Twelve major rivers in India are designated as polluted with untreated industrial and domestic waste and pesticide and fertilizer run off from farms. Availability of drinking water in India has been a story full of contrasting variations. In 1951, only 48% of urban and 6% of rural population had access to drinking water which increased to as much as 87% in 2000 in rural areas. But this data does not talk about the quality of the drinking water available.
In India, still more than a million children die per year from water borne disease like diarrhea.National Family & Health Survey data reveals that 68% families in India do not use any purification method; the same is true for 75% rural households. The biggest problem for most people is bacteriological contamination, as 80% of diseases are water borne. In the current scenario, the alarming levels of water pollution have damaged many ancient rivers which had been our sources of drinking water for ages. Even the holy Ganga and Yamuna rivers have not been spared. So, how does someone in metros like Mumbai and Delhi, which are highly polluted, believe that the water he is getting from the tap of his home is actually fit for drinking?So, the number of water borne disease cases have gone up in major cities.
This is an alarming situation that we have on our hands, when India is developing at a very fast rate, it has to take care of the health of its citizens, its labor force so that they remain healthy and there is no hindrance to the economic development and for that we have to make water free from all kinds of microbial and mineral contamination available to as many people as possible. Water is a precious natural resource that sustains our world.The matter of grave concern is its acute shortage and depleting quality which mankind is facing due to rampant pollution and extravagant use. Trust in local water distribution agencies is limited and hence every home aspires to have right water purifier at the point of use of water like tap.
With wide range of bottled water available, people are keenly aware of the importance of good drinking water and want water free from any micro organisms in their home for cooking and drinking purposes. The increase in level of health consciousness among people has also led to more no. of people opting for water purifiers in their households.At presently in India we have an ever growing 2000 crores home water purification market.
Not surprisingly, many companies involved in water purification products and water treatment are aggressively marketing their products. But inspite of the tremendous potential for expansion and growth, the water purification industry has not had an easy time, partly because a water purifier is still not considered a consumer durable and partly because of pricing, low margins and technological issues. Industry experts say that in India three types of water purifiers are being marketed now — ultra-violet based, reverse osmosis and resin based.
