Boma Achenimie 
The Imo State House of Assembly in collaboration with the State Ministry Of Health and other associated agencies has said it will seal sachet and bottled water production factories over substandard practices, which include, failure to comply with standard provisions, vis-a-vis, regulatory provisions, and unhealthy production environment.
The Chairman Of the Imo State House Of Assembly Committee On Health, Hon Sam Otuibe made this known during a meeting with the Executive of the Association of Table Waters Production (ATWAP), on Thursday, at the Assembly Complex.
Otuibe bemoaned the substandard practices of table water producers in the state, which has caused a lot of health challenges to Imo citizens who patronize their products daily.
“How often do you treat your water? The majority of table water in the state has iron, which is why there is a very high rise in kidney and liver infections and related diseases in Imo state. You cannot be reaping people off, while they are dying of bad and poisoned water.
“Since some of your water factories are not following laid down regulations, we will seal them to protect Imo citizens. Only very few table waters are safe for Imo citizens to drink, like Eva water, Mangero water, and very few others. Some of you don’t even have NAFDAC registration numbers and have been operating illegally.
Moving forward, therefore, every table water company in the State will undergo laboratory tests. Those that fail the test will be sealed, the names made public, and owners prosecuted.
“We will also publish table waters that passed the tests, for Imo citizens to take note of. We are recommending the company that carries out tests on Eva water to all of you. And certificates will be issued to those companies that will pass the tests.”
