Investigation of mineral (Ca2 and Mg2+), total coliform bacteria and heavy metals in bottled malaysian drinking and mineral water / Nur Arma Ariza Alias

This study was conducted on six brands of Malaysian bottled mineral and drinking water. Three brands of mineral water (brand 1, brand 2, brand 3) and three brands of drinking water (brand 4, brand 5, and brand 6). The purpose of this study was to compare the concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in both bottled drinking and mineral water, then to investigate the presence and quantity of the total coliforms bacteria in both bottled mineral and drinking water. Third, to identify and determine the concentration of heavy metals in both bottled mineral and drinking water and finally to compare minerals, total coliforms bacteria and heavy metals in both bottled drinking and mineral water with Malaysian Drinking Water Standards by Ministry of Health and Food Act 1983(ACT 281) & Regulations. The ICP-OES was used to detect heavy metals and the minerals, Ca2+ and Mg2+ . Total coliforms bacteria analysis used membrane filtration method. Results shown only four of the six brands of both mineral and drinking water follow the National Standard For Drinking Water Quality and Food Act 1983(ACT 281) & regulation.