Question : Adverse Effect of Harmful Chemical Substance in Water

(a) whether the Government is aware that ground water with harmful chemical substance which adversely affects human health is being used for drinking across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any scientific study on this issue;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure clean potable water to the citizens in coordination with various States?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (e) Bureau of Indian Standards IS–10500: 2012 specifies ‘acceptable limit‘ and ‘permissible limit in the absence of alternate source’ for various physio-chemical and bacteriological parameters for drinking water quality as provided in the Annex–I. As reported by States/ UTs, State-wise details of habitations affected by Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, Salinity, Nitrate & Heavy Metals are at Annex–II.
Central Ground Water Board generates ground water quality data on regional scale during various scientific studies and ground water monitoring programme throughout the country. Data on ground water quality has been shared with concerned State Governments for taking remedial measures, awareness and monitoring of drinking water use.
To make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household by 2024, since August, 2019, Government of India in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal. Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.

Under JJM, while planning for potable water supply to household through tap water connection, priority is to be given to quality-affected habitations. Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based on a safe water source may take time, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.
Under Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, IS:10500 is to be adopted for ensuring safe drinking water supply and States/ UTs have been advised to carry out testing of drinking water sources once in year for chemical and physical parameters, and twice in a year for bacteriological parameters. To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources, an online JJM – Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. The State–wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS is available in public domain on JJM Dashboard and can also be accessed at:
https://neer.icmr.org.in/website/main.php
To encourage water quality testing to ensure potable drinking water supply, States/ UTs have opened water quality testing laboratories to general public for testing of their water samples at a nominal rate.
States/ UTs have been advised to identify and train 5 persons preferably women viz. ASHA workers, health workers, VWSC members, teachers, etc. in each village to conduct water quality tests using FTKs/ bacteriological vials at village level and report the same on the portal.
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