health.

After March 28, all groceries should approach the civic body to seek permission to sell five-gallon water bottles and make necessary arrangements with major water distribution companies to receive bottled water consignments at their outlets.

An official from the municipality’s health section said this decision will help inspectors to monitor groceries and prevent any fake products from being sold.

“Inspectors in the past have found that some of the groceries refilled the bottles with tap water and sold them to people as desalinated water from various companies in the emirate,” he pointed out.

Abdullah Al Shuwaikh, spokesperson of the Sharjah Municipality, said the decision requiring groceries to seek approval from the civic body to sell bottled water followed a study which highlighted the difficulties faced in monitoring and controlling the packaging processes in companies based in other emirates. “Protecting public health is one of the municipality’s top priorities,” Al Shuwaikh added.

A senior official at Zulal Water Factory told Khaleej Times that a committee was recently formed to ensure that drinking water companies were abiding by the health standards and specifications.

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