A prominent environmental group has sounded a dire alarm over the dangerously contaminated groundwater being supplied to Delhi's residents, warning the city's top administrators of an impending public health emergency. The Delhi-based activist collective, Earth Warriors, has written urgent letters to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among other officials.
Report Reveals Highest-Ever Contamination Levels
The warning is based on the disturbing findings of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) Post-Monsoon 2025 report. The document has flagged severe pollution in the capital's aquifers. Citing "highest-ever contamination levels," the activists highlighted that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) continues to rely on tube-wells pumping water with high concentrations of harmful substances.
These pollutants include excessive Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), nitrates, ammonia, fluoride, and other dangerous elements. Despite the known risks, this untreated and inadequately disinfected groundwater is still being channeled into households. The group asserts this practice is a clear violation of the fundamental right of citizens to access safe drinking water.
Systemic Failures and Inadequate Testing
The letter from Earth Warriors outlines critical systemic failures. It claims that the DJB's water testing protocol is severely lacking. Instead of checking for the 70-plus parameters prescribed under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, the board tests for only 23 to 25 parameters. This incomplete assessment means many contaminants likely go undetected.
Furthermore, plans to install advanced treatment systems for removing TDS and other contaminants have been pending for a long time and remain unimplemented. This inaction has allowed the crisis to deepen, directly exposing millions of Delhiites to health risks associated with consuming polluted water.
Demands for Immediate Action and Transparency
In response to this escalating crisis, Earth Warriors has put forth a set of immediate demands to the authorities. The group has sought urgent directions for the public disclosure of detailed tube-well water quality reports, ensuring transparency. They have called for the suspension of water supply from all failing and contaminated sources to prevent further harm.
The activists have also demanded the urgent commissioning of pending water treatment systems to make the groundwater safe for consumption. Finally, to address the root causes and prevent future lapses, they have requested an independent inquiry to fix accountability for the ongoing negligence. The collective appeal underscores the need for swift governmental intervention to avert a full-blown public health disaster in the national capital.
