HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER

Ministry of Jal Shakti HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER प्रव तथ: 04 DEC 2025 6:12PM by PIB Delhi Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies conducted as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Overall, the data on ground water quality indicates that the ground water in the country remains largely potable with localized occurrences of contaminants in isolated pockets. Further, though sampling and analysis of all basic parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate etc. are done regularly, trace parameter analysis is done for only select priority elements and heavy metals like Chromium, Mercury, Cadmium etc. are analyzed based on requirement only. As per Annual Ground water Quality Report, 2025 of CGWB, during Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon 2024, CGWB collected and analyzed 3,415 groundwater samples from 26 States/UTs for Arsenic and 2,537 samples from 21 States/UTs for Lead. The analysis revealed that 123 samples (3.6%), out of 3,415, exceeded the permissible limit of 10 ppb for Arsenic, while 24 samples (0.95%), out of 2,537, exceeded the permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L for Lead. State-wise details of Arsenic and Lead contamination along with the affected districts are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively. As part of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), CGWB undertakes comprehensive aquifer mapping and conducts analysis of groundwater levels and quality of the study area. Further, while taking up such aquifer studies, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as heavy metals. Outcome of such quality analysis including heavy metal assessment is being incorporated in the NAQUIM studies report along with suitable remedial measures. The findings of NAQUIM studies have been shared with respective State line departments and district administrations. 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 provision of safe drinking water, identification, reporting and remediation of aquifer contamination and regulation of industrial effluents are mentioned below:i. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, being implemented by this Ministry in partnership with states, marks an important milestone for providing contamination free potable tap water to every rural household of the country in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long- term basis. Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at state level: · Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Under the JJM, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery. · While allocating the funds to States/UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants. · The “Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Framework” was devised and disseminated to states in October 2021. · To facilitate implementation of the above said Framework, around 2180 water quality testing laboratories have been set up in the country. Besides this, five persons, preferably women are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs). States/UTs have been advised to carry out testing of water quality on a regular basis and take remedial action wherever necessary to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality. · States/UTs have also been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) as an interim measure especially in quality affected habitations to provide potable drinking water to every household. ii. The ground water quality data generated by CGWB including that for heavy metal contamination, is regularly disseminated through Annual Reports, Half-yearly Bulletins and Fortnightly Alerts for quick action by the stakeholders. iii. In order to enhance monitoring efficiency, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Groundwater Quality Monitoring has been adopted by CGWB, which stipulates more frequent and denser sampling, particularly in vulnerable areas to ensure a more comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality. iv. CGWB has also developed an innovative cement sealing technology for tapping deeper Arsenic free aquifers in the Arsenic affected areas and has so far successfully constructed 525 Arsenic safe exploratory wells, including 40 wells in Bihar, 191 in West Bengal and 294 in Uttar Pradesh. CGWB is also providing technical assistance to state departments for taking up similar constructions. v. Improvement in ground water quality can also be achieved to some extent by taking up artificial recharge of contaminated aquifers, which dilutes the contaminants to reduce their adverse effects. 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 and better system of sewage networks etc. Under National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), the government has initiated several steps for improving the water quality along major river stretches of the country. vii. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) is implementing the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to prevent andcontrol pollution in water. CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling point sources by developing industry specific standards and general standards for discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for enforcement by SPCBs/PCCs. The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. *** ND (Lok Sabha US Q713) ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF QUESTION NO. 713 ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING “HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER” State-wise details of Arsenic (As) sample analysis: Based Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2025 S.No. State/UT Total No. of % of No. of Districts Names of Districts Samples wherein No. of Samples wherein Arsenic Arsenic has Having Samples having been reported has been reported As > Analyzed As > 10 in isolated in isolated pockets 10ppb ppb pockets (As > 10 ppb) (As > 10ppb) 1 A&N 28 0 0.00 0 Islands 2 Arunachal 15 0 0.00 0 Pradesh 3 Assam 154 4 2.60 4 Golaghat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari4 Bihar 13 6 46.15 4 Bhojpur, Buxar, Madhubani, Sheohar 5 Chandigarh 8 0 0.00 0 6 Chhattisgarh 257 0 0.00 0 7 Delhi 86 0 0.00 0 8 Goa 6 0 0.00 0 9 Gujarat 114 0 0.00 0 10 Haryana 160 2 1.25 1 Sonipat 11 Jammu & 17 2 11.76 1 Jammu Kashmir 12 Karnataka 118 2 1.69 2 Gadag, Raichur 13 Kerala 185 0 0.00 0 14 Madhya 49 0 0.00 0 Pradesh 15 Manipur 3 0 0.00 0 16 Meghalaya 38 0 0.00 0 17 Nagaland 66 0 0.00 0 18 Odisha 413 6 1.45 4 Bhadark, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Sundargarh 19 Punjab 296 27 9.12 6 Amritsar, Ferozpur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Tarn Taran 20 Rajasthan 100 0 0.00 021 Tamil Nadu 286 5 1.75 5 Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tiruvannamalai 22 Tripura 44 0 0.00 0 23 UT of 7 0 0.00 0 Puducherry 24 Uttar 612 23 3.76 14 Bahraich , Balrampur, Pradesh Ballia, Barabanki, Bareilly, Bijnor, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Lakhimpur Kheri , Moradabad, Pilibhit , Rampur, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur 25 Uttarakhand 104 0 0.00 0 26 West 236 46 19.49 6 Coochbehar, Malda, Bengal Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas Total 3415 123 3.60 47 ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO QUESTION NO. 713 ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING “HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER”.State-wise details of Lead (Pb) sample analysis: Based Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2025 S.No. State/UT Total No. of % of No. of Districts Names of Districts No. of Samples Samples Wherein Lead Wherein Lead has has been been Samples (Pb > (Pb > reported in 0.01 reported in Analyzed 0.01 isolated pockets isolated pockets mg/L) (Pb > 0.01mg/L) mg/L) (Pb > 0.01 mg/L) 1 Arunachal 15 0 0.00 0 Pradesh 2 Assam 155 5 3.23 4 Cachar, Dibrugarh, Kamrup, Udalguri 3 Bihar 12 0 0.00 0 4 Chandigarh 8 0 0.00 0 5 Delhi 86 8 9.30 4 North, North West, South West, West 6 Goa 6 0 0.00 0 7 Haryana 160 0 0.00 0 8 Jammu & 12 0 0.00 0 Kashmir 9 Karnataka 118 1 0.85 1 Raichur 10 Madhya 28 0 0.00 0 Pradesh 11 Manipur 3 0 0.00 0 12 Meghalaya 38 0 0.00 0 13 Nagaland 67 0 0.00 014 Odisha 413 3 0.73 2 Nuapada, Sambalpur 15 Punjab 296 1 0.34 1 Hoshiarpur 16 Rajasthan 98 2 2.04 2 Barmer, Bhilwara 17 Tamil Nadu 286 2 0.70 2 Tiruppur, Viluppuram 18 Tripura 44 0 0.00 0 19 UT of 7 0 0.00 0 Puducherry 20 Uttar 581 2 0.34 2 Budaun, Chandauli Pradesh 21 Uttarakhand 104 0 0.00 0 Total 2537 24 0.95 18 (रलीज़ आईडी: 2198926) आगंतुक पटल : 502 इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: ही