SESPRES’ Director for Environmental Health, Luis Emilio Feliz Roa, told a roundtable of health reporters that 70% of the bottled water presently sold in the DR does not meet existing norms set for such water by the National Directorate for Norms and Quality Systems (DIGENOR). According to Feliz Roa, around 25% of the overall Dominican population consume bottled water, and approximately 35% of Dominicans under one year old do. Yet most bottled water in the DR does not meet minimum standards set by DIGENOR for mineral content of such waters. Water can be an important source of micronutrients, especially for children. Feliz Roa said 150 of Dominican bottlers use an osmosis process which results in water low in necessary minerals. He said that his Directorate formed a technical committee aimed at toughening rules regarding bottled water, but it has come under pressure from vested interests.
