Two-thirds of bottled water samples collected from across Karnataka unsafe for drinking
Chemical contaminants found in the water samples include pesticide residues, fluoride and total dissolved solids such as calcium and magnesium, said Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
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Besides having both chemical and microbial contamination, the samples found to be unsafe also had low mineral content, which could cause health complications, the minister said. (File Photo)Two-thirds of samples of bottled water collected from across Karnataka for quality analysis have been found unfit for drinking, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Tuesday.
Of the 280 samples collected in February, the analysis of 257 has been completed, Rao told a news conference. “Eighty-nine samples were found to be unsafe for consumption, while 79 were found to be substandard,” he said, adding that 89 samples were safe for consumption.
Besides having both chemical and microbial contamination, the samples found to be unsafe also had low mineral content, which could cause health complications, the minister said.
The chemical contaminants found in the water samples include pesticide residues, fluoride and total dissolved solids such as calcium and magnesium.
The state’s Food Safety and Drug Administration will now take legal samples from bottled-water companies before initiating legal action against companies that supply poor-quality water. “We have taken only survey samples. Once we get legal samples, we can book cases against the manufacturers,” he said.
Most of the samples collected were from local manufacturers while national-level brands had better standards, he said.
Another major source of concern is carcinogenic colouring agents found in green peas. When the department analysed 115 samples of green peas, almost 70 per cent were found unsafe for consumption. Only 46 samples were safe while 69 were not, the minister said.
Colouring agents such as sunset yellow and tetrazine are among the key contaminants in green peas, he added.
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