VIJAYAWADA: As the mercury is soaring above 40 degree Celsius in Vijayawada, the demand for packaged/bottled drinking water has spiked. But norms of safety, packaging and distribution are increasingly thrown to the wind by the bottling units, say food safety officials and the public.
In Vijayawada, most of the households prefer to purchase water in cans than taking the trouble of boiling tap water before consumption. The demand for mineral water is increasing at a rapid rate in the city, as people become more health conscious and taking precautions against water-borne diseases.
Water packed in polycarbonate containers and other plastic materials being transported in open vehicles, exposing them directly to sunlight and heat, is a common sight in the city these days. Raising concerns about the storage and distribution of bottled water, Ch Annapurna an environmentalist pointed out that majority of the manufacturers violate the norms and reuse the plastics and non-polycarbonate containers which are unsafe for water packaging and also in mode of transporting.
“Water is being transported in open vehicles, exposed to direct heat and sunlight. The containers seem not to conform to reuse norms. Monitoring seems lacking as these violations have become apparent,” says Annapurna. As demand for water increases in summer, apart from hotels and establishments, the demand from domestic segment has also increased. Exposure of filled water containers to direct sunlight while transporting is the most ubiquitous sight in Vijayawada these days. This exposure can increase leaching of toxic matter of the plastic containers into water.
One of the leading manufacturers and a supplier of packaged drinking water says, “The containers cannot be recycled for more than 25 to 30 times, which happens in three months period. By this time, the containers get mangled or damaged and we are forced to use new containers.”
Speaking to Express, food safety controller N Purnachandra Rao said that only those adhering to BIS standards for manufacturing, packaging and distribution are being licensed for establishing packaged drinking water plants.
“As many as 20 water bottling units in the Krishna district have the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) registration with the revenue department. Storing water in plastic bottles for longer period leads to the formation of bacteria and fungus and it will contaminate bottled water. Especially, if we use non-reusable bottle for longer periods it may even lead to cancer,” he said.
As per the norms, the licensees are subjected to monitoring. The department has been evolving an action plan to crack whip on the manufacturers violating the norms, he said.
Water, water everywhere, but how many brands are safe
10 Packaged drinking water units registered in Vijayawada as per the official records of revenue department
A35 lakh per day business in the city through packaged drinking water units
Supplied mineral water should have pH levels between 7.5 and 8.5 and total dissolved solvation should be maintained below 50
Tap water is environmentally more sustainable than bottled mineral water, say health experts