By Laymah Kollie
In a sweeping enforcement action aimed at protecting public health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has ordered the immediate shutdown of sachet water production facilities operating outside national environmental and safety standards.
The nationwide operation, launched on January 20, 2026, targets sachet water producers without valid EPA permits and those operating under conditions deemed hazardous to human health.
Multiple facilities in Monrovia have already been closed, with EPA inspection teams extending enforcement activities to other counties.The EPA said the action is fully backed by Section 35.1(a)(i) of the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML), which authorizes the Agency to set and enforce minimum water quality standards for drinking water.
Under the law, water production environments that expose consumers to contamination are illegal and subject to closure.EPA inspectors uncovered alarming violations during field assessments.
Several facilities were found operating in filthy environments, with poor sanitation, deteriorated infrastructure, and production sites dangerously close to septic tanks, waste dumps, and open drainage systems.
In some cases, basic hygiene protocols were entirely absent.“Water produced in an unsafe environment is not drinking water,” the EPA stated, emphasizing that no economic interest will override public health concerns.
While acknowledging the importance of sachet water businesses to livelihoods and water access, the EPA said it has made sustained efforts to assist local producers to comply with regulations.
In collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Agency developed Guidelines for the Operation and Monitoring of Drinking Water Production, allowing producers to meet regulatory standards without undergoing a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
According to the guidelines, all sachet and mineral water producers are required to: Register with the EPA and obtain valid operating permits, submit periodic water quality test results from EPA-accredited laboratories, maintain clean, structurally sound, and hygienic production facilities and ensure safe distances between water sources and potential contamination sites.
The EPA stressed that the current enforcement drive specifically targets operators who ignored repeated compliance directives and failed to regularize their operations.
The Agency has warned that additional closures, fines, and legal actions will follow if non-compliant facilities continue to operate. At the same time, it reaffirmed its willingness to provide technical guidance to businesses committed to meeting environmental and public health standards.
Members of the public were urged to remain vigilant and to purchase drinking water only from producers displaying valid EPA certification, as unsafe water poses serious risks including waterborne diseases.
The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia is the statutory authority responsible for regulating environmental protection, water quality standards, and public health safeguards in line with national laws and international best practices.
