Jan 26, 2005 06:06 PM
34419 Views
(Updated Jan 26, 2005 08:26 PM)
Nowadays the water purification system has become a household need.
On TV we may see advt of various companies boasting about their product. Most promoted is Aqua Guard e-Boiling which claims to purify water equivalent to boiling of 20 minutes!!
However, such types of claims are not 100% correct.
It is noteworthy that they have trained their 10th-12th passed marketing executives (Mostly migrant Bihari type personalities) those try to educate general public by the teachings fed by the company (which unfortunately tells half of the truth to both public and executives).
Before we go further in discussion we should know something about the basics of water purification at small/household level,Where we have following options:
· Boiling: It is the satisfactory method but requires ?Rolling Boil? for minimum 10 minutes. It not only removes temporary hardness (By driving off carbon Dioxide and precipitating calcium carbonate salts) but also kills ALL BACTERIA, SPORES, CYSTS (Amebiasis) AND OVA and yields sterile water. However, the boiled water should be stored in the same vessel to avoid contamination during storage. IT I THE BEST AND MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD BUT TIME CONSUMING.
· Chemical Disinfectants: Chlorine/Iodine etc: Not practical except in few conditions. However, the resins with iodine (Zero-B filters) are somewhat effective. It may sterilize almost all bacteria and viruses. However, iodine may interfere with thyroid functions in the body.
· Filtration: By candle filters is again a very good method but requires weekly boiling of candles and cleaning with hard brush, other wise they may become storehouse of the infection due to logged impurities and bacteria in the pores of porceline/Sand.So, the maintenance is very particular.
· Combination of Iodine + Candle filter may be proven a very effective and economical method of purification equivalent to boiling (Upto an extent). This combination I have personally used for many years and found effective.
· Ultraviolet Filters: UV rays have germicidal activity and used in operation theaters also to sterilize the environment. It offers a good water treatment and does not alter taste like boiling. However, it is expensive and has limited application: UV light is good only for bacteria. It does nothing about giardia, cryptosporidia, AMEBIC CYSTS, chemicals, lead or asbestos. SO IT IS NOWHERE EQUIVALENT TO 20Mints BOILING!!!!!! (Which is most advertised by AquaGuard on TV).
· RO system: It is again one of the most effective methods of purification as it removes almost all the organisms and hardness/salts. However, it is expensive and water wastage is much.
Now, lets deal with my personal experience with Eureka-Forbes Executive.
On my request one of their representative came to demonstrate e-boiling model.
· His Attitude and behaviour: Etiquetteless.He was behaving like a well-learnt scientist dealing with water treatment and research. He should have understood that he was dealing with a Post-Graduate/MD allopathic doctor and moreover, whatever he was speaking was probably written by a person like me. But to understand that one needs a caliber and education level, which he did not posses.
· His professional Gimmicks: As per the teaching/feeding received by his company, he started to show me the total salt content of the water in my tap. Though he calculated the total content with automatic electronic equipment but he was not able to provide me the details of the salts. In tap water we may also have certain essential salts, which are required by the body. Their intake is nowhere harmful. So we cannot decide anything about the purification of he salts unless we know the exact content.
· My Purchase: Even after above-mentioned facts I purchased Aqua Guard e boiling because even before calling him I already decided for a UV filter and till that time I had the opinion that Eureka Forbes is a professionally well-managed company.
· Unethical behavior of Company: I made all my payment through the SCB credit card because the executive offered me 4 interest free installment if I make payment through this card only. He specifically wrote this promise on the bill. But when I received billing in my credit card statement they debited the entire bill in one time!!! That means if I do not make payment within the stipulated time I had to pay 3% credit card interest. I made too many complaints to both the bank and Aquaguard people but nothing happened except the receipt of an EMI card from SC Bank.
· After Sales services: WORST!! After the purchase till date no body has visited to perform quarterly free maintenane. In between we made a complaint as the purifier was not working and the input pipe was leaking. However, after making too much complaint no body came to repair it and finally to stop water wastage and get drinking water we repaired it at our own cost.
In nut shell: Auaguard people are advertising half truth on TV, Their executives are etiquette less and undereducated, they are concerned with selling their products only, they do not fulfill their promises and their after sales services are worst!!!!
