The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri CR Patil has released the Annual Ground Water Quality Report for the entire country for the year 2024 on 31.12.2024. The ground water quality assessment was carried out by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), which can be used for taking suitable remedial measures and further planning by various stake-holders. This report is the first to adopt a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring, ensuring uniformity in data collection, analysis and interpretation. The use of internationally recognized methods further enhances the credibility and technical rigor of the findings.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality of India through background monitoring, trend analysis and hotspot identification. With a robust dataset derived from over 15,200 monitoring locations and focused assessments at 4,982 trend stations, the report delivers critical insights into groundwater quality variations across spatial and temporal scales.

This report serves as a critical scientific baseline for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders engaged in groundwater management. The data-driven approach and evidence-based findings provide a foundation for informed decision-making aimed at enhancing groundwater sustainability, mitigating contamination risks and promoting adaptive water use practices.

Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Shri Subodh Yadav, Additional Secretary (A, IC & GW), Dr. Sunil Kumar Ambast, Chairman, CGWB were present on the occasion.

Key Highlights:

• In terms of cation chemistry, calcium dominates the ion content, followed by sodium and potassium. For anions, bicarbonate is the most prevalent, followed by chloride and sulphate. This indicates that overall water in the country is of Calcium-Bicarbonate type.
• Some regions face sporadic contamination of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic.
• Seasonal trends observed in parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC) and fluoride provide evidence of positive monsoon recharge effects, which improve water quality.
• From an agricultural perspective, the analysis of Sodium Adsorption Ration (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) reinforces the generally favorable suitability of groundwater for irrigation, with over 81% of samples meeting safe thresholds. However, localized issues of high sodium content and RSC values demand targeted interventions to prevent long-term soil degradation.
• 100% of ground water samples in North-Eastern States are in excellent category for irrigation.

***

DSK

(Release ID: 2089040) Visitor Counter : 1267