The Government of India through various schemes/ Missions such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0 etc. supplements the efforts of the States/ UTs financially and technically on the subject of drinking water supply/ provisioning. Water being the subject of States, it is the State Government who plan, design, approve, implement and carry operation and maintenance of the drinking water supply schemes/projects including management and maintaining the quality of water as per the applicable standards both for rural and urban areas.

To address water quality issues, this department has implemented several measures, including prioritizing funding under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) for areas affected by chemical contaminants and ensuring tap water supply to rural households in priority regions. Up to 2% of JJM funds can be used for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S), including operation and maintenance & upgradation of water quality testing laboratories and Field Test Kits (FTKs). An online Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) facilitates reporting of sample testing, lab information and result communication etc.

States/UTs are requested to trained women for FTK testing and let women FTK users conduct water quality tests at village/schools/Anganwadi centres. The State Public Health Engineering Departments (PHEDs) operate a network of 2,847 water quality testing laboratories. These laboratories are equipped to perform testing for physical and chemical parameters including region specific parameters such as Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, Nitrate, Heavy Metals etc. which have been prescribed under JJM guidelines.

The Department has also launched the "Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies" which was published in March 2023, followed by a "Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households" in December 2024. These handbooks are designed to provide practical guidance for field practitioners, ensuring effective management of safe water supply systems.

So far, during 2025-26 (as on 05/12/2025), as reported by the States in WQMIS, around 47 lakh drinking water samples across the country have been tested in labs for rural areas, out of which around 38 lakh samples have been tested for chemical parameters, and around 35 lakh sample have been tested for bacteriological parameter.  During 2024-25, total 82.68 lakh drinking water samples across the country were tested in labs for rural areas, out of which 62.19 lakh samples were tested for chemical parameters and 61.22 lakh samples were tested for bacteriological parameter.

Similarly, under AMRUT, 1,403 water supply projects worth Rs. 43,359.78 Crore have been taken up by the States/ UTs which include development of 5,011 Million Litre Per Day (MLD) water treatment capacity. Under AMRUT 2.0, 3,516 water supply projects worth Rs. 1,18,226.62 crore (including O&M cost) have been approved so far, which includes 11,160 MLD of water treatment capacity. Periodic tests of treated water are conducted at WTPs. Further, through AMRUT Mitra initiative under AMRUT 2.0, women Self Help Groups (SHG) have been involved in water demand management, water quality testing and other water sectoral projects.

The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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AMK/ND

(Rajya Sabha USQ 893)

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