This water is not meant for drinking

KOCHI: Nine tanker lorries carrying contaminated water under the label ‘potable water’ were seized near Vyttila on Friday. The water in the tanker lorries contained high content of E-Coli, Health Department officials who seized the tanker lorries, said.The tanker lorries flouted all the norms set by the High Court in 2007 regarding the transportation of potable water, said Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) S Shanavas, who also accompanied the inspection team. He said that instructions were given to inspect the sources from where the water was drawn. “It is a prerequisite that the sources also should be checked. Some tankers were from Aluva while some others were from Thrikkakara. So we need to check whether it is the source of water or the tanker that is responsible for the contamination.The High Court had clearly stated that the private agency which transports potable water should obtain a licence from the local bodies. The lorries were running without this licence. Chlorination of the water is yet another prerequisite. It is also mandatory that the word ‘potable water’ should be written on a yellow background on the lorry. Most of the lorries failed to do so. Above all, the private agency should procure a certificate from the Regional Analytical Lab stating that the water is potable. All these rules were blatantly violated by those who were transporting the water,” said P Sreenivas, District Health Officer, who led the seizure.RDO Shanavas said they had been receiving many complaints from various corners regarding impure water being distributed in tanker lorries. The raid was conducted as part of a drive to prevent the outbreak waterborne diseases. “We have been getting complaints that the norms set by the High Court regarding the transportation of  potable water is being flouted regularly. With the Kochi Carnival round the corner, such a raid could not be avoided,” Shanavas said.The RDO said that the tankers had been handed over to the Palarivattom police.A report has been submitted to the District Collector in this regard. “Ultimately, it is the district administration which has to take steps to prevent the illegal transportation of water,” he said. The RDO said such raids are bound to happen in the future too as the city is constantly under threat of waterborne diseases spread through contaminated potable water.