STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

LATEST DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COMMENTS: 2015-09-28

Our ref: FD 009

Draft Number: FD 009 D 791/1
Date: 2015-07-28

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE: FD 009: POTABLE WATER

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DRAFT SAZ SPECIFICATION FOR

PACKAGED DRINKING WATER OTHER THAN NATURAL
MINERAL WATER

This draft is now available for public comment. Your views and technical comments on it
would be appreciated. If you have no specific comments to make but find it generally acceptable
it would be helpful if you would notify us accordingly. Suggestions entailing revisions of the
text should indicate the preferred wording using the attached template. The relevant clause
number should be quoted against any comment.
All comments should be sent to the Committee Secretary Ms F Mukwekwerere at the address
shown below.
Standards Association of Zimbabwe
P O Box 2259
Harare
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.saz.org.zw
THIS IS A DRAFT AND MUST NOT BE REGARDED OR USED AS A ZIMBABWE
STANDARD.

ZWS 791:2015

CONTENTS
PREFACE

Page
............................................................................................................

1.

SCOPE ..........................................................................................................

2.

DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................

3.

PRODUCT DESIGNATION .........................................................................

4.

MANUFACTURE .........................................................................................

5.

OPERATING REQUIREMENTS .................................................................

6.

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS .....................................................................

7.

SAMPLING, TESTING AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE

STANDARD ..................................................................................................

11

PACKING AND MARKING ......................................................................

13

8.

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PREFACE
This Zimbabwe Standard ZWS 791:2015: Bottled drinking water other than natural mineral
water, was prepared by Technical Committee FD 009: Potable water, under the general direction
of the Health, Safety and Environment Council.
This standard makes reference to the following publications:
A.O.A.C Handbook.
WHO

: Guidelines for drinking water quality.

ZWS 126

: Food hygiene.

Part 1

: Manufacturing.

ZWS 459

: Test method for measuring water pH value.

ZWS 477

: Water quality Examination and determination of colour.

ZWS 478

: Water quality Determination of turbidity.

ZWS 479

: Water quality Determination of chloride Silver nitrate titration with chromate

indicator (Mohrs method).

ZWS 480

: Water quality Determination of sulfate Gravimetric method using barium

chloride.

ZWS 481

: Water quality Determination of nitrate Spectrometric method using

sulfosalicylic acid.

ZWS 482

: Water quality Determination of nitrite Molecular absorption spectrometric

method.

ZWS 483

: Water quality Determination of ammonium Distillation and titration method.

ZWS 484

: Water quality Determination of calcium content EDTA titrimetric method.

ZWS 485

: Water quality Determination of the sum of calcium and magnesium EDTA

titrimetric method.

ZWS 486

: Water quality Determination of iron Spectrometric method using 1,10

phenanthroline.

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ZWS 487

: Water quality Determination of manganese Formaldoxime spectrometric

method.

ZWS 488

: Water quality Determination of cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead.
Flame atomic absorption spectrometric methods.

ZWS 489

: Water quality Determination of phosphorous Ammoniun-molybdate

spectrometric method.

ZWS 490

: Water quality Determination of fluoride Electrochemical probe method for

potable and lightly polluted water.

ZWS 491

: Water quality Guidelines for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC).

ZWS 492

: Water quality Determination of total arsenic Silver diethyldithiocarbamate

spectrophotometric method.

ZWS 493

: Water quality Determination of cyanide as cyanogen chloride.

ZWS 494

: Water quality Determination of total chromium

spectrometric method.

ZWS 495

: Water quality Determination of the chemical oxygen demand.

ZWS 496

: Water quality Determination of biochemical oxygen demand after 5 days

(BOD5). Dilution and seeding method.

ZWS 497

: Water quality Determination of total mercury by flameless atomic absorptionSpectrometric method after digestion with bromine.

ZWS 577

: Water quality Determination of total dissolved solids Conductivity method.

ZWS 643

: Water quality Determination of electrical conductivity.

Atomic absorption

The following interests were represented on the technical committee entrusted with the preparation
of this standard.
Harare Institute of Technology .........................................................

Eng M Manyuchi
(Chairperson)

Bubble Springs. .................................................................................

Ms H Mabhena

Harare Polytechnic ............................................................................

Mr I Kutyauripo
Ms E Chaukura

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Ministry of Health and Child Care,

Government Analyst Laboratory ...................................................

