RO water plants in Visakhapatnam flagged for contamination, hygiene lapses

Several reverse osmosis (RO) water purification plants across the district have been found operating under unhygienic conditions and supplying contaminated water, following inspections by officials of the Food Safety Standards Department.

During checks at units in Bhupesh Nagar and Gnanapuram, inspectors reported poor maintenance practices and detected coliform bacteria in samples labeled as “purified” drinking water. Authorities subsequently sealed two facilities and imposed penalties.

Officials said the findings pointed to weak oversight and irregular monitoring, which had allowed several RO plants to operate without consistent compliance with basic safety standards. They added that the number of such units has increased rapidly across Visakhapatnam district, with several reportedly functioning without valid approvals.

Laboratory tests indicated the presence of coliform bacteria, raising concerns about possible contamination from pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and enterococci in different locations.

Investigators attributed the contamination to poor maintenance practices, including delayed replacement of RO membranes and filters, non-functional UV or ozone disinfection systems, inadequate cleaning of storage tanks, biofilm formation in pipelines, and the use of highly contaminated source water.

Health experts cautioned that consuming such water could lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, including diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, dehydration, and typhoid. They advised consumers to avoid RO water that shows changes in taste or develops an odour, noting that these may indicate bacterial contamination.