The Health department, along with the Kochi Corporation, is planning to conduct inspections at units involved in bottling water, following detection of E. coli bacteria in drinking water samples collected during the recent surprise checks at roadside eateries in the city.

E. coli was detected in five samples collected from eateries at Kaloor, Vyttila, and Thammanam. A water sample from a borewell used at an eatery too had tested positive for E-coli.

According to sources in the Health department, the test results have raised concerns about the quality of water being used and served at the outlets. “We have been conducting surprise checks during the past two months. We are focused on preventing the spread of waterborne and other infectious diseases. We are also stepping up awareness campaigns on the need to consume only boiled water,” said a Health official.

Under the food safety drive, jointly conducted by the Health department, Food Safety wing, Kochi Corporation’s Health wing, and the police, close to 60 outlets were inspected in the city in a span of two months. Inspections will continue, and they will be held thrice a week in view of the festive occasion, said Corporation officials.

Seena Gokulan, health standing committee chairperson of the Corporation, said that while there was no clarity regarding the source of bacterial presence in drinking water, there were plans to organise meetings with vendors distributing bottles.

Corporation Health officer G. Krishnakumar said such bottling centres were not present within the Corporation limits. “We have to find out where these restaurants procure water cans from. We are trying to track them down using information from hoteliers. A meeting will be called soon,” he added.