Author : Vithaldas Innani

For the purpose of feeding the public with good hygienic, healthy pure drinking water, we are taking out the water from a Bore-well and we are processing the water under the process of ACF+UV+RO+OZONATION (which are as per the ISI norms) and we are filling them in the container and distributing them to the needy persons of the city of Raichur.
 
We are small manufacturers. The installed capacity of our plant is just 10000 litres per day and we use to run for 8- 10 hrs only. As all the big brands such as Aquafina , Kinley , Hewards, Oxyich, Bisleri etc., are also maintain the same process of purification , only thing is that their capacity is a big one ,say around 1 lac to 2 lac litres per day. The big brands have huge market and their cost for per 20 Ltr can is Rs. 45.00 to 55.00 (Approx.) where as we use to sell in just 20-25 rupees only including delivery charges. We use to do our business in small area locally and our customers are having faith on us and satisfy with our water. Sometimes they will inspect our plant also to see the proceedings.
 
Then and then we were disturbing from the health department to get ISI Mark. And when we approached the ISI office and seen that the cost of ISI fees and its formalities is too high to maintain by us as per our installed capacity. For under the process of ACF+UV+RO+OZONATION we need not required laboratory also, because RO systems itself will be treating and fixing the plant as per water contents of the Bore-well. And physically we need not mix anything. Only our duty to clean the plant regularly.  And if this power gives to the local District Health Officers, they can collect the samples and be tested.

Generally we use to maintain the TDS of water below 150 PPM. We keep checking with our TDS meter every hour of production to keep track of the quality of water.
 
In a nut shell we mean to say that, we are supplying water at a cost of only Rs.1.00 per ltr to the customers which is viable & which benefits them by using the same genuine process of purification as the big brands use to do, only thing differs is the capacity & investment. So we kindly ISI to put up the norms and applications on the big investment plant holders (i.e above 4000 ltrs per hour plant ).

Secondly it is the BUYER – SELLER understanding, if the buyer is satisfied then he purchase our water otherwise he deny it. We will satisfy our customer by showing our process unit and there by testing the water whenever he required or ask us (in the delivery point as well as in our process unit.)   

So we request the agencies to please categorize our industry as tiny or cottage industry whose major objective is to generate employment for ourselves and also to generate employment to the local people and which benefits the local market and customers to get the quality water in a cheaper price.
 
Actually ISI mark is required for packaged drinking water. As we are filling the 20 litres Jar and pressing the cap on it, we tell it is not packed because we do not seal it and supply directly to the consumers. Whereas the big manufacturers like Aquafina , Kinley , Hewards, Oxyich, Bisleri  etc., after putting the cap they will paste date of packing & rate sticker on the cap and sell to distributors, then to wholesale, retailers and only after that does it reach the consumer, which will take about 8 days and they mentions on the sticker that best use within 30 days. Whereas our water will be distributed on the same day.

As per me, Government should make an amendment for ISI and make 3 Groups, like A, B & C Category for processing healthy pure drinking water. 

• The National Level Brands like Kinley, Oxyrich, Bisleri should fall under “A” Category,
• The State level Brands should fall under  “B” Category and
• Local level Brands should fall under ”C” Category

Accordingly the Government should fix fees. And local brands should be managed by District Health Officers.

In the larger interest of providing safe potable water at affordable cost to all the sections of people and reduce the incidence of water-borne deaths and diseases in India, it is necessary for the government to revise its stand of treating packaged drinking water as food.

Vithaldas Innani, Raichur; Phone -09449070279