Kochi: As mercury level soaring to record heights, most of the drinking water sources which cater to the city and outskirts have dried up, forcing the tanker lorry operators to depend on unsafe and contaminated sources despite strict measures put in place by the food safety and health departments.
During a recent raid, food safety authorities identified several water suppliers who regularly fill from contaminated open sources. Though registration with FSSAI is mandatory for drawing water, it is not being complied.
As the water supplied by Kerala Water Authority is insufficient to meet the demand, the tanker lorries have become a regular source for many to meet their water needs and many prominent residential apartments, commercial complexes, hotels and hospitals are solely dependent on them.
Normally, tankers are supplying around three crore litres of drinking water to customers in the city areas. More than 500 tankers with a capacity of 3,000 to 35, 000 litres are supplying 3,000 loads of water every day. The quantity will be much higher during summer days, according to R. Ramachandran, secretary of Ernakulam District Drinking Water Transporters’ Welfare Association.
The district administration and health department have earlier identified more than 100 sources from where tankers are permitted to draw water. “However, more than 60 sources have been dried up. Many of the local bodies banned drawing water from their areas due to public protest. But, the Association will not allow its members to take water from unregistered sources and will cooperate with the food safety authorities’ inspection,” he added.
Food safety assistant commissioner K.V Shibu told DC that in view of media reports on tankers compromising on quality norms, the regular checks will be conducted.
Corporation serves notice on tankers to renew licence
As most of the highrises in the city and suburbs are solely dependent on tankers, contaminated water supply will affect thousands of consumers. Based on complaints, Food Safety Authority officials have taken samples from wells and other sources and submitted at the regional analytical lab for chemical and microbiological testing.
Meanwhile, the city corporation health wing has served notices to tanker operators for renewing their licence. “After licencing was made mandatory in 2014, private tankers have not renewed the licence,”said V.K. Minimol, who chairs health standing committee. “Notice has already been served on them for renewal. However, tankers registered with the corporation that draw water only from Kerala Water Authority sources comply with the quality norms.”
Though a number of waterborne diseases including hepatitis is comparatively less this year according to health department data, the district medical office and the Corporation health wing have put in place necessary measures to check spreading of diseases. “Special focus is given to highly vulnerable areas like West Kochi where there is an acute scarcity of quality drinking water,” added Minimol.
