It is just tap water, not processed drinking water

Health officials find untreated water filled in cans being taken for sale

Is the water safe for drinking?:Health officials inspect packaged drinking water cans being transported in a vehicle at Mittapudur in Salem on Friday

In what could be a shock for city residents who buy packaged drinking water, health officials inspected a shop in Mittapudur and found unprocessed drinking water or just tap water directly packed in cans and sold to customers.

A team led by T. Anuradha, District Designed Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration raided the shop in Mittapudur on Friday and found 20 litre packaged drinking water cans without any brand name or date of manufacturing or any particulars.

It was revealed that the shopkeeper used to fix fake labels of two branded companies and distribute it to customers.

Also the team intercepted five autorickshaws that carried cans for distribution to customers and shops.

Officials found that the water was not treated, cans do not have authorised company labels or the cap seal with manufacturing date which is mandatory.

The team also found no records for delivery of cans such as bills from the companies and hence about 3,000 litres of can water that failed to meet any safety norms were poured into the drains and cans emptied.

The dealers were warned that they should possess bills and sell only products from licensed manufacturing units and were let off.

Ms. Anuradha told The Hindu that only blue cans with caps sealed fully with manufacturing date are allowed to be distributed to customers and warned that consuming unprotected or contaminated water would lead to health issues.

In case people come across any such issue, they can contact the health department at 94435-20332 or 0427-2450332, she added.

Officials said that with the demand for packaged drinking water being high now, dealers — in order to make quick money — resort to unethical practices and also pave way for health issues.

They said that packaged water cans should be used within a month from the date of manufacturing.

Health hazard

Officials detect ‘packaged drinking water’ cans without brand name

Fake labels of two genuine companies were pasted before sale