Vol. 9, Special Issue 4, Part F (2025)

The present study was carried out to assess the microbiological quality of packaged drinking water marketed in Bikaner city. A total of 180 water samples (packaged bottled water of international, national and local brands) were randomly collected during July 2023 to June 2024. Bacterilogical quality analysis of all the water samples was done using Standard Plate Count (SPC) and Most Probable Number (MPN) methods. For international and national brant packaged water samples SPC was “0” showing no bacterial contamination in these waters. However, 9 samples of local brand water were found contaminated among them 2 samples from summer season exceeded the permissible limit for SPC recommended by WHO (500 cfu/ml). The overall mean SPC value of local brand packaged water samples was 56.17, with a range of 0-730 cfu/ml. The MPN value was zero in all the samples (packaged bottled water of international, national and local brands) indicating no coliforms in packaged water samples and no fecal contamination in the packaged water. It was concluded that the packaged (bottled) drinking water of international and national brands was safe for human consumption; however some local brands need to improve hygienic condition for production of safe water.