Food safety officials are planning to check the quality of drinking water bottles across the district in anticipation of a water shortage this summer.
“There is a possibility of people selling unclean water in such bottles as we have a drought this year and water is going to be in short supply. We will check the quality of the water being sold in one-litre bottles,” said O. Sankaran Unni, assistant commissioner, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Officials recently inspected vehicles transporting drinking water in the city and seized water jars that were not sealed properly. As per rules, the water jars should have the emblem and details of the manufacturing company and should be sealed properly.
“Water jars manufactured by four private companies have been seized and the samples have been sent to the laboratory for tests. Based on the results, we will initiate action against the manufacturers,” said Mr. Unni.
Most of the water jars seized were unclean and had deposits of fungus on them. Such jars are not being sold through shops and some agencies are involved in their sale.
Communicable diseases
Health experts said there was a chance of spreading of communicable diseases if contaminated drinking water was distributed. Last year, Health Department officials had acted against those distributing drinking water through tankers without permission. Officials had inspected areas such as quarries from where lorry operators collected water. Lorry operators were accused of forging certificates to evade inspection.
