Lok Sabha Question No. 579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: TDS in Drinking Water
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

No. 579

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 579

TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 19, 2017

## TDS IN DRINKING WATER

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  OF  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)  in drinking water being supplied in New Delhi is not within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO)  and is contaminated  with  chemicals/mud/rust  which  is  causing health problems and diseases;
- (b) If  so,  the  details  of  the  TDS/mineral  contents  in  drinking water in the region;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  mechanism  put  in  place  for  testing contaminated drinking water ;
- (d)    the  outcome  of  the  testing  of  drinking  water  conducted
- during the last three years; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for supplying RO treated drinking water in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) &  (b):      Delhi  Jal  Board  (DJB)  has  informed  that  it  is supplying of drinking water  to the residents of Delhi from all available  sources  as  per  drinking  water  specifications  BIS. 10500-2012  by  conducting  its  own  in  house  test  on  treated water  to  ascertain  water  quality  in  distribution  network  and

upto consumers end and total dissolved solids/mineral contents  in  drinking  water  in  the  region  are  within  desirable limits  of  BIS/WHO.    In  case  of  any  possible  contamination  in potable  water,  the  quality is  again  certified  by  feedback reports after remedial action regularly.

New  Delhi  Municipal  Council  (NDMC)  has  informed  that  in NDMC area the bulk of water is being supplied by DJB, which is found within the parameter units set by BIS/WHO.

(c): DJB has informed that it has  eight zonal labs all over Delhi covering  each  command  areas  to  ascertain  water  quality  in distribution network and up to the consumer end  in two shifts for  physio-chemical  &  bacteriological  examinations  and  near about  400  to  450  water  samples  are  being  collected  from distribution  network  and  consumer  end  on  daily  basis.  The complaints of water quality contamination from the individuals, are attended on priority basis. Besides, prompt remedial action to  improve  unsatisfactory   water  quality  is  taken  by  the  area engineering staff and DJB provides drinking water through its tankers to the consumer till the contaminated area is rectified. DJB also gets it water ensured through an independent agency namely  National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)  Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology,  Government  of India.

NDMC has informed that as and when the contaminated/muddy complaints received,  the water samples from affected area are collected and the same are tested in its water test laboratory of NDMC.

(d): DJB and NDMC have informed that the parameter for water tests  for  last  three  years  were  found    to  be  within  the permissible limits.

(e): NDMC has informed that the only potable water is supplied in  its  area  received  directly  from  DJB.  However,  facilities  for supplying  Reverse  Osmosis  (RO)  treated  drinking  water  by NDMC is not available at present. At few locations water ATMs have  been  installed  by  NDMC,  RO  treated  water  is  being supplied in water glasses on payment/free basis, depending on location i.e. commercial, hospitals, schools, etc.

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