MPCB acts against units selling unpackaged water

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has swung into action against local manufacturing units selling unpackaged and unsealed potable water.

On September 6, TOI had reported that the city has many water manufacturing units that are selling 'drinking' water in unpackaged and unsealed chilled cans and jars. All these units are operating without licences from Bureau of India Standards (BIS) or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which are mandatory for selling packaged drinking water.

MPCB is also identifying such units and taking action against them for flouting environmental laws and adding to pollution. MPCB officials informed that around 40-50 such units have been issued non-compliance letters. "The units do not discharge waste water scientifically which leads to water pollution. We have directed them to file a reply immediately on the basis of which we will issue show cause or closure notices," the officials said.

During visit to such units, TOI had found shocking practices. In one of the units, the rejected water was released unscientifically in a drainage line which was close to a well. According to groundwater experts, the discharged water can contaminate groundwater and nearby wells and borewells if it contains pollutants. The rejected water, which is released after RO treatment, is said to be highly concentrated with pollutants and chemicals, sometimes even double than the original raw water.

The units are also withdrawing large quantities of groundwater on daily basis, without any consent from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). BIS rules say that a water manufacturing unit must have sufficient space for a separate laboratory, raw water storage facility, packing area and loading and unloading points. However, most of these local units are running in a small rooms in unhygienic conditions where processes like water storage, Reverse Osmosis (RO) set-up, chilling and washing dirty containers and refilling them are being done at the same time and at same place.