• Water quality monitoring and surveillance in rural India: An update Pawan Kumar Labhasetwar (CSIR-NEERI, Hagpur, India)

1. Water quality monitoring and surveillance in rural
India: An update
Pawan Labhasetwar
Scientist & Head,
Water Technology & Management Division
CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, India
WHO Collaborating Centre for
Water and Sanitation

2. Outline
• Background
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Challenges
• Status of water quality in rural
habitations
• Action plan for improving water safety
to meet SDG targets
• Conclusion

3. CSIR and NEERI

4. Background - India
Population 1.21 billion (Second most
populous country)
Population 0-25 years 50% of current population
Population 0-18 years 40% of current population (480
million – largest in the world)
Geographical area 3.28 Million km2 (7th largest
country )
% Rural Population 68%
Informed water sources 3.5 million
Uninformed water sources 10 million
Total rural habitations 1.713 Million
Source : Census 2011, Government of India

5. National Programmes of Rural Water Supply
1972-73
Accelerated Rural Water
Supply Programme (ARWSP)
1986 Technology Mission
1991
Rajiv Gandhi National
Drinking Water Mission
1999-2000 Sector Reform Projects
Swajaldhara Programme2002
2009 National Rural Drinking
Water Programme
1950
Rural Water Supply included in
11th Schedule of Constitution

6. NATIONAL Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
STATE
• State Water and Sanitation Mission
• Department dealing with rural water supply
• Water and Sanitation Support Organization
DISTRICT
• Zilla Panchayat
• District Water and Sanitation Mission
BLOCK
Block Resource Centre
PANCHAYAT
• Gram Sabha
• Gram Panchayat
• Village Water and Sanitation
Committee
Institutional Mechanism

7. 0
3000
6000
9000
12000
15000
Ist (1951-
56)
Iind (1956-
61)
IIIrd (1961-
66)
IVth
(1969-74)
Vth (1974-
79)
VIth
(1980-85)
VIIth
(1985-90)
VIIIth
(1992-97)
IXth (1997-
02)
Xth (2002-
07)
XIth (2007-
12)
Plan PeriodCentre State
Ist (1951-56) 0.00 0.50
Iind (1956-61) 0.00 5.00
IIIrd (1961-66) 0.00 8.00
IVth (1969-74) 5.70 35.00
Vth (1974-79) 26.00 58.00
VIth (1980-85) 150.00 255.00
VIIth (1985-90) 320.00 410.00
VIIIth (1992-97) 690.00 850.00
IXth (1997-02) 1400.00 1800.00
Xth (2002-07) 2700.00 2520.00
XIth (2007-12) 6600.00 8100.00
XIIth (2012-17) 9150.00 12000.00
Investment in rural water and sanitation sector
Rs. in crore
InvestmentinmillionUSD

8. Outline
• Background
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Challenges
• Status of water quality in rural
habitations
• Action plan for improving water safety
to meet SDG targets
• Conclusion

9. India – MDG Target for Water
Source: Progress on sanitation and drinking water –
2015 update and MDG assessment

11. The New FOCUS for SDGS is “SAFELY MANAGED
DRINKING WATER SERVICE”
SDG
6
6.1
Drinking
water
6.2
Sanitation
and
hygiene
6.3
Water
quality
6.4
Water
use
6.5
Water
resources
6.6
Eco-
systems
Accessibility
Safety
Availability
SDG Goal 6: Ensure availability
and sustainable management of
water
• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve
universal and equitable access to
safe and affordable drinking
water for all
• Indicator: Proportion of the
population using safely managed
drinking water service
• Definition: Population using an
improved drinking water source
(MDG definition) which is:
• Located on premises
• Available when needed
• Free of faecal and priority
chemical contamination

12. MDG/SDG Service ladder Progressive realizationSDG6.1
Safely managed
drinking water
Improved facility located on premises, available
when needed, and free from contamination
MDGcontinuity
Basic water
Improved facility within 30 minutes round trip
collection time
Unimproved
water
Unimproved facility does not protect against
contamination
No service Surface water
12
DevelopingDeveloped

13. Source: JMP 201513
Example 1: India rural - water
93
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved

14. 14
Example 1: India rural - water
93
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved On premises Sufficient, Available when
needed
Improved, on premises,
available when needed
No contamination Safely managed
Elements of safely managed

15. Source: Census 2011
15
Example 1: India rural - water
93
31.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved On premises Available Improved, on premises,
available when needed
No contamination Safely managed
Elements of safely managed

16. Source: NSSO 201216
Example 1: India rural - water
93
31.9
86
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved On premises Available Improved, on premises,
available when needed
No contamination Safely managed
Elements of safely managed

17. Source: Census, NSSOo
Example 1: India rural - water
93
31.9
86
27.4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved On premises Available Improved, on premises,
available when needed
No contamination Safely managed
Elements of safely managed

