MONROVIA – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has intensified enforcement actions against sachet water production facilities operating outside approved environmental and public health standards, citing serious risks to public safety. The nationwide exercise, which began on January 20, 2026, targets producers that lack valid operating permits or operate under unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
In a press statement issued on January 22, 2026, the EPA said the action is part of its statutory mandate to protect public health and the environment. The Agency stressed that drinking water production must meet strict environmental and hygiene requirements to prevent contamination and disease.
According to the EPA, the enforcement is grounded in Section 35.1(a)(i) of the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML), which authorizes the Agency to establish water quality criteria and minimum standards for drinking water. This legal framework empowers the EPA to regulate raw water sources, production environments, and processing practices nationwide.
The Agency acknowledged the importance of small-scale, Liberian-owned water producers and disclosed that it worked with stakeholders to develop the Guidelines for the Operation and Monitoring of Drinking Water Production. These guidelines allow producers to achieve compliance without undergoing a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, while still ensuring water safety and quality.
Under 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 hygienic and structurally sound facilities, and ensure safe distances between water sources and contamination risks such as septic tanks and waste disposal sites.
The EPA revealed that inspections uncovered widespread violations, including facilities operating near waste sites, poor sanitation conditions, and the absence of basic environmental safeguards. Such conditions, the Agency warned, directly compromise the safety of drinking water supplied to the public.
“Drinking water quality depends on a clean environment. If a facility does not meet environmental standards, the water it produces cannot be considered safe for the Liberian people,” the EPA stated, underscoring the public health urgency behind the enforcement action.
As part of the crackdown, the EPA confirmed that it began closing several non-compliant sachet water production facilities in Monrovia on January 20, with additional closures ongoing. The Agency described the shutdowns as necessary corrective measures rather than punitive actions.
The EPA cautioned that the enforcement exercise is nationwide and ongoing, warning that more facilities risk closure if they fail to regularize their operations and meet compliance requirements. While assuring producers of continued technical guidance and support, the Agency made clear that it will not compromise standards designed to protect public health and environmental safety.
The EPA also advised members of the public to be vigilant and to look for valid EPA certificates when purchasing drinking water. Reaffirming its role as the country’s principal environmental authority, the Agency said it remains committed to coordinating, monitoring, and supervising environmental management activities across Liberia in line with national laws and international best practices.
