CHENNAI: The drinking water you buy in sachets in the city may be unfit for human consumption, according to a recent study.
The study, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research and published in the International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, found that 10 out of 12 sachet brands analysed had high bacterial density, while one-third had high coliform bacteria.
The study titled ‘Microbiological Analysis of Packaged Drinking Water Sold in Chennai’ by the Department of Microbiology, ACS Medical College and Hospital, found that of the 36 sachets and 12 bottles of 17 different brands tested, 11.1 per cent had more than 10 total coliforms per 100 ml of water. Ideally, there should be no coliform per 100 ml of treated water as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. About “33.33% of sachet water samples failed to meet the WHO drinking water standard of zero coliform per 100 ml making it unsuitable for human consumption,” the study said.
'Bacterial Density High in Sachet Water'
The study said the heterotrophic plate count (HPC) (enumeration procedure for estimating bacterial density for drinking water quality) was high in sachet water brands with 10 of the 12 brands tested having mean HPCs above 100 ml. Read More
