High Levels of Bacteria Found in Canadian Bottled Water

A team of scientists have warned that popular bottled water brands available in Canada contain high levels of bacteria.

The researchers at Canada’s C-crest Laboratories tested nearly a dozen brands of bottled water and found that 70% had high levels of heterotrophic bacteria.

According to the US health service watchdog United States Pharmacopeia (USP), heterotrophic bacteria levels in drinking water should not exceed 500 colony-forming units (CFU) per millilitre.

The highest recorded level was 80,000 CFU per millilitre.

Health Canada, the country’s equivalent of the USP, does not have established limits for heterotrophic bacteria in water.