Abstract
In this investigation, an innovative index was developed based on the fuzzy inference system for assessing the quality of bottled drinking waters. A method was developed to aggregate the values obtained from the defuzzification step. A total number of 24 quality parameters revealing the characteristics of bottled were in terms of physiochemical, dietary, toxic, and pathogenic aspects were selected as the input parameters. 30 samples were taken from the independent brands found in the Hamadan province retail market to evaluate the bottled water quality index (BWQI). Results show that the values obtained from measuring the parameters are in the range of the standard levels set by national regulations. The BWQI scores obtained from samples were in the range of 61.2-73.8 attributing to the marginal and fair descriptive classes. The drinking bottled water samples had better scores because of low contents of NO3, NO2, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn that are subjugated public distribution systems having the severe standards on urban water treatment plants for in case safe water. The mineral bottled water samples examination indicated that they are generally affected by the mineral contents of sedimentary rocks and NO3 leaks from fertilizers used in the agricultural doings and also they do not elaborate the rigorous scrutiny system alike those donned in the public water distribution systems. Sensitivity analysis using the Monte Carlo algorithm reveals that the parameters NO3, Na, hardness, and NO2 have the most impact on the BWQI scores.
Highlights
The worldwide increasingly consumption of bottled waters during current years is mainly due to the reasons such as low-price, availability, supposed better quality than piped water, consumer higher social status indication, and the prevalent idea that the bottled waters contain fewer contaminants (Felipe-Sotelo, Henshall-Bell et al 2015; Ahmed, Rashid et al 2016)
We aim to introduce an innovative index for assessing bottled water quality
The bottled water quality index (BWQI) was developed for the judgment of bottled water quality based on the fuzzy inference system
Summary
The worldwide increasingly consumption of bottled waters during current years is mainly due to the reasons such as low-price, availability, supposed better quality than piped water, consumer higher social status indication (mainly in high price brands), and the prevalent idea that the bottled waters contain fewer contaminants (Felipe-Sotelo, Henshall-Bell et al 2015; Ahmed, Rashid et al 2016). A few studies are taking into account appropriate technical approaches to introduce a quality index for bottled waters (Toma, Ahmed et al 2013; Tsakiris, Alexakis et al 2017). The prominent studies among the former attempts to develop a water quality index are the works of Horton (Horton 1965) and Walski (Walski and Parker 1974). They developed indices to evaluate surface water sources, mainly rivers, using the input parameters temperature, nutrients, suspended solids, turbidity, coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen, color, pH, grease, odor, and toxic. Numerous modified water quality indices have been developed according to the NSF approach (Mukhopadhay, Majumder et al 2009; Khazaei, Mahvil et al 2013; Fard, Mahvi et al 2014; Nabizadeh, Mahvi et al 2018)
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