As Indore reels from deadly water contamination, data shows only 2 of Delhi’s 25 public water labs meet global standards

Indore water contamination: As Indore grapples with a severe water contamination crisis that has triggered illness and deaths in the Bhagirathpura area, serious questions are being raised about water quality monitoring in other major cities, including the national capital, Delhi.

Read more: Indore water contamination reason explained

Recent records show that despite being India’s capital, Delhi ranks at the bottom among states and Union Territories when it comes to accredited public water and wastewater testing laboratories.

Only two Delhi water labs meet global standards

According to official records cited by TOI, only two of the more than 25 public water testing laboratories run by the Delhi government are currently accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

Read more: Brother’s chilling account of Indore victim’s final hours as residents live in fear; What we know so far

NABL, an autonomous body under the government of India, certifies labs that meet international standards for accuracy, reliability and quality control.

At present, only two Delhi Jal Board (DJB) zonal laboratories, located in Haiderpur and Wazirabad, are NABL-accredited. Several other DJB labs reportedly lost their accreditation in October.

Notably, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) water laboratory, relied upon by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for monthly Yamuna water analysis and sewage testing, is not NABL-accredited.

Indore water crisis puts spotlight on testing failures

The issue comes at a sensitive time, as Madhya Pradesh has reported multiple deaths in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area after residents fell ill from consuming contaminated drinking water.

People from the locality began reporting to hospitals with complaints of diarrhoea and vomiting after sewage from a toilet built near a police check post allegedly mixed with the drinking water supply. Authorities are investigating how sewage entered the water pipeline.

The incident has renewed focus on whether cities are equipped to detect contamination early through reliable testing mechanisms.

Delhi’s poor accreditation record compared to other states

A December 4 document from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry highlights stark contrasts between Delhi and other regions. States such as Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Sikkim and Nagaland have achieved 100% accreditation of their public water testing laboratories.

Haryana has accredited 98% of its labs, Assam 94%, and Uttar Pradesh 66%. By contrast, Delhi’s accreditation rate is below 8%.

Nationwide, progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has led to the establishment of around 2,847 water quality testing laboratories, with 1,678, about 59%, now NABL-accredited or recognised.

Health risks and conflicting test results

As per the TOI report, experts warn that the lack of accredited labs poses serious public health risks, particularly in a city that has recently seen a spike in cholera cases and repeated concerns over sewage treatment quality.

Data from NABL-certified laboratories, obtained through an RTI by activist group Team Earth Warrior, showed that most of Delhi’s sewage treatment plants failed to meet standards on key parameters such as faecal coliform, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids and ammonia.

However, comparable data released by the DPCC for the same period showed most treatment plants as compliant, raising concerns over inconsistent reporting.

Activists raise red flags

Environmental activist Pankaj Kumar of Team Earth Warrior termed Delhi’s record “deeply worrying”.

“If a report is not from a NABL-accredited lab, it holds little credibility. Courts and international agencies do not accept such reports,” he said, adding that the situation is a national embarrassment for the capital.

A Delhi government official said the DJB has applied for NABL accreditation for additional laboratories, though no response was received from the DPCC regarding its lab status.

Why this matters beyond Delhi

As the Indore water contamination crisis shows, delays or inaccuracies in detecting polluted water can have devastating consequences. Experts say the gap in accredited testing facilities increases the risk of outbreaks going unnoticed until it is too late.

With ageing infrastructure, rising pollution and growing populations, reliable water testing is increasingly critical, not just for Delhi, but for urban India as a whole.

Inputs from TOI