How to Choose Safe Packaged Drinking Water

Learn what to look for on labels, certifications, and packaging to ensure you're buying safe and hygienic drinking water.

When you're picking up a bottle of water, it's easy to assume every brand on the shelf meets the same standard. In reality, packaging, certification marks, and sourcing can vary a lot — and a few minutes of label-reading can tell you a great deal about what you're actually drinking.

Start with the certification marks. Look for an ISI mark or a BIS license number printed on the label — this confirms the water has been tested against India's official safety standards. A manufacturing and expiry date, along with a batch number, is another sign of a brand that takes traceability seriously.

Next, check the seal. A tamper-evident cap or shrink band that hasn't been broken is your first line of assurance that the bottle hasn't been refilled or handled after packaging. Cloudy water, an unusual smell, or a loose cap are all reasons to skip a bottle, even if the label looks fine.

Finally, consider the source. Brands that are transparent about where their water comes from and how it's filtered — multi-stage filtration, UV treatment, ozonation — tend to be more accountable for quality across every batch, not just the one in front of you.