18. 18
Example 1: India rural - water
93
31.9
86
27.4
60
16.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Improved On premises Available Improved, on premises,
available when needed
No contamination Safely managed
Elements of safely managed

19. Outline
• Background
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Challenges
• Status of water quality in rural
habitations
• Action plan for improving water safety
to meet SDG targets
• Conclusion

20. Guiding document for Rural Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Analysis Requirements
• Parameters to be monitored
• Protocol for Sampling
• General Guidelines and Precautions for
drinking water sampling
• Analytical Quality Control
• Frequency of testing
• Recording and reporting of data
Human Resources
• Staffing Pattern
• Suggested desirable qualification for
Laboratory Staff
• Roles and responsibilities of laboratory
personnel
Infrastructure requirements
• Specification for laboratory and other
infrastructural requirements
• Instruments
• Glassware Chemicals for State, District and
Sub-district laboratories
• Maintenance

21. Contaminated Habitations in 2014-15
State Total Arsenic Fluoride Iron Salinity Nitrate
Maharashtra 20556 22 2304 4825 911 12494

22. S.No. State
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical Contaminants No. of Sources with
Bacteriological Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli (MPN /100
ml)
Coliform
1
ANDAMAN and
NICOBAR
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 ANDHRA PRADESH 168973 10250 9215 539 1277 0 121 22772
3
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH
10590 62 0 0 0 0 58 5
4 ASSAM 120165 45378 126 0 2 21 91 2252
5 BIHAR 118264 6346 2533 0 11 329 1 0
6 CHATTISGARH 50288 2446 166 4 5 0 1 0
7 GOA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 GUJARAT 140884 0 8 0 23 0 35 4463
9 HARYANA 36443 58 621 56 1 3 217 3497
10 HIMACHAL PRADESH 31180 9 1 1 1 0 2 52
11 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 19515 18 3 2 0 1 6 1
12 JHARKHAND 58589 10775 364 2 25 17 4 220
13 KARNATAKA 204864 10817 10685 212 8566 31 568 782
14 KERALA 118026 1698 4 2 12 0 12646 93653
15 MADHYA PRADESH 269827 1454 2592 231 472 0 561 653
16 MAHARASHTRA 149764 872 293 31 4247 0 12235 20349
17 MANIPUR 2330 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 MEGHALAYA 5163 25 0 0 0 1 1 15
19 MIZORAM 4360 63 1 0 0 0 4 47
20 NAGALAND 99 53 0 0 0 0 3 0
21 ODISHA 203389 55729 1130 112 0 1 3 1
22 PUDUCHERRY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 PUNJAB 21323 1050 274 6 141 244 0 0
24 RAJASTHAN 188826 30 13470 2714 23296 2 5 1
25 SIKKIM 984 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
26 TAMIL NADU 81798 118 62 36 23 0 136 1
27 TELANGANA 148161 2757 9325 337 1272 0 164 14364
28 TRIPURA 13571 6364 0 0 0 0 2 334
29 UTTAR PRADESH 38825 4056 436 9 245 14 9 2
30 UTTARAKHAND 3556 71 5 0 0 0 1 10
31 WEST BENGAL 217708 27977 154 28 0 28427 9917 24285
Total 2427465 188477 51468 4322 39619 29091 36794 187759
Contaminated Habitations in 2016-17

23. S.No. State
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical Contaminants No. of Sources with
Bacteriological Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli (MPN /100
ml)
Coliform
1
ANDAMAN and
NICOBAR
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 ANDHRA PRADESH 168973 10250 9215 539 1277 0 121 22772
3
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH
10590 62 0 0 0 0 58 5
4 ASSAM 120165 45378 126 0 2 21 91 2252
5 BIHAR 118264 6346 2533 0 11 329 1 0
6 CHATTISGARH 50288 2446 166 4 5 0 1 0
7 GOA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 GUJARAT 140884 0 8 0 23 0 35 4463
9 HARYANA 36443 58 621 56 1 3 217 3497
10 HIMACHAL PRADESH 31180 9 1 1 1 0 2 52
11 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 19515 18 3 2 0 1 6 1
12 JHARKHAND 58589 10775 364 2 25 17 4 220
13 KARNATAKA 204864 10817 10685 212 8566 31 568 782
14 KERALA 118026 1698 4 2 12 0 12646 93653
15 MADHYA PRADESH 269827 1454 2592 231 472 0 561 653
16 MAHARASHTRA 149764 872 293 31 4247 0 12235 20349
17 MANIPUR 2330 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 MEGHALAYA 5163 25 0 0 0 1 1 15
19 MIZORAM 4360 63 1 0 0 0 4 47
20 NAGALAND 99 53 0 0 0 0 3 0
21 ODISHA 203389 55729 1130 112 0 1 3 1
22 PUDUCHERRY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 PUNJAB 21323 1050 274 6 141 244 0 0
24 RAJASTHAN 188826 30 13470 2714 23296 2 5 1
25 SIKKIM 984 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
26 TAMIL NADU 81798 118 62 36 23 0 136 1
27 TELANGANA 148161 2757 9325 337 1272 0 164 14364
28 TRIPURA 13571 6364 0 0 0 0 2 334
29 UTTAR PRADESH 38825 4056 436 9 245 14 9 2
30 UTTARAKHAND 3556 71 5 0 0 0 1 10
31 WEST BENGAL 217708 27977 154 28 0 28427 9917 24285
Total 2427465 188477 51468 4322 39619 29091 36794 187759
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical
Contaminants
No. of Sources with
Bacteriological
Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli
(MPN /100
ml)
Coliform
TOTAL 2427465 188477 51468 4322 39619 29091 36794 187759
Contaminated Habitations in 2016-17

