Packaged. But is it safe?

Unknown source:Unauthorised units allegedly sell water obtained from private tankers in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands.

hat started as a source of drinking water for commercial entities and the affluent sections in society a few years ago has become a mainstay in a large number of households in the city. With people becoming more concerned about health and more disposable income at their command, the denizens of the city had started graduating to use packaged drinking water.

Dealers involved in packaged water business say more than 10,000 litres of bottled water are sold in the city every day. 

Arun, a dealer, said the demand for 20-litre bubble-topped cans had increased over the years. “I used to sell around 100 cans a day a year ago. In May, this year I sold 500 cans a day, mostly to households. We charge Rs.60 per can and if a consumer uses more than 2 cans a week, we give them a discount,” he said.

Price varies

However, he said, the price of bottled water differed from place to place.

Asha, a resident of Maruthankuzhi, said though there was piped water connection, they depended on bottled water for drinking needs. “The water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority turned very muddy and then we shifted to bottled water. On an average, we buy four cans a month. Buying bottled drinking water has become part of my household budget for the past two years,” she said.

The growing demand for bottled water has led to establishment of manufacturing units, particularly at places such as Neyyattinkara, Udayankulangara, Palode, Navayikulam, Menamkulam, Veli, and Parassala.

Rough estimates provided by dealers reveal that on an average 2,000 to 3,000 cans are produced at these units a day. Data gathered from city Corporation and district panchayat say that licences were issued for around 10 bottling units. However, there are umpteen unauthorised units functioning at the fringe pockets of the city. This has raised questions about the quality of water being supplied.

“Several complaints related to quality of bottled water have been received in the past several months,” B. Shivakumar, Joint Commissioner, Food Safety, told The Hindu .

As per this, notices were served on manufacturers. In fact, a criminal case was registered against the owner of a manufacturing unit at Kilimanoor for selling substandard water.

“The biggest problem we face is the use of cans having stickers of noted brands by local manufacturers. We are trying to curb this practice,” he said. A dealer with a prominent brand agreed with this. He said unauthorised units often filled water obtained from private tankers and sold them in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands.