GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 1 هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
 
مشروع : نهائي  
 
  
 
GSO5/ FDS/ 2012 
 
 
 
مياه الشرب المعبأة  
Bottled drinking water  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
إعداد 
اللجنة الفنية الخليجية لقطاع المنتجات الغذائية والزراعية  
 
 
 
 
 
 
هذذذذ  الوثيقذذذة معذذذروع لموااذذذفة يياةذذذية خليجيذذذة تذذذر توزيعمذذذا تبذذذداا الذذذرفإ والمل و ذذذات بعذذذ نما  لذذذذل    نمذذذا 
عرضذذة للتغيذذر والتبذذديل  و  يجذذوز الرجذذوع  إليمذذا يموااذذذفة يياةذذية خليجيذذة إ  بعذذد اعتمادهذذا مذذن مجلذذذس 
إدارة الميئة. 
ICS : 67.160  GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 2 تقــديـم 
 
هيئذة التقييس لدول مجلس التعذاون  لذدول الخلذيج العربيذة هيئذة إيليميذة تضذذر  ذ  عضذويتما اهجمذذزة الوطنيذة 
للموااذذفات والمقذذاييس  ذذ  دول الخلذذيج العربيذذذة   ومذذن ممذذار الميئذذذة إعذذداد الموااذذفات القياةيذذذة الخليجيذذة 
بواةطة لجان  نية متخااذة .  
 
ويذد يامت هيئة التقييس لدول مجلذس التعذاون لدول الخلذيج العربيذذة ضذمن برنذامج عمذل اللجنذة الفنيذة ريذذر ( 
5  " )اللجنذذة الفنيذذذة الخليجيذذة لموااذذفات يطذذذاع المنتجذذات الغذائيذذة والزراعيذذة" بت ذذذديث الموااذذفة القياةذذية 
الخليجية ريذر 5205/0222  "ميذا  العذرا المعبذ ة" ويامذت الممليذة العربيذة الةذعودية ب عذداد معذروع هذذ  
المواافة .  
 
ويذد اعتمذدت هذ  المواافة يلائ ذة  نية خليجية    اجتماع مجلذس إدارة الميئذة ريذذر  ( ) الذذإ عققذذد بتذاري      
/     /     هذ   الموا ق     /     /       ر .  
 
 
Foreword  
 
 
Standardization Organization for GCC (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists 
of the National Stan dard Bodies of GCC member States.  
 
One of GSO main functions is to issue Gulf Standard/ Technical regulation through 
specialized technical committees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No: (5) "Technical Gulf 
committee for food and  agriculture product standards" has updated the GSO standard 
No. 1025/2009 " bottled drinking water   "The draft standard has been prepared by 
(State of Qatar).  
 
This standard has been approved as Gulf Technical regulation by GSO Board of 
Directors in its m eeting No…../………..held on      /      /      H,         /       /       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 3 Bottled drinking water 
 
1.      Scope and field of application:  
 This GSO  standard is concerned with bottled drinking w ater fit for human 
consumption, and not include natural  mineral water.  
2.      Complementary references:  
2.1  GSO  9    : "Labelling of prepackaged foods".  
2.2  GSO  21: "Hygienic regulations in food plants and their personnel".  
2.3  GSO  111: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water - Part 1: Sampling"  
2.4  GSO  112: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water – Part 2: determination 
of physical properties”.  
2.5  GSO  378: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water - third Part: Routine 
microbiological tests".  
2.6  GSO  818: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water – Part 15: Non -routine 
microbiological tests".  
2.7  GSO  839: "Food packages – Part 1: General requirements".  
2.8  GSO  1016: "Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs – Part 1".  
2.9          GSO 1928: Code of hygienic practice for b ottled drinking water (other than natural  
mineral water) ". 
2.10  GSO  standards approved concerning methods of test for drinking and mineral 
Water – Chemical tests . 
3.    Definitions:  
3.1   Bottled drinking water : Treated drinking water intended for huma n consumption, 
bottled in suitable tightly sealed containers and complying with all the 
requirements mentioned in this standard  
3.2  Treated drinking water  : Water which has passed through treatment process, 
depending on the contamination degree of its res ource, in order to protect the 
consumer from all detriments to health. Such processes include water gathering 
and initial purification, precipitation, filtration, final purification processes and 
desalination treatment.  
3.3  Water source : A source of wate r supply whether it is an artesian well, drilled well, 
a spring, public or private water distribution system or any other source 
containing water suitable for human consumption.  
3.4  Artesian water : Is water from a well tapping a confined aquifer in which  the water 
level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.  
 Artesian water may be collected with the assistance of external force to enhance 
the natural underground pressure so long as such measures do not alter the 
physical properties, composit ion, and quality of water.  
3.5  Well water : Is water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the 
ground which taps the water of an aquifer.  
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 4 3.6  Spring water : The water derived from an underground formation from which 
water flows spontaneo usly to the surface of the earth. Spring water shall be 
collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground 
formation feeding the spring. There shall be a natural force causing the water to 
flow to the surface through a natural orif ice. The location of the spring shall be 
identifiable.  
3.7  Water distribution system public or private : Means of public or private water 
systems providing consumers with tap water suitable for direct consumption.  
4.    Treatment requirements:  
4.1  Be a s ource of water approved by the relevant official bodies, after work and 
analytical surveys to make sure it is fit for human consumption . 
4.2  Transport process of water shall be carry out from place of source or collection to 
the packing places with equipm ent or transport lines prepared from  materials of  
grade food not recycled  not lead to contamination  of the water.  
4.3              Is that all production of bottled drinking water according to Gulf standards 
mentioned in I tems (2.2)and(2.10).  
4.4  treatmen t method whether  chemical, physical or heating, singly or in combination, 
shall be sufficient to destroy the microbes. The treated bottled drinking water shall 
comply with biological and microbiological characteristic s according to items 
(5.8),(5.9).  
5.    Characteristics :  
 The following shall be met in bottled drinking water:  
5.1  parameters related to quality : 
5.1.1   Bottled  drinking water shall not contain any matter affecting  colour, taste, smell 
or the appearance, and shall be completely free from ex traneous matter or 
impurities such as  dust, sand, thread or any other impurities.  
5.1.2  pH for bottled drinking water shall be range between (6.5-8.5).  
5.1.3  Total dissolved solids for bottled drinking water shall be between  (100-500) ppm.  
5.2              Chemical constituents of health significance in bottled drinking water shall  
                   be according to Tables No. 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 5  
Table No.( 1 )  
Chemical substances naturally occurring in water  
 
