A CEO’s viral post about switching to bottled water in Bengaluru has sparked an online debate about water quality in India’s tech hubs and whether it can affect health and productivity.
The conversation started after Siddharth Dialani, founder and CEO of agritech startup BharatAgri, shared a personal experience on social media about his health after relocating to the city.
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Dialani said in the post that he noticed a decline in his ability to focus and do deep work after moving to Koramangala, one of Bengal’s most popular startup and nightlife hubs.
“When I moved to Koramangala, Bangalore, I observed a visible decline in my ability to function at work,” he wrote. “I couldn’t do deep work, focus or manage stress. I also noticed that I wasn’t enjoying food as much.”
The businessman said he initially experimented with several lifestyle changes to try to solve the problem. These included cutting back on coffee, removing milk from his diet, increasing exercise and spending more time in the sun. However, none of these adjustments helped, he said.
Dialani said the breakthrough occurred during a work event at a hotel where he only consumed bottled mineral water, specifically Bisleri.
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According to him, the change seemed to have an immediate effect on his energy levels and overall well-being.
“I found myself very energetic. Gut and mental health felt better,” he wrote, adding that he has been drinking only Bisleri water for the past four years. He also mentioned that 20 liter cans of bottled water are “quite affordable”.
In a follow-up tweet, Dialani clarified that he had consulted a doctor and had complete blood work done to rule out vitamin deficiencies or other health issues. Although he took supplements prescribed by doctors, he said they did not address the specific problem he was experiencing.
The post was written in response to another social media user who claimed that completely switching to bottled mineral water resulted in noticeable improvements in gut health without making any other dietary changes.
The Internet is responding
Soon after Dialani’s tweet started circulating online, it set off a wave of reactions and speculation.
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Some users said they could relate to water quality concerns in Bengaluru, a city that has grown rapidly as India’s tech and startup hub. One user shared his experience of living in Whitefield, another major technology corridor in the city.
“When I was in Whitefield we had to change the RO filter every 18 months. The bore water there was terrible,” the user wrote, adding that they eventually moved back to Mumbai shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown.
But others questioned whether bottled water was a realistic solution for most people.
“I see these tweets a lot. It gives me toolbox vibes. But if it’s true, what’s the solution? Not everyone can afford mineral water,” one user commented.
Another suggested that factors outside of water may also play a role in the health problems faced by residents of large cities. “Maybe it has more to do with the radioactive vegetables we eat in the BLR harming us than just the water. Not to mention the hair loss,” the comment read.
(This report is based on user-generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
