(a) whether samples of drinking water are regularly tested by the Government in rural areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the criteria adopted by different States for testing the samples of drinking water from time to time, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) & (b) All the States through its water quality testing laboratories set up at the State, district, block and sub-division level test quality of drinking water at regular intervals, every year under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme. State-wise number of drinking water samples tested during the year 2015-16 is at Annexure.
(c) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has published the Uniform Drinking Water Monitoring Protocol in February 2013 and widely circulated to all States. In this Protocol, criteria regarding manpower required, laboratory space, equipment, chemicals, glassware, frequency of sampling, parameters of testing, etc. are clearly mentioned. This Protocol suggests the States regarding the general precautions in the Bureau of Indian Standards i.e., IS-3025/1622 and/or Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater- latest edition [Published jointly by American Public Health Association (APHA), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)] shall be referred to for detailed information on sampling and testing procedures.
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