24. S. No. District
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical
Contaminants
No. of Sources with
Bacteriological Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli (MPN /100
ml)
Coliform
1 AHMEDNAGAR 7233 123 0 11 40 0 291 920
2 AKOLA 607 0 0 0 3 0 7 70
3 AMRAVATI 5341 4 0 0 35 0 229 278
4 AURANGABAD 2276 0 0 0 195 0 479 686
5 BEED 3145 10 11 0 48 0 1052 1119
6 BHANDARA 4378 134 11 1 312 0 796 928
7 BULDANA 1800 1 1 0 36 0 90 207
8 CHANDRAPUR 7252 33 104 2 622 0 353 794
9 DHULE 2952 0 0 1 0 0 17 626
10 GADCHIROLI 4488 72 14 0 20 0 794 715
11 GONDIA 9770 77 32 1 276 0 960 1016
12 HINGOLI 1528 47 4 5 72 0 302 317
13 JALGAON 3774 0 1 0 4 0 72 107
14 JALNA 2614 2 0 0 227 0 212 956
15 KOLHAPUR 4181 3 1 0 6 0 788 569
16 LATUR 1243 2 0 0 32 0 239 268
17 NAGPUR 3778 23 6 0 45 0 15 289
18 NANDED 4608 14 26 4 481 0 1279 1303
19 NANDURBAR 10429 2 0 0 0 0 106 868
20 NASHIK 7493 154 43 5 671 0 543 532
21 OSMANABAD 1061 19 5 0 0 0 145 145
22 PALGHAR 6473 0 0 0 0 0 513 511
23 PARBHANI 2393 9 1 0 490 0 158 131
24 PUNE 9437 12 0 0 0 0 131 1777
25 RAIGAD 3536 2 0 0 0 0 63 406
26 RATNAGIRI 6333 1 0 0 0 0 698 763
27 SANGLI 4932 1 0 0 0 0 431 617
28 SATARA 10721 0 1 0 26 0 860 1005
29 SINDHUDURG 2979 1 0 0 0 0 91 317
30 SOLAPUR 3081 0 0 1 5 0 64 239
31 THANE 1967 2 0 0 0 0 176 259
32 WARDHA 4295 122 30 0 580 0 0 999
33 WASHIM 490 2 2 0 21 0 0 43
34 YAVATMAL 3176 0 0 0 0 0 281 569
Total 149764 872 293 31 4247 0 12235 20349