Ms G Rupere

Schweppes Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd .......................................................

Mr F Magadzire

Standards Association of Zimbabwe ................................................

Mr A P Mahachi
Mr F Chipendo

Upper Manyame Subcatchment Council ...........................................

Ms C Mhuriro

Standards Association of Zimbabwe .................................................

Ms F Mukwekwerere
(Committee Secretary)

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ZWS 791:2015

ZIMBABWE STANDARD SPECIFICATION

FOR
PACKAGED DRINKING WATER OTHER THAN
NATURAL MINERAL WATER

1.

SCOPE
This Zimbabwe Standard specifies the description, treatment, testing, packaging
and labelling of water that is not natural mineral water. The water may be offered
as packaged non-carbonated (still) water or as packaged carbonated
(sparkling) water with or without permitted substances.
Where this SAZ Standard conflicts in any way with the relevant Government Acts
and Regulations, the requirements of the Government Acts and Regulations take
precedence over those in this standard.
NOTE. The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed in the
Preface.

2.

DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Zimbabwe Standard the following definitions shall apply:

2.1

Additive. Any substance which is included in the recipe but which is used to
fulfill a certain specified function. It is usually used in small quantities (usually
between 0.1 % and 5 %) and remain in the food as consumed. This excludes
those listed in the Food and Food Standards Act.

2.2

Approved. Approved by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare or the local
health authority or both, but in relation to the use of the certification mark,
approved by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.

2.3

Best Before Date. A date no later than 48 h prior to the expiration of the
estimated shelf life of a food product.

2.4

Contaminant. Any unwanted substance intentionally/ not intentionally added to

food. This may occur as a result of activities in production, manufacture,
processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of
such food as a result of environmental contamination.

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2.5

Lot. A collection of sealed bottles of the same size, type and style which have
been manufactured, processed and packaged under essentially the same conditions
as agreed between the bottler and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.

2.6

Product Unit. One unit of the final product consisting of the sealed bottle.

3.

PRODUCT DESIGNATION

3.1

Packaged Drinking Water. Water which is not mineral water that is:
a)

collected under conditions which guarantee the bacteriological purity;

b)

packaged close to the point of emergence of the source with particular

hygienic precautions.

c)

not subjected to any treatment other than those permitted by this standard;
and

d)

in conformity with all the provisions laid down in this standard.

3.2

Carbonated Bottled Water. Water that has been made effervescent by the addition
of carbon dioxide.

3.3

Non-Carbonated Water. Water that does not contain free carbon dioxide or other
gases in excess of the amount necessary to keep dissolved the hydrogen,
bicarbonate salts that are present in the water

4.

MANUFACTURING

4.1

Hygiene. The product covered by the provision of this standard shall be prepared
in accordance with the appropriate sections ZWS 126: Part 1.

4.2

Handling

4.2.1

The source, or point of emergence of the water obtained in accordance with 3.1
shall be protected against risk of pollution.

4.2.2

a)

Equipment coming in contact with the water in the course of processing

shall be kept clean and precautions shall be taken to prevent incidental
contamination of the water from soiled equipment.

b)

The installations for collection, the pipes and the reservoirs shall be made
from material suited to the water and in such a way as to prevent the
introduction of foreign substances into the water.

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c)

If during production, it is found that the water is polluted, all operations

shall stop immediately until the cause of pollution is eliminated. The
observance of this provision shall be subject to periodic checks.

4.3

Treatment. Treatment of the water includes separation from unstable substances

by decantation, filtration, UV screening, reverse osmosis and/or physical means
and any other acceptable treatment to obtain required characteristics.

5.

OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

5.1

Washing of Bottles. All bottles shall be washed by a suitable process immediately

before being filled.

5.2

Treatment of Closures. All closures/caps shall be treated by a suitable process

immediately before being used.

5.3

Type of Bottles and Closures for the Finished Product. The product shall be
packed in hermetically sealed suitable bottles that will not contaminate or
adulterate the product. The closures shall have tamper-proof seal. The bottles and
closures shall be delivered to the filling plant in sealed packaging.

