Recently, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) released its Annual Ground Water Quality Report for 2025, highlighting serious concerns regarding groundwater contamination in India. This report sheds light on the critical state of groundwater resources and the need for immediate intervention.
The findings are based on an analysis of nearly 15,000 groundwater samples collected throughout the country during 2024. One of the most alarming discoveries is related to uranium contamination.
According to the report, approximately 13–15% of the sampled groundwater sources revealed uranium levels that exceeded permissible limits. Notably, in Delhi, between 13.25% and 15.66% of the samples surpassed the safe uranium threshold, ranking the city third after Punjab and Haryana. Regions such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and the North-Eastern states recorded lower levels of this contamination.
Nationally, the exceedance of uranium levels increased from 6.71% during the pre-monsoon period to 7.91% in the post-monsoon season, indicating a growing concern.
The contamination primarily results from the over-extraction of groundwater and unregulated borewell activities that disrupt subsurface geochemical conditions, leading to increased pollution.
Long-term exposure to contaminants like uranium, arsenic, and lead can lead to severe health issues including kidney disorders, neurological damage, skeletal deformities, and heightened cancer risks. Elevated levels of iron and manganese can also pose additional health threats, especially to infants and young children. Furthermore, groundwater contamination diminishes water potability and adversely impacts agriculture by allowing toxins to accumulate in soil and crops.
The report emphasizes the necessity for improved fertilizer management, the adoption of targeted water treatment technologies, strict regulation of industrial effluents, and ongoing monitoring of contamination hotspots. It also advocates for comprehensive hydrogeochemical mapping in urban centers like Delhi to better understand contamination pathways.
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element typically found in granite and other rock formations, with its average concentration in the Earth's crust ranging from 2.8 ppm to 4 ppm. It may enter groundwater through both natural processes and human activities, including mining, coal and fuel combustion, and the use of phosphate fertilizers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a provisional guideline value of 30 micrograms per liter (µg/L) for uranium in drinking water, highlighting its serious health risks.
Numerous government initiatives aim to address these challenges:
Q1. What are the main findings of the Ground Water Quality Report 2025?
Answer: The report highlights concerning levels of uranium contamination in groundwater, with 13–15% of sources exceeding permissible limits, posing health risks to the population.
Q2. How does uranium contamination affect health?
Answer: Long-term exposure to uranium can lead to kidney disorders, neurological issues, skeletal deformities, and increased cancer risk, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like children.
Q3. What measures are being taken to preserve groundwater resources in India?
Answer: The government has implemented various initiatives like MGNREGS and Atal Bhujal Yojana, focusing on water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and improved groundwater management.
Q4. Why is groundwater contamination a concern for agriculture?
Answer: Contaminated groundwater can lead to toxins accumulating in soil and crops, reducing agricultural productivity and posing health risks to consumers.
Q5. What is the WHO guideline for uranium in drinking water?
Answer: The World Health Organization has set a provisional guideline of 30 micrograms per liter (µg/L) for uranium to safeguard public health from its harmful effects.
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