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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Under JJM, priority is being given to quality affected habitations for scheme implementation.
5. 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.
6. 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.

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ND

(Lok Sabha SQ 195)

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