Evaluation of the Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Based on Physico-Chemical Characteristics in Kosovo

Session

Agriculture, Food Science and Technology

Description

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the physico-chemical quality of bottled drinking water available in the Republic of Kosovo. The main objective was to assess the conformity of bottled water with the standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union (EU), and national regulations, while also examining interrelationships among quality parameters through statistical analysis. Representative samples from different commercial brands were analyzed for key physicochemical indicators such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, nitrate (NO₃⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and fluoride (F⁻). The data were statistically processed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) to evaluate overall suitability for human consumption. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify correlations among parameters and potential influencing factors. Results revealed that the majority of samples were within the permissible limits set by international and national standards. Only a very small number of samples exhibited minor deviations, mainly in pH, WQI, and DWQI values, which could be attributed to variations in mineral content or differences in bottling processes. PCA results indicated strong correlations among conductivity, TDS, and hardness, representing the dominant component related to water mineralization. Overall, the findings confirm that bottled drinking water in Kosovo generally meets international quality requirements. Nevertheless, regular monitoring and statistical assessment remain essential to ensure consistent quality and public health protection.

Keywords:

Water, Physico-Chemical, WQI, WHO

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-982-41-2

Location

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

25-10-2025 9:00 AM

End Date

26-10-2025 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.183

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 26th, 6:00 PM

Evaluation of the Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Based on Physico-Chemical Characteristics in Kosovo

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the physico-chemical quality of bottled drinking water available in the Republic of Kosovo. The main objective was to assess the conformity of bottled water with the standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union (EU), and national regulations, while also examining interrelationships among quality parameters through statistical analysis. Representative samples from different commercial brands were analyzed for key physicochemical indicators such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, nitrate (NO₃⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and fluoride (F⁻). The data were statistically processed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) to evaluate overall suitability for human consumption. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify correlations among parameters and potential influencing factors. Results revealed that the majority of samples were within the permissible limits set by international and national standards. Only a very small number of samples exhibited minor deviations, mainly in pH, WQI, and DWQI values, which could be attributed to variations in mineral content or differences in bottling processes. PCA results indicated strong correlations among conductivity, TDS, and hardness, representing the dominant component related to water mineralization. Overall, the findings confirm that bottled drinking water in Kosovo generally meets international quality requirements. Nevertheless, regular monitoring and statistical assessment remain essential to ensure consistent quality and public health protection.