Ads on the internet sell thermal waters, but the practice is prohibited
Poços de Caldas City Hall registered a police report after advertisements for the illegal sale of thermal waters were published on social media this week.
According to municipal management, the situation is classified as fraud and there is no authorization for the sale of sulphurous thermal waters, as these resources are considered public goods and cannot be sold – unless there is authorization or concession.
Poços de Caldas is known for its thermal waters originating in volcanic calderas. With temperatures reaching 40 °C, they have a strong sulfur smell, oily texture and are used in natural treatments.
On social media, there are advertisements selling bottles of sulfur water. The price is R$ 1 for a bottle of 2 liters. According to the post, the water comes from the fountain at Praça Dom Pedro II, known as Praça dos Macacos.
“The history of the city was built around water, so this asset belongs to the people of Poços de Caldas, to all citizens and people who are here, the tourists who come here. So, this is not a sales product. And another, it is announced as something miraculous too, we have to be very careful about it, because it has natural properties, but logically it takes time. Today, the waters of Poços de Caldas are used as therapeutic activities, complementary to other activities”, explains the Secretary of Tourism, Israel Sousa Pereira.
There are no studies that prove the safety of selling packaged water without regulation. According to experts, their therapeutic properties last only 12 hours after collection in an appropriate container.
“The way they are promoting it, as if it were something miraculous, something that will solve health problems, this is untrue. Logically we have the Thermas here in the municipality, our spa too, which carries out actions, bathing activities, yes, but complementary to other health activities”, adds the secretary.
Tags: City Hall files police report identifying illegal sale thermal waters South Minas