5.4

Condition of Bottles for the Finished Product. At the time of filling, all bottles
shall be sanitized. Bottles shall be free from chips, cracks and other defects.
Crown caps shall be fitted internally with a solid cork or composition cork disc or
with an acceptable plastic disc. Bottles to be used for, the product shall not be
used to store ingredients, raw materials or other products or preparations, and
such bottles shall not be used by workers for drinking purposes.

5,5

Filling and Sealing of Bottles. Bottles shall be filled under strictly hygienic
conditions and maintained in a hygienic state. The open ends of bottles shall not be
touched by hand. Immediately after filling, the bottles shall be hermetically sealed.
Closing machines shall be kept clean. Contamination of the product by soiled
equipment or detached particles of material shall be prevented.

5.4

Inspection of Bottles

5.5.1

Bottle inspection on filling lines

a)

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Bottle inspection on automated filling lines. Inspection of washed, unfilled

and filled bottles shall be performed on a continuous basis, either by means
of electronic equipment maintained in perfect working order, or when
personnel who operate as sighters use a random sample of the following
ratio f = n/N which should not be more than 10 % where n = number of
samples and N = lot size. The eyes of each sighter shall be checked at least
once every 12 months. The visual acuity (Snellen) of each sighter shall be
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ZWS 791:2015

at least 6/9 in each eye, or at least 6/12 in one eye provided that the other
eye has an acuity of at least 6/6. Alternatively the sighter's visual acuity
shall have been corrected to be within the above-mentioned limits of
refraction. Colour vision of each sighter shall be Ishihara Normal 1.
b)

6.

Bottle inspection on manual operations. Bottles shall be inspected both

before and after filling and defective bottles and products shall be rejected.

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS
Packaged drinking water shall conform to the requirements stated in the
following.

6.1

Appearance. The water shall be clear and free from visible turbidity.

6.2

Organoleptic Characteristics. The odour and taste shall be pleasant.

6.3

Physical Characteristics. When tested in accordance with the methods specified

in Column 5 of Table 1, the physical characteristics of the water shall conform to
the requirements in Column 2, 3 and 4 of the same table.

6.4

Chemical Characteristics. When tested in accordance with the methods specified

in column 5 Table 2, the chemical characteristics of water shall conform to the
requirements in Columns 3 and 4 of the same table.

6.5

Trace Elements and Substances. When tested in accordance with the methods
specified in Column 5 of Table 3 the trace elements and substances, if detected
during quarterly analysis, shall conform to the requirements of Columns 3 and 4
of the same table.
TABLE 1- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics

Scale

Test
Method

Colour

15

TCU

ZWS 477

Turbidity

NTU

ZWS 478

300

400

S cm at 20 C

ZWS 643

7,0 - 8,5

6,5 to 8,5

500

1000

Conductivity*
pH range*
Approved total*
dissolved solids

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Highest Maximum
desirable permissible
level
level

-1

ZWS 459
mg/

ZWS 577

ZWS 791:2015
TABLE 2 CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics Expression Highest Maximum
of results
desirable permissible
level
level

Test
methods

Chloride

mg/ Cl

25

150

ZWS 479

Sulfate*

mg/ SO4

25

250

ZWS 480

Nitrates*

mg/ NO3

10

50

ZWS 481

Nitrites*

mg/ NO2

0,001

0,02

ZWS 482

0,05

0,50

ZWS 483

Ammonium

mg/

NH4

Calcium

mg/

Ca

75

100

ZWS 484

Magnesium*

mg/

Mg

30

50

ZWS 485

Sodium

mg/

Na

20

150

Appendix A

mg/1 K

10

12

A.O.A.C

Potassium*

The magnesium content shall be obtained by difference. See ZWS 484.

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TABLE 3 TRACE ELEMENTS AND SUBSTANCES
Characteristic

Expression of results

Highest
desirable
level

Maximum
permissible
level

Test methods

Aluminium

g/1 A1

0,05

0,20

A.O.A.C

Iron*

mg/1 Fe

0,05

0,3

ZWS 486

Mangenese*

mg/1 Mn

0,5

ZWS 487

Copper

mg/1 Cu

ZWS 488

Zinc*

mg /1 Zn

0,1

ZWS 488

Fluoride*

mg/1 F (25 0C)

ZWS 490

Oxidizing
substances

g/1 KMnO4

A.O.A.C

g/ 1C

ZWS 491

g/1 H2S

Nil

Appendix D

A.O.A.C

Total organic
carbon
Sulfides
Dissolved
hydrocarbons

Ether extract mineral oils

Nil

Phenols

g/1 C6H5OH

Nil

Nil

Appendix E

Barium

g/1 Ba

Nil

Appendix F

NOTE. Characteristics marked * in Table 1, 2 and 3 are to be declared on the

label.
6.6

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Toxic Substances. When tested in accordance with the methods specified in

Column 4 of Table 4 toxic substances, if detected during quarterly
analysis, shall not exceed the maximum permissible level as specified in
Column 3 of the same table.