Chemical 
substance  Guideline value  Notes  
Inorganic  μg/l mg/l   
Arsenic  10 0.01  
Barium  700 0.7  
Boron  2400  2.4  
chromium  50 0.05 Total chromium  
1Fluoride  1500  
1.5 In bottled water 
supplemented with 
fluoride.  
Manganese   
400 0.4 Affect the 
appearance, taste 
or a dour of the 
water  
Moly bdenum  70 0.07  
Selenium  40 0.04  
Uranium  30 0.03  
Organic  μg/l mg/l   
Microcystin -LR 1 0.001   
 
Table No.( 2 )  
Chemical present in water from industrial sources and human dwellings  
 
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Inorganic substa nces:  
 0.003 3 - Cadmium  
 0.07 70 - Cyanide  
For inorganic 
mercury  0.006 6 - Mercury 
 mg/l μg/l Organic substances:  
 0.01 10 - Benzene 
 0.004 4 - Carbon tetrachloride 
 1 1000 -1,2- Dichlorobenzene  
 
 0.3 300 -1,4- Dichlorobenzene  
0.03 30 -1,2- Dichloroethane  
 0.05 50 -1,2- Dichloroethene  
 0.02 20 - Dichloromethane  
 
 0.008 8 -Di(2- ethylhexyl) 
phthalate  
 
 
 0.05 50 -1,4-Dioxane  GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 6 Applies to the free 
acid 0.6 600 - Edetic acid (EDTA)  
 0.3 300 - Ethyl benzene  
 0.0006 0.6 - Hexachlorobutadiene   
 0.2 200 - Nitrilotriacetic acid  
 0.009 9 - Pentachlorophenol  
 0.02 20 - Styrene  
 0.04 
 40 
 - Tetracholoroethene  
 0.7 700 -Toluene  
 0.02 20 - Trichloroethane  
 0.5 500 - Xylenes  
 
Table No.( 3 )  
Chemicals present in water from agricultural activi ties  
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Non pesticide substance : 
Short -term exposure  50 50000  - Nitrate (asNo 3-) 
Short -term exposure  3 3000  - Nitrite (asNo 2-) 
 mg/l μg/l Pesticides used in 
agriculture:  
 0.02 20 - Alachlor  
Applies to  aldicarb 
sulfoxide and 
aldicarb sulfone 0.01 10 - Aldicarb  
For combined aldrin 
plus dieldrin 0.00003 0.03 - Aldrine and dieldrin  
 
 
 
 0.1 100 - Atrazine and its chloro -s-
triazine metabolites  
 0.007 7 - Carbofuran  
 0.0002 0.2 - Chlordane  
 0.03 30 - Chlorotoluron  
 
