**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Starred Question No. *195 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 12, 2026, regarding the analysis of groundwater potability in India. It details the measures taken by the Central and State governments to monitor and improve groundwater quality, including testing, community involvement, and contamination mitigation efforts. The response is provided by the Minister of Jal Shakti.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Testing and Analysis:**
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments regularly conduct groundwater quality testing through established laboratories.
* Parameters tested include Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate, and heavy metals.
* Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), BIS:10500 standards are used as benchmarks for water quality.
* As of February 2026, there are 2,870 Water Quality Testing Laboratories functioning across the country under JJM.
* **Monitoring and Reporting:**
* An online JJM – Water Quality Management Information System (JJM-WQMIS) portal is used for efficient monitoring and reporting of sample collection, testing, and surveillance of drinking water.
* States/UTs have been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs).
* Approximately 24.80 lakh women have been trained, with around 8 lakh women actively updating reports on the WQMIS portal.
* **Contamination Mitigation Efforts:**
* Responsibility for mitigating groundwater contamination primarily lies with the State governments.
* The Central Government complements state efforts through various measures:
* Disseminating groundwater quality data via Annual Reports, Half-yearly Bulletins, and Fortnightly Alerts.
* Paying special attention to groundwater quality affected areas under the National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme (NAQUIM)
* Developing techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells.
* Giving priority to quality affected habitations for scheme implementation under JJM.
* Implementing programmes such as the annual Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaign, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, Atal Bhujal Yojana, PMKSY and MGNREGS schemes to improve groundwater quality.
* Initiating steps to improve river water quality under National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for taking initiatives to mitigate groundwater contamination and provide safe drinking water.
* Receive technical and financial support from the Central Government.
* **Action Required**
* Implement and enforce water quality standards.
* Utilize Central Government programs for remediation.
* Support and train local communities for water quality testing.
**Rural Households / Communities**
* **Impact**
* Ensured access to safe drinking water.
* Empowered to monitor water quality through trained community members.
* **Action Required**
* Participate in water quality testing and monitoring programs.
* Report any issues to relevant authorities.
**Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)**
* **Impact**
* Involved in groundwater quality testing and analysis.
* Responsible for disseminating groundwater quality data
* **Action Required**
* Continue regular monitoring and testing.
* Provide data and support to State Governments.
* Implement special management plans for checking contamination and aquifer remediation.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Shakti: Ministry responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A program implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to provide safe drinking water to every rural household.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Organization that conducts ground water quality testing and analysis.
National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme (NAQUIM): Program focused on aquifer mapping studies and ground water quality.
BIS:10500: Standards adopted as the benchmark for water quality under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *195
ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
ANALYSIS OF POTABILITY OF GROUNDWATER
†*195. SHRI ASHISH DUBEY:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether any testing is being carried out by the Government to analyse the potability of the groundwater
at the local level, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether any efforts are being made to check the impurities present in the groundwater; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI C R PAATIL)
(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.
*195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “ANALYSIS OF
POTABILITY OF GROUNDWATER”
(a) 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.
(b) & (c) ‘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.
2v. 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.
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