In the absence of virtually any legally enforceable standards by Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), the water purification equipment manufacturers have decided to formulate a set of standards on its own.

The India Task Force set up under guidance of Water Quality Association, a global trade body, is expected to formulate quality standards of water purifiers by end of this year

?We expect to bring in more than 50 water purification companies into the task force for formulating some kind of standards or specifications for the industry,? H Subramaniam, vice-president, EA Water Pvt Ltd, which does research on water issues from the industry prospective, told FE.

Due to rising water pollution, particularly in the urban areas and inefficiency in the municipal water distribution system across the country, many big companies like Eureka Forbes, Philips, Kent and other local players have been selling water purifiers particularly expensive Reverse Osmosis (RO) system, which claim to clean each and every contaminant from the drinking water.

Although there are no independent data on the size of this growing water purification industry, estimate indicates that the size of water purification industry is in the range of Rs 100 crore to Rs 2000 crore.

However, the advocacy group Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has expressed apprehension that formulating standards without the direct involvement of BIS or consumer groups may not help in protecting consumer health who have been blindly believing various claims made by the industry without any approval from the government.

?BIS is the appropriate authority to formulate standards for water cleaning equipment manufacturers so that some kind of check is put on this thriving water business,? Suresh Babu, coordinator, river pollution unit, CSE said.

According to Subramaniam, after the formulation of the standards, the same would be forwarded to BIS for ratifications. ?The standards would address all the grey areas like packaging, advertisement, marketing and even post sales services for the equipment manufacturers,? he claimed.

While countering Subramaniam view, Babu of CSE said even if there would be voluntary standards but who would monitor the implementation of standards for protecting consumer interest.

Subramaniam of EA Water admitted that in the absence of any regulation and awareness, the expensive technology like RO is being promoted as best purifier without analysing its need although alternative technology like ultra violet technology provide a cheaper alternative.

BIS drinking water specifications, which is a voluntary standards was drawn up in 1983. A revision initiated to revise the standards in 2003 is still at the draft stage.

Other BIS standards deals with water purifiers with ultra violet disinfection was formulated in 1999 is applied to those systems which get rid of bacteria and suspended matter from water while it can not clean dissolved solid chemicals.

Similarly BIS, which is under the department of consumer affairs, has specifications for filters for drinking water purpose formulated in 1986 and specifications on water purifiers run by electricity in 1979.

?Safe drinking water has become the legal rights and BIS should urgently set a legally enforceable standards for drinking water taking into account the unprecedented water pollution in urban areas,? Suresh of CSE said.

Unclear norms

• BIS drinking water specifications, which is a voluntary standards was drawn up in 1983

• A revision initiated to revise the standards in 2003 is still at the draft stage

• Estimate indicates that the size of water purification industry is in the range of Rs 100 cr to Rs 2000 cr