Only Mumbai tap water is safe to drink

According to a study by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry only Mumbai has tap water that is safe to drink. Samples collected from Mumbai are compliant with the Indian standards for drinking water. Safe drinking water is a basic right for living.

Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters tested by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which is under Consumer Affairs Ministry. Samples drawn from 17 other state capitals were not as per the standard specified. Delhi is the most unsafe.

Out of 20 state capitals, all the 10 samples of piped water drawn from Mumbai were found to comply with all 11 parameters, while other cities are failing in one or more. Stringent actions cannot be taken as the quality standards for piped water at present are not mandatory. Once it becomes, we can take actions. –Ram Vilas Paswan, Consumer Affairs Minister

The solution to this problem is to make compliance of quality standards for piped water mandatory across India. The government has written to all state governments about this.

In Chennai, all 10 samples failed in nine parameters, while all nine samples in Kolkata failed in 10 quality parameters. “We have been working on the task to carry out sample tests to carry out sample tests to sensitise people and agencies concerned about people’s fundamental right to get clean and safe drinking water. This issue should not be politicised as all of us are concerned about human lives”, said the minister.

Meetings will be held with public health departments and municipal corporations to see how key facilities can be strengthened in Delhi to ensure clean drinking water.

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