Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India is a statutory body functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. It operates various schemes like Product Certification (ISI mark), Management Systems Certification, Hall Marking of Gold and Silver Jewellery/Artefacts and Laboratory Services for the benefit of the industry and in turn aiming at consumer protection.

Bureau of Indian Standards, Chennai Branch Office organized a BIS - Manak Manthan Programme on "Reverse Osmosis(RO) Based Point of Use Water Treatment System for Drinking Purposes as per IS 16240" on 26.09.23 Today at Hotel Rajpark, 180, TTK Rd, Parthasarathy Puram, Alwarpet, Chennai- 600018. The Product is under Mandatory Certification of BIS from 4 April 2023.

Smt.G.Bhavani, Scientist-E/Director & Head (Chennai Branch Office) welcomed the participants and  explained the Programme Objectives. During her speech , she said ”BIS is organizing series of discussion-programmes titled “Manak Manthan” for the benefit of industry which is scheduled on every month, and is envisaged to launch new standards and share important revisions / amendments and wide circulation drafts to local manufacturers, Industrial and Trade Bodies, Chambers of Commerce, Industry Associations, PSU’s or organizations who use such products, Government departments, Regulatory bodies, Laboratories, Civil society groups and Academia”

Smt Meenakshi Ganesan, Scientist-F & Head (Southern Regional Laboratory), BIS, Chennai spoke on the Importance of Standardization of Quality of Water which is very essential for Human Body. She also stated that BIS has brought out its one of the Best Standard on RO based Water Treatment Systems.

Shri.USP Yadav, Scientist-F & Deputy Director General-Southern Region, BIS delivered the Key Note Address. During his speech he informed that the escalating demand for water, especially in urban and semi-urban areas, has led to a significant reliance on groundwater sources, which typically contain higher concentrations of dissolved solids, including various minerals. Additionally, groundwater sources can harbor potentially harmful substances such as heavy metals, fluoride, or arsenic in excessive amounts. The implications of these water quality challenges on public health are profound, as contaminated drinking water can lead to awide range of health issues, particularly waterborne diseases. The presence of heavy metals and other toxic substances in groundwater can pose severe health risks when consumed over extended periods, resulting in debilitating health conditions, such as those caused by excessive fluoride or arsenic in drinking water.

He also stated that the Challenges associated with maintaining water quality can be addressed by introducing Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology in combination with sediment and carbon filters. This technology has proven to be highly effective in treating water and removing various inorganic, organic, and microbiological contaminants. Recognizing the efficiency of this technology, numerous manufacturers and assemblers, both in the organized and unorganized sectors, have entered the RO water treatment market.

Smt Nitasha Doger, Scientist - D / Joint Director / Member Secretary-Food & Agriculture Department (FAD),BIS-Delhi during her presentation explained that In response to this growing trend, Bureau of Indian Standards, National Standards Body of India has developed an Indian standard IS 16240 for RO-based water treatment systems. This standard establishes a set of minimum requirements for the design and construction of these systems, outlines performance benchmarks, and specifies criteria for testing materials that come into contact with the treated water. With the increasing demand and developing technologies, it is essential that all stakeholders involved in the design and manufacturing of RO based water treatment systems are well-informed about the applicable Indian standard. Furthermore, promoting effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders is essential to ensure that the standard is comprehensive, fair and accurately align with the practical realities in real-world situation.

Shri B.J. Gowththam, Scientist - D /Joint Director, Chennai Branch Office conducted the discussion on Recent Standards Developed by BIS.

The Product [Reverse Osmosis(RO) Based Point of Use Water Treatment System for Drinking Purposes as per IS 16240] is under Mandatory Certification of BIS from 4 April 2023. More than 120 Manufacturers and Assemblers participated in the Programme. The Participants were informed bout the Importance and significance of the Standard, Procedure for applying for Licence and the various Testing Methods adopted in this certification.

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AP/GK

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