Membership of SANBWA is entirely voluntary. Members must meet specific requirements in respect of the water source, buildings, plant and product. Cost of membership includes commissioning of a range of independent specialists to certify member conformance to very strict standards of quality, safety and efficiency of manufacture. Membership is only granted after all critical requirements have been met.

A pre-requisite for membership is certification by a professional hydrogeologist that the water source is safe and free from existing or potential pollution. This ensures a long term permanently safe source of raw material for natural spring or mineral water.

SANBWA's third party auditors audits members annually to ensure that their source, bottling facility, final product and every aspect of their bottling process adheres to SANBWA’s stringent standards.

Members must display specific information on their product labels for the consumer’s benefit.

Members must test each production batch according to SANBWA’s requirements to ensure adherence to SANBWA standards.

SANBWA also randomly samples member products from the shelves on a monthly basis and has them tested for harmful agents.

Criteria for membership

For a bottler to become a member of SANBWA and be allowed to use the SANBWA logo on their products the following is required:

For Natural Water and Waters defined by Origin

• The registered source, catchment area and surroundings must be certified free of existing and potential pollution by a professional hydrogeologist. In addition, the source must be sustainable over the long term and have a consistent flow and temperature. An environmental protection plan must also be followed by the bottler, to ensure that no permanent damage is done to the either the surroundings or the source.
  
  

• The registered source and final product must adhere to the quality standards as set out in the SANBWA “Guidelines and Standards for Natural Water and Waters defined by Origin”. These quality criteria, standards and procedures for the operation of a bottling plant were developed using European standards as a guideline and encompasses quality control tests and procedures throughout the bottling process. This includes packaging material, preservation of the source, quality control throughout the bottling process, sanitising of bottling line and total quality control of the final product. Each member is formally audited. Where a member fails to meet any of the required standards, training and assistance is given to rectify aspects immediately.
  
  

• Adherence to labelling standards as set out in the Guidelines. SANBWA requires that specific product information be displayed on product labels for the consumer’s benefit.
  
  

• The Natural Spring or Mineral Water must be bottled at source. In order to ensure that the water remains as uncontaminated and pure as it is whilst still underground, it is vital that all sources of possible contamination be eliminated, and that the water is piped directly from the sealed source to the bottle.
  
  

• The typical mineral content of the Spring or Mineral Water must be clearly indicated on the label, along with the total dissolved solids (TDS) level. The mineral “mix” is not prescribed, as different waters contain different contents. Of importance, however, is the consistency of the mineral content over a period of time, indicating the consistency and sustainability of the source. Regular analysis on mineral content is thus required.
  
  

• Microbiological Purity: every batch of Spring or Mineral Water that is bottled is tested for the complete absence of any harmful bacteria. Tests are also regularly done at every point of contact during the bottling operation. In the event of any traces of harmful bacteria, bottling is immediately halted, the complete bottling operation sanitised, and contaminated batches destroyed.
  
  

• Department of Health Approval: the bottling operation is subject to regular inspections by the Department of Health, and a certificate of approval, regarding the general standard of acceptability, cleanliness and hygiene, is required prior to any bottling. This is considered an absolute minimum requirement for SANBWA applicants and members are subjected to much stricter criteria in SANBWA’s own standards of quality.
  
  

• As a legal requirement, a certificate must be obtained from the Department of Water Affairs, authorizing the exploitation of the water for commercial purposes.
  
  

• Approval of membership by the SANBWA committee prior to the use of the logo.
  
  

• SANBWA membership does not allow the use of the logo on flavoured mineral water, although the use of “bottled at a SANBWA approved source” is allowed.

For Prepared Water

• Safe, water supply.
   

• The final product must adhere to the quality standards as set out in the SANBWA "Guidelines and Standards for Prepared Water".
   

• Adherence to labeling standards.
   

• Microbiological purity
   

• Department of Health approval
   

• Approval of membership by the SANBWA committee prior to the user of the logo.