Vijayawada: With the traditional earthen pots adapting to changing times by adding taps for ease of use, more and more people are now buying them.
Another reason for people to people again preferring water cooled naturally in earthen pots is the long-term health effects.
Many believe that artificially cooled water does not quench thirst as well as water cooled by earthen pots. These pots are available in various sizes, shapes and now, the taps of a contrasting colour are fixed to them.
Ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 400, these pots are sold at makeshift roadside shops, usually by the potters themselves. However, there are retails too, making a quick buck in the summer season when the demand peaks.
In fact, it’s not the households but philanthropists who buy these earthen pots in bulk and set up water kiosks (Chalivendram) on the roadside to supply free drinking water to passersby.
The clay water pots are available in sizes of 5, 15, 20 and 50 litre storage capacity.
Pot seller G. Rambabu said that earlier, members of the Kummari caste used to make pots but the younger generation is not inclined to continue with the profession. He said that its only the older potters who continue to make, bake and sell these pots. “The red clay pots with tap attached are in demand and the large black ones are generally bought by philanthropists to store water in Chalivendrams,” he said.
T. Leelavathi, a housewife, said that the water cooled in these earthen pots tastes better in the summer compared to that refrigerated. “Earlier, we did not get pots with taps. This is a welcome improvement,” she said.
Science teacher B. Satyanarayana said that earthen pots lower the temperature of the water, a quality unique to clay. He said that clay pots are porous as they have small holes visible at the microscopic level that help cool the water.
Mr Satyanarayana said that there are chances of the presence of harmful chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A) in the plastic containers that clings onto water molecules.
