How water-related decisions inside your kitchen have long-term impact on family health - Dr. Anil. Kumar, Chief Water Scientist, Eureka Forbes

How water-related decisions inside your kitchen have long-term impact on family health - Dr. Anil. Kumar, Chief Water Scientist, Eureka Forbes

Chandigarh 24 February ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : In Indian households, the kitchen plays a central role in health and nourishment. While attention is often paid to food choices and cooking methods, the quality of water used across daily meals receives far less scrutiny. Yet water is not merely consumed as a beverage. It is absorbed into food during cooking, retained during washing, and used repeatedly throughout the day. This makes kitchen water quality a critical but often overlooked health factor.

When clarity is mistaken for safety

A common assumption is that water which appears clear and tastes neutral is safe for use. However, modern water contamination is increasingly chemical and invisible. Heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium and lead do not alter the colour or odour of water. Pesticide residues and industrial pollutants behave similarly, remaining undetectable without scientific analysis. Across India, these contaminants are entering household water due to groundwater depletion, agricultural runoff, industrial discharge and ageing distribution infrastructure. Once present, they cannot be removed by boiling or basic filtration methods. The Central Ground Water Board assessments have revealed, nearly 20% of groundwater samples in India exceed safe chemical limits. As these contaminants do not affect the taste, colour or clarity of water, households may unknowingly consume unsafe water over time.

Scientific evidence on purifier performance

Recent independent research conducted by IIT Madras has evaluated the performance of household water purification systems over extended usage. The study revealed significant differences between high-quality, engineered long-life filters and ordinary or unbranded alternatives. It further indicates that ordinary or unbranded filters may lose effectiveness within the first 10 litres of use, while certified filtration solutions maintain high contaminant removal efficiency for extended periods, in some cases up to 12,000 litres. The findings showed that while well-designed filters maintained consistent removal of heavy metals and pesticide residues throughout their intended lifecycle, ordinary filters exhibited a rapid decline in adsorption efficiency. In some cases, contaminant removal weakened very early in use, leaving treated water chemically compromised despite appearing normal. This degradation is linked to inferior filter media, reduced adsorption capacity and structural breakdown over time. From a scientific standpoint, filtration performance must be assessed across the entire lifecycle, not just at installation. Household water filtration systems therefore act as a critical safeguard against contaminants entering water during storage, distribution or last-mile delivery, provided the filtration components themselves are scientifically validated and regularly maintained.

One kitchen, multiple water profiles

Indian kitchens often rely on more than one water source. Municipal supply, borewell water and tanker water are commonly used interchangeably. Each source carries a distinct chemical profile and risk pattern. Borewell water may contain high total dissolved solids and naturally occurring heavy metals. Municipal water can introduce chemical by-products and contaminants from ageing pipelines. Tanker water quality varies significantly depending on source and storage. Applying a single purification approach across all these conditions can leave critical contaminants untreated.