How To Start Pure Water (Sachet Water) and Bottled Water Business

Water is a very important element in the life of human, nobody can do without water in a day including animals and plants. water is useful to the body in many ways, it helps in digestion and absorption of foods, it helps in supplying nutrient and oxygen to the body, aid in passing metabolism out of the body etc. With these we can
say water is life, no wonder the late music legend Fela Kuti says “water no get enemy i.e. water has no enemy” even medical officials prescribe eight glasses of water per day for humans.

STARTING THE WATER BUSINESS: With the large requirement of sachet water here and there, it is an eye opener to a wise investor who wants to maximize profit in pure water business. You can start the pure water business in either a small, medium or large scale production depending on the capital available at your disposal or how you are able to risk investing in it. Though, the requirements are still the same but there will be a difference in the size and number of facilities to be used.

YOU CAN FIRST START WITH MINI WATER PRODUCTION DEPENDING ON YOUR BUDGET: Just like an adage that says “great things start small” equally applies to pure water business too, with the advent of high technology equipments, nowadays, it’s even easy to start production of pure water from the comfort of your home because there are some Chinese and India companies who sells smaller and home made machines and accessories for packaging water for commercial production. If you stay in Lagos, you can check in Victoria island, Isolo or Ikeja for it. Take note that the reason for this write up is for you to start small before progressing to a large scale from your mini location which can be a flat, compound, building or a mini factory as there are small and affordable equipment that can help you achieve these dreams. Before you can offer your pure water for sale to the public, you must take into consideration the standard it entails in the area of raw water processing, purification and packaging because the water and the facilities will be tested if it meets the requirement of NAFDAC. You may even start the water production while you are on the process of registration.

NAFDAC REGISTRATON PROCESS FOR PURE WATER BUSINESS

1.     Obtain a registration form from NAFDAC office in your state of production (if you are in Lagos, there is NAFDAC office at Oshodi)

2.     Fill the form accurately and supply the information requested

3.     You  are going to pay registration fee

4.     Return your filled form

5.     Attach an invitation letter requesting a visit by NAFDAC officials.

YOUR WATER SOURCE: You can get your raw water through a well or borehole, water tanks are needed in storing water pumped from the well or borehole, also water tank for storing the purified\treated water.

WATER TREATMENT: There are some water treatments that will eliminate impurities from the water before it can be packaged for consumption. You will need to take your untreated water (Raw Water) to a NAFDAC approved laboratory where it will be effectively evaluated and the impurities will be known thereby making way for the special type of treatment for the raw water, the kind of impurities in the raw water determines the type of treatment it will get and this should be done by a qualified personnel because the treatment is a continuous process in as much as an untreated water is being pumped. If you wish you can even have an in-house laboratory.

WATER PACKAGING: You can choose to either package your water in sachet or bottle, but make sure that the packaging materials are also treated so that all impurities are eliminated. NAFDAC requires the use of ultra-violet tubes for packaging water because it removes the remaining bacteria or impurities in the packaging materials.

For bottle water packaging, you must go the company’s producing bottles because you can’t just buy your bottles anywhere or anyhow.

STORAGE: You need somewhere to store your finished goods on, i.e bottled or sachet water, it must be stored on pallets and not on bare floor.

CLOAK ROOM: This is where your factory workers change in and these must be in order before NAFDAC can give you approval. All factory personnel’s must be on white overall, white gloves, white sandals and white caps. If your premises is not in line with NAFDAC requirements your water packaging business will not be approved.

WATER FACTORY: You need a good site where your Sachet or Bottle water will be erected. Your factory compound must be enclosed and fenced because what you are producing is a consumable product and requires high maintenance of quality and hygienic security. Take note that the factory wall must be tiled and neat.

MATERIALS FOR PACKAGING: You can go to nylon producing companies to purchase your nylon or you can set up your own nylon producing factory, but it is cheaper to choose the latter.

Printing on the nylon is done by the nylon producing companies while you do the packaging and sealing in your factory which can be done through an automatic sealing and packaging machine easily and faster. there is also automatic filling and packaging machine for bottle water.

MARKETING STRATEGY: You can make use of distributors or sell to retailers directly, sales representatives and distribution vehicles is very important in selling your packaged water.

THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS:

1.     Good environment

2.     Factory

3.     Treatment plant

4.     Treatment equipments

5.     Tanks/Storex

6.     Borehole

7.     Pumping machine

8.     Generators

9.     Distribution vehicles

10.Sales Representatives/Distributors.