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TABLE 4 TOXIC SUBSTANCES

6.7

Characteristics

Expression
of results

Maximum
Permissible
level

Test method

Arsenic

mg/1 As

0,01

ZWS 492

Cadmium

mg/1 Cd

0,003

ZWS 488

Cyanide

mg/1 CN

0,07

ZWS 493

Chromium

mg/1 Cr

0,05

ZWS 494

Mercury

mg/1 Hg

0.001

ZWS 497

Nickel

mg/1 Ni

0,02

ZWS 488

Lead

mg/1Pb

0,01

ZWS 488

Berylium

mg/1Be

Nil

Acceptable chemical method

Antimony

mg/1Sb

0,005

"

Selenium

mg/1Se

0,01

"

Vanadium

mg/1 V

Nil

"

Microorganisms. When tested using acceptable microbiological methods, the

water shall not contain any parasitic, pathogenic or any other types of
microorganisms and especially the following:
a)

Total coliforms

b)

Faecal coliforms

c)

Faecal streptococcus

d)

Salmonella

e)

Yeasts and moulds

f)

Sulfide reducing clostridia.

The total plate count shall not exceed 100cfu/10 ml after bottling.

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6.8

6.9

Contaminants. The following contaminants shall not be detectable when the

treated water is subjected to quarterly testing using acceptable methods.
a)

Surface active agents

b)

Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

c)

Minerals oils

d)

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons

e)

Radioactive materials (gross alpha or gross beta activity)

Oxygen Demand. The oxygen demand shall satisfy the following criteria for the
water.
a)

Chemical oxygen demand (COD): 10.0 mg/1 02 as determined in

accordance with ZWS 495.

b)

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): 6.0 mg/1 02 as determined in

accordance with ZWS 496.

7.

SAMPLING, TESTING AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARD

7.1

Sampling

7.1.1

Scale of Sampling. The number of bottles to be selected from a lot shall depend
on the size of the lot as shown in Table 5. The bottles shall be selected at random.

7.1.2

Composite sample. From the number of bottles selected, an adequate quantity of

water shall be removed from each bottle so as to make a total volume of
approximately one litre for testing purposes.
TABLE 5 SCALE OF SAMPLING
Lot size
Bottles of one litre or less Bottles of more than one litre
Up to 4 800

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Number of bottles
to be selected

Up to 2 400

4 801 to 24 000

2 401 to 15 000

13

24 001 to 48 000

15 001 to 24 000

21

48 001 or above

24 001 to above

29

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TABLE 6 FREQUENCY OF ANALYSIS

Test
characteristics
Physical
characteristics
Chemical
characteristics
Undesirable
trace elements
and substances
Toxic
substances
Microorganisms
Contaminants
Oxygen
demand

Analysis of
each lot

Routine Quarterly
analysis analysis

Occasional
analysis

7.2

Frequency of Analysis. The frequency of analysis for each group characteristic

shall be according to Table 6.

7.3

Compliance with the Standard. The lot shall be deemed to comply with the
requirements of this standard if the selected sample from the lot conforms to the
requirements laid down in Clause 6 after testing at the frequency specified in 7.2.
The lot shall also comply with the packing and marking requirements of Clause 8.

8.

PACKING AND MARKING

8.1

Packing. The product shall be packed in accordance with 5.3 in various units and
up to twenty litre containers, and stored away from direct sunlight.

8.2

Marking

8.2.1

The following information shall be shown on the label of each container.

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a)

name of the product including its brand name;

b)

net contents by volume;

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c)

lot identification;

d)

best before date;

e)

name and address of the manufacturer;

f)

country of origin;

g)

instruction for storage;

h)

test results of average values as per asterisized characteristics in Table 1, 2

and 3; and

i)

test results of average values of Clause 6.9.

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