25. S. No. District
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical
Contaminants
No. of Sources with
Bacteriological Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli (MPN /100
ml)
Coliform
1 AHMEDNAGAR 7233 123 0 11 40 0 291 920
2 AKOLA 607 0 0 0 3 0 7 70
3 AMRAVATI 5341 4 0 0 35 0 229 278
4 AURANGABAD 2276 0 0 0 195 0 479 686
5 BEED 3145 10 11 0 48 0 1052 1119
6 BHANDARA 4378 134 11 1 312 0 796 928
7 BULDANA 1800 1 1 0 36 0 90 207
8 CHANDRAPUR 7252 33 104 2 622 0 353 794
9 DHULE 2952 0 0 1 0 0 17 626
10 GADCHIROLI 4488 72 14 0 20 0 794 715
11 GONDIA 9770 77 32 1 276 0 960 1016
12 HINGOLI 1528 47 4 5 72 0 302 317
13 JALGAON 3774 0 1 0 4 0 72 107
14 JALNA 2614 2 0 0 227 0 212 956
15 KOLHAPUR 4181 3 1 0 6 0 788 569
16 LATUR 1243 2 0 0 32 0 239 268
17 NAGPUR 3778 23 6 0 45 0 15 289
18 NANDED 4608 14 26 4 481 0 1279 1303
19 NANDURBAR 10429 2 0 0 0 0 106 868
20 NASHIK 7493 154 43 5 671 0 543 532
21 OSMANABAD 1061 19 5 0 0 0 145 145
22 PALGHAR 6473 0 0 0 0 0 513 511
23 PARBHANI 2393 9 1 0 490 0 158 131
24 PUNE 9437 12 0 0 0 0 131 1777
25 RAIGAD 3536 2 0 0 0 0 63 406
26 RATNAGIRI 6333 1 0 0 0 0 698 763
27 SANGLI 4932 1 0 0 0 0 431 617
28 SATARA 10721 0 1 0 26 0 860 1005
29 SINDHUDURG 2979 1 0 0 0 0 91 317
30 SOLAPUR 3081 0 0 1 5 0 64 239
31 THANE 1967 2 0 0 0 0 176 259
32 WARDHA 4295 122 30 0 580 0 0 999
33 WASHIM 490 2 2 0 21 0 0 43
34 YAVATMAL 3176 0 0 0 0 0 281 569
Total 149764 872 293 31 4247 0 12235 20349
Total
Sources
Tested
No. of Sources with Single Chemical
Contaminants
No. of Sources with
Bacteriological
Contaminants
Iron Fluoride Salinity Nitrate Arsenic
E-Coli (MPN
/100 ml)
Coliform
Total 149764 872 293 31 4247 0 12235 20349

26. Outline
• Background
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Challenges due to water quality in rural
habitations
• Status of water quality in rural
habitations
• Action plan for improving water safety
to meet SDG targets
• Conclusion

27. Action plan to improve rural water
quality monitoring
• Strengthening institutional
mechanism
• Optimise funding for improving
laboratory infrastructure
• Linking water quality to water safety
• Quality control and quality
assurance

28. Parameter 2017 2022
households with piped
water supply
35% 90%
Public (Stand) Post 20% 10%
Hand pumps 45% 10%
Strategic Plans For Rural Water Supply
Source: National Rural Drinking Water
Mission Guidelines, 2013

29. Case study of Madhya Pradesh
Population : 7.5 million
Rural Population : 72%
Area : 308, 252 km2
Districts : 51

30. Parameters monitored - State Level Lab
Physical parameters
1. Temperature
2. Colour
3. Odour
4. Turbidity
5. pH
Chemical parameters
6. Elect. Conductivity
7. Total Dissolved solids
8. Total Alkalinity
9. Chloride
10. Fluoride
11. Nitrate
12. Sulphate
13. Calcium (as Ca)
14. Magnesium (as Mg)
15. Total Hardness
16. Residual Chlorine
Metals
17. Iron
18. Manganese
19. Arsenic
Microbiological
20. Total Coliform
21. E-coli / Thermo tolerant Coliform
22. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
23. Biochemical Oxygen Demand ( BOD)
24. Chemical Oxygen Demand ( COD)
Treatability Related Tests
25. Chlorine Demand
26. Purity of alum, lime, bleaching
power, chlorine tablets, sodium
hypochlorite.
27. Coagulant dose

31. Water quality monitoring
Year Samples tested in type of lab
State District Sub
Division
Total
2013-14 2919 130318 207991 341228
2014-15 3610 144735 243669 392014
2015-16 3227 147869 269439 420535
2016-17 1899 168452 315349 410673

32. No. Parameter Number of labs out of 156 which are monitoring the
parameter
1 pH 153
2 Turbidity 152
3 TDS 140
4 Alkalinity 153
5 Choride 141
6 Total Hardness 151
7 Sulphate 107
8 Iron 127
9 Nitrate 127
10 Fluoride 137
11 Arsenic 60
12 Manganese 81
13 Total Coliform 113
14 Faecal Coliform 113
Parameters monitored by District and Sub Division Lab

33. Organogram of Water Quality Monitoring Cell
Executive Engineer, Quality
Control Unit Division, Bhopal
Director, WSO, State Water
Mission, Bhopal
Officer In Charge and
Quality Manager-NABL,
State Research Lab, Bhopal
4 Chief Engineers
13 Superintending Engineers
55 Executive Engineers
Lab Staff of Distt labs
Engineer In Chief
Principal Secretary, Govt of MP
Lab Staff of Sub Division labs

34. Water safety aspects
1. In case of microbiological contamination:
– Chlorination
– Improving sanitary conditions of the source
– IEC in community
2. In case of chemical contamination:
– Capping affected source
– Providing alternate safe surface or ground
water source
– Treatment of affected source as last resort

35. Conclusion
• Achieving SDG for water poses major
challenge
• Gradual improvement in rural water quality
monitoring and surveillance
• Water quality data is now being linked to
water safety interventions
• State-of-art water quality monitoring tools
would further improve achieving SDG
compliance

36. Thanks