Overview

A 2024 assessment under the Jal Jeevan Mission found that 24% of household tap water samples failed microbiological quality standards, raising concerns about drinking water and food safety in rural India. The Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that while 76% of samples passed laboratory tests, nearly one in four did not meet safety norms. Yet, 92.4% of surveyed households said they were satisfied with their tap water quality. As of January 28, 2026, the government informed the Lok Sabha that 158 million rural households — 81.6% — have tap connections under the scheme.

Most Households Drink Untreated Water

The survey found that three in four households consume tap water without any treatment. Most families do not boil, filter or disinfect water before drinking or using it for cooking. Households routinely use tap water to wash vegetables, prepare meals, clean utensils and mix infant food. If contaminated, the water can introduce harmful microorganisms into food. The World Health Organisation links unsafe drinking water to diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A and typhoid. Among households that treat water, 13.2% reported boiling it, and 11.2% said they strain it through cloth.

Schools and Health Centres Also Affected

Public institutions recorded lower safety compliance than households. Only 73% of water samples from schools, anganwadis and health centres met microbiological standards. Since these institutions rely on the same village water systems, children, pregnant women and patients may face similar exposure to contaminated water.

Weak Monitoring Raises Safety Concerns

Water quality monitoring remains limited. Field Test Kits were unavailable in 73% of villages, restricting early detection of contamination. Although 70.3% of villages reported chlorination, experts note that chlorination mainly addresses biological contamination and does not remove chemical pollutants. Experts have also called for independent third-party testing of village water supplies, arguing that relying solely on mission officials may limit transparency and oversight. The assessment covered sampled villages across 761 districts in 34 states and Union territories between July and October 2024.

Infrastructure Gaps Affect Reliability

While tap coverage has expanded, system reliability remains uneven. Although 98% of surveyed households reported having connections, 13% said their taps were not functional. Damage to pipe networks and pump failures accounted for the majority of supply disruptions. Water quality outcomes varied widely across states, ranging from 99% compliance in Ladakh to 31.1% in Tripura.

Source: The Print