Drinking water quality monitoring and development of surveillance mechanisms - A pilot study done by NEERI in New Delhi

The WHO guidelines for drinking water quality aim to protect public health and the key way to ensure this is through the adoption of Water Safety Plans (WSP). WSP includes setting of health targets, risk analysis and its assessment to identify priority hazardous scenarios and management of the risk.

This report brings together the status of drinking water quality of the water supplied by Delhi Jal Board in a select area in Delhi from the associated water treatment plant, viz. Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant and its associated distribution network.

This study was undertaken for performance evaluation of the various components of the water supply system including water treatment, storage, distribution network, assessment of water quality at consumer ends and to identify risks involved during various stages of water supply. It was carried out in a select area in Delhi, which included varying cross-sections of the society, that is from slums to HIG.

The results of the study are of significant importance, in that they bring out the status of the treated water quality, and surveillance mechanism to be adopted to ensure safe water supplies. Recommendations have been delineated for the improvement of the existing management practices. Some of the important conclusions of the study are:

• Higher contamination was found in slum and LIG areas, while none in Societies and HIG areas. Contamination is attributed to poor handling of water being supplied.
• Better control and management practices in the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant as compared to others.
• Improperly maintained service reservoirs responsible for end user contamination.
• Lack of accuracy in the health data collected by the municipal corporation.

Download Drinking water quality monitoring and development of surveillance mechanisms to meet water safety plan - A pilot study done by NEERI in New Delhi from the WHO India website.