A third of French mineral water brands use illegal treatments to purify their products (AFP/Archives/JOEL SAGET)
A third of French mineral water brands use illegal treatments to purify their products, according to press revelations, confirmed in particular by the giant Nestlé Waters. A predictable scandal, according to hydrologist Emma Haziza, who pleads for “changing the model”.
Question: Does this matter surprise you?
Answer: “There were warning signs. We could suspect, with a low level of aquifers (groundwater), that we could have problems with pollutants or mineral levels too high for human consumption. 2022, more than 1,300 municipalities had drinking water shortages.”
Q: Are there any risks of contamination?
A: “Mineral water has followed a very particular journey in depth, under high pressure, enriched with CO2 and minerals. What makes it exceptional in quality, and above all an exceptional price, is the fact that it is is extremely pure water, bottled and preserved for its exceptional properties.
Mineral water is extremely pure water, bottled and preserved for its exceptional properties (AFP/Archives/Thomas COEX)
What raises questions is seeing that there can be contamination by bacteria of the E. coli type, dangerous for humans, in mineral waters which require treatment to make them drinkable.
We discover there that there are external contaminations, just like on superficial (surface) water. Contamination can be of animal or human origin.
Q: Why has the sector generalized these practices?
A: “Today, ore carriers face real challenges in a context of global warming: the (groundwater) tables no longer recharge in the same way, there are external contaminants.
Today we are at the end of a model. We need to change the model, we have a new path that is opening up. The more we go to restaurants and hotels, the more we see that we can consume water that is fresh and has excellent taste. Whereas this is only tap water that has been filtered at its outlet. These systems are developing in France and showing a new path. A path that does not suit the ore carriers, at the helm of a juicy economy.
The water they take is not paid for by the mineral carriers. They charge for bottling and extraction, but they themselves do not pay for it. This raises a real question about water for the common good. Who owns this water? Should we let our exceptional groundwater be plundered?
Behind it, when we see the number of bottles coming out of the big French ore companies, and the turnover figures, we can see that they don’t want to stop this model.”
© 2024 AFP
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