Bottled water in Gujarat

With the prevalent practice of purchasing a 20-litre bottle of drinking water, the health of Gujarat citizens is outright compromised. A significant portion of these bottles are unbranded, and no information is provided regarding the manufacturing company or the source of the water.

The manufacturers often claim that their product is filtered using reverse osmosis (RO) technology, but there is generally no certification to support these claims.

This water of unchecked quality may pose risks to kidney health and increase the possibilities of waterborne diseases.

Consumers often resort to these water bottles when faced with a water shortage at home or generally during special occasions.

According to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, bottled water should mandatorily be sealed. Alongside, details such as the product name, processor’s address, batch number, treatment method, and best-before date should be inscribed on the bottles.

However, these details are frequently found missing in unbranded bottles. Moreover, there is a concern that these bottles may not be cleaned properly before being refilled and sold to new customers.

Dr. Mehul Shelat, former president of the Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA), commented on such unbranded bottled water going unchecked, stating, “The probability of a mineral balance in such unbranded water is negligible. Consuming this water can disrupt the body’s mineral balance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drinking water should contain elements like salt, calcium, sodium, and boron. However, it is doubtful whether these elements are present in unbranded bottled water. Consuming such water can lead to waterborne diseases, vitamin B12 deficiency, kidney problems, liver side effects, or even cancer.”

Many doctors recommend boiling and filtering bottled water before consumption to minimise the potential health risks they possess.