[Answered] Analyze the public health and environmental implications of bottled water consumption in India. Critically examine the regulatory gaps in addressing microplastic contamination and plastic waste, evaluating the need for an integrated policy framework to ensure safe and sustainable water access.

Introduction

Economic Survey 2025–26 flags rising plastic intensity of consumption; Budget 2026–27 stresses circular economy transitions. Yet India’s booming bottled water market reflects declining trust in public supply, raising health and ecological concerns.

Evolution of Bottled Water Consumption in India

1. Trust Deficit in Municipal Supply: Despite the Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT 2.0, intermittent supply and contamination fears push urban consumers toward packaged water.
2. Urbanisation & Informal Markets: Rapid urban growth and tourism have expanded thousands of small bottling units, often sourcing groundwater in water-stressed blocks.
3. Commodification of a Public Good: Article 21 (Right to Life) jurisprudence recognises safe water as a fundamental right, yet market substitution is normalised. For Example- Subhash Kumar case.

Public Health Implications

1. Microplastics and Nanoplastics Exposure: Nanoplastics evade detection thresholds also no Indian standards mandate testing. Potential risks such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and bioaccumulation. For example- Studies in Nagpur, Mumbai, and coastal Andhra Pradesh detected 72–212 microplastic particles per litre in bottled water.
2. Chemical Leaching under Indian Conditions: Additives such as antimony, phthalates, and BPA may leach when bottles are exposed to heat and UV radiation, common in Indian logistics chains. Existing FSSAI norms assess substances individually, ignoring cumulative exposure effects.
3. Regulatory Blind Spots: The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) of India focuses on microbiological parameters. The Bureau of Indian Standards sets quality norms but lacks microplastic thresholds. Absence of precautionary regulation contradicts global shifts under WHO advisories. For Example- BPA found in baby feeding bottles (not banned in India).

Environmental Implications

1. Plastic Waste Externalities: As per UNDP India generates 15 million tonnes of plastic waste every year but only 1/4 of this is recycled system; single-use PET bottles are a major fraction. Poor enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) leads to low collection rates. Also, open burning releases dioxins and furans, exacerbating air pollution.
2. Water Footprint and Groundwater Depletion: Approximately 3 litres of water are required to produce 1 litre of bottled water. Extraction in over-exploited blocks regulated by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) often lacks strict monitoring. For Example- NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index highlights India as water-stressed.
3. Circular Contamination Loop: Plastic degrades into microplastics in landfills and rivers, re-entering ecosystems and drinking water sources creating a cyclical contamination chain.

Regulatory Gaps and Fragmentation and Enforcement Deficit

The precautionary principle and polluter pays principle, embedded in NGT jurisprudence remain under-implemented.

Need for an Integrated Policy Framework

1. Decoupling Safety from Plastic: Invest in digital Water ATMs and universalised tap water under JJM-Urban. Public disclosure dashboards for water quality (trust-building mechanism).
2. Microplastic Regulation: Introduce BIS standards for micro- and nanoplastics with mandatory third-party audits. Fund ICMR-led longitudinal health studies.
3. Strengthened EPR & Circular Economy: QR-based bottle tracking, deposit-refund schemes (returnable glass models in hospitality sector). Incentivise biodegradable polymers under green tax reforms.
4. Groundwater Governance: Integrate bottled water extraction data with CGWA digital monitoring. Mandate water neutrality certification for bottling plants.
5. Constitutional & Ethical Dimension: Recognise water as a commons, not merely a tradable commodity—aligned with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Conclusion

Treat water as a Public Good, not a Packaged Commodity. A transition toward robust public supply and stringent nanoplastic regulation is essential to protect both the citizen’s gut and the nation’s groundwater.