**Executive Summary**
This report, posted on February 12, 2026, by PIB Delhi, focuses on the analysis of groundwater potability in India. It details the efforts of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments in monitoring and improving groundwater quality, particularly under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The report also discusses the empowerment of communities to monitor water quality at the village level.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Quality Monitoring and Analysis:**
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments conduct regular groundwater quality testing for parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate, and heavy metals.
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):**
* The JJM aims to provide safe drinking water to every rural household, using BIS:10500 standards as a benchmark for water quality.
* As of February 2026, 2,870 Water Quality Testing Laboratories are functioning across the country.
* The JJM-WQMIS portal has been developed for efficient monitoring and reporting of sample collection, testing, and surveillance of drinking water.
* **Community Empowerment:**
* States/UTs are advised to train 5 people (preferably women) per village to use Field Testing Kits (FTKs) for water quality testing.
* Approximately 24.80 lakh women have been trained, with 8 lakh actively updating reports on the WQMIS portal.
* **Central Government Initiatives:**
* The CGWB regularly disseminates groundwater quality data through various reports.
* The CGWB focuses on groundwater quality affected areas under the National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme (NAQUIM) and proposes management plans.
* The CGWB develops techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells and provides technical assistance to state departments.
* Under JJM, priority is given to quality affected habitations for scheme implementation.
* Improvement in groundwater quality can be achieved by artificial recharge of aquifers.
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti and other ministries implement programs like Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), Atal Bhujal Yojana, PMKSY and MGNREGS.
* **Surface Water Contamination:**
* Groundwater pollution is linked to surface water contamination.
* Efforts are being made through the installation of Sewage Treatment Plants, Effluent Treatment Plants and improvements to sewage networks.
* National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) supports States/UTs government in improving water quality of rivers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact**: Primarily responsible for mitigating groundwater contamination and providing safe drinking water.
* **Action Required**: Implement state-level initiatives to address groundwater issues, provide necessary support.
**Stakeholder: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)**
* **Impact**: Responsible for analysis and dissemination of information.
* **Action Required**: Provide support through its various monitoring programs.
**Stakeholder: Rural Communities**
* **Impact**: Access to safe drinking water and ability to monitor water quality.
* **Action Required**: Engage in water quality testing and reporting.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Jal Shakti and Other Central Ministries**
* **Impact**: Leading and coordinating efforts to improve groundwater quality.
* **Action Required**: Implement and oversee various water management programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti aiming to provide safe drinking water to every rural household.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central ministry responsible for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission and other related initiatives.
National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme (NAQUIM): A programme under which aquifer mapping studies are conducted with special attention to groundwater quality affected areas.
Atal Bhujal Yojana: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to improve ground water quality.
BIS:10500: Bureau of Indian Standards' standards adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
ANALYSIS OF POTABILITY OF GROUNDWATER
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 5:20PM by PIB Delhi
Ground water quality testing and analysis is conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and
State Governments on a regular basis through their established laboratories for various quality
parameters/contaminants like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate, heavy metals etc.
Further, under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) being implemented by the M/o Jal Shakti in partnership with
States with an aim to provide safe drinking water to every rural household of the country, Bureau of
Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as benchmark for quality of water being
supplied. Moreover, under JJM, as reported by States/UTs, as of February 2026, there are 2,870 Water
Quality Testing Laboratories (which covers ground water sources as well) functioning across the country.
Also, an online JJM – Water Quality Management Information System (JJM-WQMIS) portal has been
developed for efficient monitoring and reporting of sample collection, testing and surveillance of
drinking water.
Additionally, in order to empower the communities to monitor the water quality, State/ UTs have also
been advised to identify and impart training to 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct
water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs) at village level. Thus far, around 24.80 lakh women
have been trained across the country, out of which around 8 lakh women are actively updating their
reports on the WQMIS portal.
‘Water’ is a State subject and the responsibility of taking initiatives to mitigate ground water
contamination and to provide safe drinking water to citizens lies primarily with the state governments.
However, to complement the efforts of the state governments, several steps have been taken by the
Central Government to address these issues. Some of the important ones for are mentioned below:
i. The ground water quality data generated by CGWB is regularly disseminated through Annual
Reports, Half-yearly Bulletins and Fortnightly Alerts for quick action by the stakeholders.
ii. While taking up aquifer mapping studies under National Aquifer Mapping & Management
Programme (NAQUIM), CGWB is paying special attention to ground water quality affected
areas and proposing suitable management plans for checking contamination and aquifer
remediation.
iii. CGWB has also developed techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells and
apart from taking up demonstrative construction of such wells in affected areas, is also
providing technical assistance to state departments for taking up similar constructions.
iv. Under JJM, priority is being given to quality affected habitations for scheme implementation.
v. Improvement in ground water quality can also be achieved to some extent by taking up
artificial recharge of aquifers, which helps mitigating the contamination, if present.
Accordingly, Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries are implementing several
programmes towards this end like the annual Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaign, Jal Sanchay Jan
Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, Atal Bhujal Yojana, PMKSY and MGNREGS schemes etc.vi. The ground water pollution also owes its origin to contamination of surface water sources for
which various efforts have been made in the country like installing Sewage Treatment Plants,
Effluent Treatment Plants, Intervention & Diversion and better system of sewage networks
etc. Under National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National River Conservation Plan
(NRCP) supporting the States/UTs government which has initiated above several steps for
improving the water quality of rivers in the country.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI SHRI C R PATIL in a written
reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
***
ND
(Lok Sabha SQ 195)
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