March 22, 2025, New Delhi: In December last year, three people were reported to have died in Chennai due to suspected consumption of contaminated piped water, a reminder that together with having access to piped water government should also ensure good quality water supply. In many cities and towns, while supply may be adequate, quality remains a major concern with the civic bodies not taking proper measures.

Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report 2018 of NITI Aayog had stated that about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water. In the same report, NITI Aayog had projected that about 600 million people may face water stress thus constituting about 40% of India's projected population by 2030.

A survey of more than 5.21 lakh household across 485 cities conducted by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry, christened the first "Pey Jal Survekshan" (drinking water survey), revealed only 46 cities or municipalities had a 100-per cent pass rate of samples taken from households and water treatment plants. Given that there are 4,000 cities and towns in India, with 300 cities having a population of over 1,00,000, the results were self-revealing of the gaps in an essential service. The findings, announced in March 2024, were based on direct observation and assessments carried out in 830 water treatment facilities, 941 water bodies, 1,044 used water treatment facilities and 2,005 parks visited for assessing availability of rainwater harvesting structures, according to the official report. Another survey conducted by LocalCircles in 2024 found only 4% urban Indian households surveyed stating that they get drinkable quality water from their local body while 41% stated that the quality of water they receive is good but not of drinkable quality.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019, the central government started an initiative to provide safe and ample drinking water to all rural households. Till October 2024, the government has been able to extend tap water connections to 15.20 crore rural households, covering over 78% of all rural households in India, according to a SBI Research report. At its core, the Jal Jeevan Mission operates on a decentralised and community-driven model, prioritising the active involvement of local communities. By encouraging community participation in planning, implementation, and maintenance, the Mission not only ensures the sustainability of water supply systems but also instils a sense of ownership and empowerment among the rural masses.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has been allocated INR 74,226 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, with most of it being allotted to the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) which aims to provide tap water connections to rural households. Presenting her eighth consecutive budget in February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that under JJM, which has been extended till 2028, the focus will be on quality of infrastructure and operation and maintenance of rural piped water supply schemes through the Jan Bhagidari scheme. "Separate MoUs will be signed with states and UTs to ensure sustainable and citizen-centric water services delivery," she said.

So far, 15 crore households, representing % of India's rural population, have been provided access to potable tap water. Striving for 100% coverage in rural areas, the focus remains on service delivery, ensuring regular and quality water supply.

While per capita available water in India is projected to decrease or remain the same, per capita water use is projected to increase from 85 litres per capita per day (lpcd) in 2000 to 125 lpcd by 2025 and 170 lpcd by 2050. While the government may feel happy in the belief that safe potable water is being provided to most people in the country, an advisory to travellers from the US is an eyeopener. It states: Drinking water sourced from taps in India contains contaminants that render it unsafe for human consumption. Hence, it is generally recommended that people avoid drinking tap water in India.

On the occasion of World Water Day, in a new survey, LocalCircles has strived to find out how citizens of India feel about the quality of tap water supplied to their homes and what do they do if the water is not of desirable quality. The survey received over 30,0000 responses from households located in over 302 districts of the country. 66% respondents were men while 34% respondents were women. 43% respondents were from tier 1, 25% from tier 2 and 32% respondents were from tier 3, 4 & 5 districts.

Only 30% urban Indian households surveyed rate the quality of piped water they get from local body as good

The survey first asked citizens, “How do you rate the quality of piped water that comes to your home from the local municipal/ water department or panchayat?” Out of 14,941 who responded to the question 14% stated “very good”; 16% stated “good”; 30% stated “average”; 21% stated "poor”; 7% stated "very poor” and 12% “do not get piped water at my home”. To sum up, only 30% urban Indian households surveyed rate the quality of piped water they get from local body as good. What is also noteworthy is that 12% of the households surveyed don’t have access to piped water in their homes.

Only 6% urban Indian households surveyed get drinkable quality water from their local body; 62% using some kind of modern filtration mechanism

Given the problems with the quality of tap water and risk to health, most household use different means to make it drinkable. The survey asked household representatives, “How do you purify water at home for drinking, cooking, etc.?” Out of 15,608 who responded to the question 31% stated they “use a water purifier”; 31% stated they “use a RO system”; 3% stated they “use chlorination, alum, other minerals”; 14% stated they “boil” the water; 3% stated they “use clay vessels”; 3% stated they “use other ways” not mentioned; 6% stated “we do not need to purify water as water is supplied pure”; 3% stated "Don’t purify water and get bottled water supply instead for drinking/ cooking”; 3% stated "don’t purify water currently and consume as it comes”; and 3% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, only 6% urban Indian households surveyed get drinkable quality water from their local body; 62% using some kind of modern filtration mechanism.

As we mark the World Water Day, this survey should serve as a reminder that much more needs to be done to ensure potable water supply to all households. The study reveals that only 30% of urban Indian households surveyed rate the quality of piped water they get from local body as good. However, only 6% urban Indian households surveyed get drinkable quality water from their local body and can consume it directly without filtration or boiling while 62% of respondents stated that they are using some kind of modern filtration mechanism. It is telling that the government’s promise of safe drinking water at home through taps is getting translated to mere piped supply as the local bodies are not rigorously ensuring that supplies from the processing plants and pipes are maintaining proper standards. Despite the best efforts of most households, drinking water not being up to proper standards can result in more people continuing to fall sick. While the new survey shows that there is minor improvement as against last year, it is far from being satisfactory.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 30,000 responses from households located in over 302 districts of the country. 66% respondents were men while 34% respondents were women. 43% respondents were from tier 1, 25% from tier 2 and 32% respondents were from tier 3, 4 & 5 districts. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.