Israel’s Mei Eden and Neviot, two major bottled water companies, insist the bottled water on the shelves around the country is potable and there is no reason to fear purchasing their products.

The companies on Monday announced that for the time being, they have stopped the bottling progress, apparently due to fears of contamination of their water supply related to recent heavy rains on Election Day.

The water companies stress the move is only precautionary and all of their products currently in stores and supermarkets is safe for consumption.

Dr. Michal Edan-Dar, a Health Ministry physician for the northern district, reports that the concerns began following a routine water quality test, which revealed bacteria that brought production to a halt. She explained the lack of rainfall resulted in the growth of fungus and bacteria, which was washed into the water source by the recent rains, resulting in the contamination.

The doctor assured consumers that the water that was bottled and distributed is safe without any doubt, explaining the water is checked prior to bottling and there is no possibility of contaminated water being in the marketplace since there is an incubation period between testing and delivery, and water bottled today will not leave the warehouse for a number of days, not before results of water quality tests are received and confirmed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)