Tonga restricts sources of drinking water for bottling

Only underground water supplied by the Tonga Water Board may be used for bottled water that is processed in Tonga, to sell for public consumption, the Ministry of Health said on Monday, Jan 17. The restriction was introduced following the volcanic eruption at Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai islands on Jan. 15, which spread tons of ash over Tonga, affecting water tanks collection. Meanwhile, some water processing companies had filtered water reserves in their tanks that was in heavy demand after the eruption.