 0.03 30 -chlorpyrifos  
 
 0.0006 0.6 - Cyanazine  
Applies to free acid 
 0.03 30 - 2,4 – dichlorophenoxy 
acetic acid  
 0.09 90 2,4Dichlorophenoxybutyric 
acid.  GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 7  0.001 1 - 1,2 - Dibromo - 3 
chloropropane  
 0.0004 0.4 - 1,2 – Dibromoethane  
 0.04  40 - 1,2 - Dichloropropane  
 0.02 20 - 1,3 – Dichloropropene  
 0.1 100 - Dichloroprop  
 0.006 
 6 
 - Dimethoate  
 0.0006 0.6 - Endrin  
 0.009 9 -Fenoprop  
Atrazine metabolite 0.2 200 -Hydroxyatrazine  
 0.009 9 -Isoproturon  
 0.002 2 -Lindane  
 0.002 2 -MCPA   
 
 0.01 10 -Mecoprop  
 0.02 20 -Methoxychlor  
 0.01 10 -Metolachlor  
 0.006 6 -Molinate  
 0.02 20 -Pendimethalin  
 0.002 2 -Simazine  
 0.009 9 -2,4,5 -T 
 0.007 7 -Terbuthylazine  
 0.02 20 -Trifluralin  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 8 Table No.( 4)  
Chemicals us ed in water treatment or materials in contact with water  
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Disinfectants: 
For effective disinfection, there 
should be a residual concentration 
of free chlorine of ≥ 0.5 mg/l after  
at least 30 min contact time at 
pH< 8.0. A chlorine residual 
should be maintained throughout 
the 
distribution system. At the point 
of delivery, the minimum residual  
concentration of free chlorine 
should be 0.2 mg/l.  5 5000  Chlorine 
 
 3 3000   
Monochloramine 
As sodium 
dichlorois ocyanurate  50 50000   
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate 
 As cyanuric acid  40 40000  
 mg/l μg/l Disinfection by products:  
 0.01 10 - Bromate  
 0.06 60 - Bromodichloroethane  
 0.1 100 - Bromoform  
 
 0.7 700 - Chlorate  
0.7 700 - Chlorite  
 0.3 300 - Chloroform  
 0.07 70 - Cyanogen chloride  
 0.07 70 - Di bromoacetonitrile  
 
 0.1 100 - Di bromoc hloromethan  
Applies to free acid 
 0.05 50 - Di chloroacetate  
 0.02 20 - Di chloroacetonitrile  
 0.02 20 - Monochloroacetate  
 
 0.0001 0.1 -N-Nitrosodimethylamine  
 0.2 200 - Tricholoroacetate  
 0.2 200 -2,4,6 - Tricholorophenol  
The sum of the ratio of t he  
concentration of each to its 
respective guideline value should 
not exceed 1   - Trihalomethanes  
 
 mg/l μg/l Contaminants from 
treatment chemicals:  GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 9  0.0005 0.5 - Acrylamide  
 
 0.0004 0.4 - Epichlorohydrin  
 
 mg/l μg/l Contaminants from pipes 
and fittings:  
Atrazine metabolite 0.02 20 - Antimony  
 0.0007 0.7 - Benzo (a) pyrene  
Staining of laundry and sanita ry  
Ware may occur below guideline 
valu.  2 2000 - Copper  
 0.01 10 - Lead  
 0.07 70 - Nickel  
 0.0003 03 - Vinylchloride  
 
 
 
Table No.( 5 )  
pesticide residues for public health purposes  
 Chemical substance  Guideline value   
 Pesticides used for public hea lth 
purposes:  μg/l mg/l   Notes  
 DDT and metabolites  1 0.001   
 
 
5.3 RADIOLOGICAL ASPECTS  
5.3.1 Must not exceed the concentration of radioactivity of any of the isotopes (natural or 
industrial) alone in drinking water, the values in Table ( 6). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 10 Tabl e No ( 6) 
Radionuclide  
Category  ¹Radionuclide  Dose  
coefficient  
(Sv/Bq)  4 Guidance  
level  
(Bq/l)  
²Naturally occurring 
radioactive isotope that 
starts the uranium decay 
seriesc  
   
  
  
  
  
  Uranium -238 4500  3 
Uranium -234 4900  2.8 
Thorium -230 21000  0.7 
Radium -226 28000  0.5 
Lead -210 69000  0.2 
Polonium -210 120000  0.1 
²Naturally occurring 
radioactive isotope that 
starts the thorium decay 
series  
   
  
  Thorium -232 23000  0.6 
Radium -228 69000  0.2 
Thorium -228 7200  1.9 
³Artificial radionuclides  
   
  
  
  Caesium -134 1900  7.2 
Caesium -137 1300  10.5 
Strontium -90 2800  4.9 
Iodine -131 2200  6.2 
Another radionuclide  
   
  
  
  
  Tritium  0.002  7610  
Carbon -14 0.058  236 
Plutonium -239 25000  0.5 
Americium -241 20000  0.7 
potassium -40 0.620  22 
 
    1    These isotopes of interest in drinking water.                                                                      
2   Chains of radioactive isotopes is the most natural presence in groundwater, especially    
isotopes of radium .                                                                                                     
  3  Nuclear fission products resulting from human activities (leakage of nuclear power 
stations or nuclear explosions).                                                                              
4  This maximum, which applies if found alone or should be the total value of any           
radioactive isotope divided by the maximum (in the last 
column of the table above) does not exceed one, as shown 
in the equation below :  
Σ  Cі    ≤  1 
                                          GLі 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 11 where:  
Ci = the measured activity concentration of radionuclide i, and  
GLі = the guidance level (see Tables 5) of radionuclide i that, at an intake of 2 litres/day1 for 
1 year, will result in an effective dose of 0.1 mSv/year.  
 
