Water is the most basic necessity of life, and when we purchase packaged drinking water, we put our trust in the brand’s promise of safety, hygiene, and purity. For the past two years, my family and I relied completely on 20 liter water jars mainly from Bisleri, one of the most reputed packaged drinking water companies in India. Every day, these jars became the source of the water we drank, cooked with, and served to guests.
But one shocking incident completely shook my trust in such bottled water brands. What I discovered inside one of these jars not only left me disturbed but also raised serious questions about the safety, inspection, and accountability of big brands as well as local water suppliers.
This article is not just my story but also a wake-up call for everyone who uses 20 liter jars for daily drinking water.
The Day I Discovered Algae in My Drinking Water
One ordinary day, while pouring water from the Bisleri 20 liter jar into my glass, I noticed some strange flakes floating in the water. At first, I brushed it off as a possible issue with my electric water dispenser. Perhaps the dispenser needed a cleaning?
I trusted Bisleri blindly. After all, the jar was sealed, and the company has a reputation for clean, safe water. So, I immediately cleaned my dispenser thoroughly and even tested it with normal tap water to be sure it was working fine. The water came out crystal clear.
But when I fixed the same Bisleri jar back and poured water into the glass, the flakes reappeared. This time, I decided to investigate further.
I shook the heavy jar slightly and held it up to the light. To my absolute shock, I saw algae like particles floating inside the sealed bottle. It wasn’t just one or two flakes there were several. My stomach turned at the thought that my family and I had been drinking this water without noticing earlier.
A Betrayal of Trust
What shocked me most wasn’t just the contaminated water it was the betrayal of trust. For over two years, I had been consuming Bisleri’s 20 liter jar daily, assuming it to be safe. The very idea that such negligence could happen in a sealed product from a reputed brand was deeply disturbing.
Was it a company’s negligence?
Or did I unknowingly receive a fake or refilled product?
Either way, the result was the same my family’s health was at risk.
Complaint to Bisleri: A Hollow Resolution
Naturally, I immediately lodged a complaint with Bisleri’s customer care, explaining the seriousness of the issue. To their credit, they responded quickly sending a representative to my home.
The representative examined the bottle, confirmed the contamination, and then did something that really disappointed me. He simply:
- Paid me back the small amount I had spent on that jar.
- Poured the contaminated water into the sink.
- Put cello tape on the cap.
- Stuck a small note saying “This bottle should go to scrap.”
And then, he asked me to close the complaint.
But how could I? This was not just about one bottle it was about the entire system of quality checks and customer safety.
I refused to close the complaint and demanded a detailed explanation. After several follow up calls, I finally received an official mail from Bisleri, stating preventive measures they had taken:
- Refresher training for inspectors.
- Installation of CCTV cameras at inspection points.
- Daily verification of footage.
- Stronger washing cycles and inspection lamps.
- Distributor audits and better handling practices.
On paper, it all sounded good. But the question remained: How could such negligence have occurred in the first place? And if it happened once, how many other bottles might have slipped through their system unnoticed?
Another Shocking Incident – This Time a Local Supplier
Just when I thought this was a one-off nightmare, exactly a month later, I faced the same issue again this time with a jar from a local water supplier (Fillrich Packaged Water, Rabale, Navi Mumbai).
The bottom of the jar clearly showed green algae growth inside. That was the moment I realized this is not just about one company or one supplier. The entire packaged jar water industry in India is prone to negligence, contamination, and lack of accountability.
Why This Issue is So Dangerous
Finding algae in packaged drinking water is not a small issue. It can lead to:
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Liver damage (in case of certain algae toxins)
- Weakened immunity, especially in children and elderly
And the scariest part? Most people don’t even notice these small flakes in water until it’s too late.
Is Packaged Jar Water Really Safe?
In theory, packaged drinking water is supposed to go through multiple steps:
- Filtration and purification (RO, UV, Ozonation).
- Strict quality inspection of empty jars.
- Sealed packaging with tamper-proof caps.
But in reality, many issues occur:
- Reused jars are often not washed properly.
- Manual inspection is unreliable, especially when workers get tired.
- Fake jars circulate in the market, refilled with untreated water.
- Storage conditions at distributors are often unhygienic, leading to contamination.
Lessons I Learned (And You Should Too)
After these incidents, I decided to be far more cautious with my drinking water. Here are some key takeaways for anyone who relies on 20 liter jars:
- Always Inspect the Jar Before Use
- Hold it up to the light.
- Look for flakes, cloudiness, or green patches at the bottom.
- Do Not Trust the Seal Blindly
- Fake seals are common.
- Check for proper embossing, branding, and packaging.
- Switch to Alternatives
- If possible, install a good-quality RO + UV water purifier at home.
- Use bottled water only when absolutely necessary.
- Raise Complaints
- Don’t ignore issues. Report them to the company, distributor, and even consumer forums.
- Spread Awareness
- Share your experiences with others because if one person finds algae in a jar, many others might be silently consuming it.
My experience with Bisleri and later with a local supplier taught me one harsh truth: We cannot take drinking water safety for granted, no matter how big or reputed the brand is.
What I faced could happen to anyone. The least we can do as consumers is stay alert, check our jars regularly, and hold companies accountable when they fail to deliver safe water.
Water is life. But when that very water is contaminated, it becomes a silent threat. Don’t blindly trust packaged drinking water check it, question it, and ensure your family’s safety first.
