In a startling revelation that underscores a significant governance failure, New Delhi has been found at the very bottom of the list of all Indian states and Union Territories for the accreditation of its public water and wastewater testing laboratories. This critical shortcoming directly impacts the reliability of water quality data in a city already grappling with pollution and public health scares.
A Capital in Crisis: The Accreditation Deficit
Despite being home to over 25 public water testing facilities under the Delhi government, only two currently hold accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). This autonomous body sets global standards for accuracy and reliability in lab testing. Shockingly, the water lab of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), which the Central Pollution Control Board relies on for monthly Yamuna river quality analysis, operates without this crucial certification.
As per the latest NABL records, only the Delhi Jal Board's zonal labs in Haiderpur and Wazirabad are accredited. Other DJB labs lost their accreditation in October. This paints a grim picture for the capital, especially when compared to other regions. A December 4 document from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry shows states like Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Sikkim, and Nagaland have achieved 100% accreditation for their public labs. Haryana stands at 98%, Assam at 94%, and Uttar Pradesh at 66%. Meanwhile, Delhi's accreditation rate languishes at less than 8%.
Public Health and Data Integrity at Stake
The findings raise a massive red flag for public health monitoring in Delhi, which witnessed a spike in cholera cases this year. Under the central government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), states are mandated to get their water quality testing labs accredited to ensure data credibility. Nationwide, progress has been significant, with 1,678 out of approximately 2,847 labs (59%) being NABL-accredited or recognized. Delhi's performance stands in stark, embarrassing contrast.
"This abysmal record is a national embarrassment for the capital," said Pankaj Kumar, an activist from Team Earth Warrior. He emphasized, "The NABL report must be adhered to.... If it's not NABL, then the report is merely a scrap of paper, it is invalid. No court, no international agency would hold it valid."
Discrepancies in Data and Environmental Impact
The consequences of unaccredited labs extend to questionable environmental data. RTI data obtained by activists from one NABL-certified lab revealed that in June 2025, barring four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), 37 plants failed to meet standards on eight critical parameters like faecal coliform, BOD, and ammonia. This untreated discharge flows into drains that feed the Yamuna.
Alarmingly, data for the same month from the unaccredited DPCC lab showed an exponential difference, deeming most STPs fit. This discrepancy highlights the crisis of credibility. A Delhi government official stated that DJB has applied for NABL accreditation for some labs, but no reply was received from DPCC on the matter.
The situation exposes a dangerous gap in the capital's infrastructure for ensuring safe water and managing pollution, putting the health of millions at risk and undermining environmental restoration efforts for the critically polluted Yamuna river.