If the total radiation dose ≤ 0.1 mSv per year Vtkon drinking water unfit for consumption, and 
if the total radiation dose <0.1 mSv per year to consider the matter and take corrective action 
to reduce the dose . 
 
 
-Chemical  toxicity of uranium 15 times more radioactive toxicity, so the element of dissolved 
uranium should not exceed 30 parts per billion or micrograms per liter of drinking water . 
 
   5.3.2 
Must not exceed the radioactivity concentration of radon at 150 Bq / l  in drinking 
water.                        
 
 
                 
 5.8  Biological characteristics:  
 Bottled drinking water shall be completely free from algae, moulds, insects, their 
eggs, larvae, vesicles and insect parts and parasites including amoeba.  
5.9  Microbiological characteristics : 
 Without prejudice to what is stated in the Gulf standard mentioned in (2.9),bottled 
drinking water during filling and marketing shall be free from:  
5.9.1  Parasites and pathogenic microorganisms  
5.9.2  Total coliforms i ncluding E:coli  in any 250 ml sample examined.  
5.9.3  Sulphite - reducing clostridia in any 250 ml sample examined  
5.9.4  Pseudomonas aeruginosa  in any 250 ml sample examined  
5.9.5  Fecal streptococci in any 250 ml sample examined  
6.  Sampling:  
 Samples s hall be taken  according to Gulf standard in I tem (2.3).  
7.  Methods of examination and test:  
 All necessary tests shall be carried out on the representa tive sample taken 
according to I tem (6) to determine its compliance with all items of this standard  
7.1  Microbiological, routine and non routine tests shall be carried out according to 
Gulf standards mentioned in I tems (2.5, 2.6).  
7.2  Tests of physical properties shall be carried out according  to Gulf standard 
mentioned in I tem (2.4).  
7.3  Chemical test sh all be carried out according  to Gulf standard mentioned in I tem 
(2.10).  
8.  Packaging:  GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 12 8.1  Without prejudice to what is stated  in Gulf standard mentioned in I tem (2.7), 
bottled water shall be packed in hygienic suitable, clean and hermetically sealed 
containers , Made from food -grade materials  that would prevent contamination of 
the water and preserve its physical and chemical properties.  
8.2  Filling and sealing operations of containers shall be done in an aseptic atmosphere 
according  to Gulf standard men tioned in I tem (2.2) and(2.10) . 
9.  Labeling : 
 Without prejudice to what is  mentioned in Gulf standard in I tem (2.1) the 
following information shall be declared on the label in case of bottled drinking 
water:  
9.1   The name of the product shall be “bottled drinking water”. Prohibits putting 
pictures or any health claims that would give wrong impression of the product 
shall not be declared on the lable.  
9.2   Water content of the different anions ( chloride – sulphate – nitrate – carbonate – 
bicarbonate – fluoride ) and cations (Calcium – magnesium – sodium  – potassium 
_ , total hardness and total dissolved solids expressed in ppm.  
9.3  pH. 
9.4  The net volume in metric system, unit.  
9.5  Packaged water containing added fluoride shall be labelled “Fluoridate d water”.  
9.6  Filling date and expiry date by day month and year in a non - codex manner.  
9.7  The labeling  information shall be written on the containers and shall not be written 
only on carton boxes or the like  
10.  Transportation, storage and handling : 
10.1  Transportation : 
 Bottled drinking water shall be transported by any suitable means of transport that 
would protect it from damages and contamination under the same storage 
conditions.  
10.2  Storage and handling :  
10.2.1  Bottled drinking water shal l be stored in room temperature away from any 
poisonous materials and as far as possible away from  high temperature and 
contamination sources.  
10.2.2  Bottled drinking water shall be stored in good and well ventilated stores free from 
distinctive odours.  
10.2.3  Upon selling or marketing, bottled drinking water shall be protected from direct 
sunlight, high temperature, and other weather conditions . 
 
 
 
 
 GSO  STANDARD                                                                        GSO 1025/20 12 
 13  
References 
World Health Organiza tion 2011  
 Guiding  for drinking water quality  
fourth  Ed. Vol. 1  
Recommendations