Jal Shakti deptt tests 2.66 lakh drinking water samples across 6,122 villages in Janmmu and Kashmir during 2024-25

SRINAGAR: The drinking water supplied across the Union Territory is safe for consumption with its regular monitoring under a robust and transparent mechanism. A comprehensive water quality monitoring and surveillance system has been established in J&K, comprising a network of 02 Union Territory level and 20 district level NABL accredited labs besides 76 Sub-divisional level testing facilities.

During the financial year 2024–25, a total of 2.66 lakh water quality tests were conducted covering 6,122 villages in J&K. Out of these, only 78 samples were found to be contaminated, primarily due to turbidity, which is a temporary and seasonal phenomenon usually occurring during heavy rains. Immediate remedial measures were taken in 76 of these cases, resulting in a 98% rate of corrective action, which stands significantly higher than the national average of 62%. Moreover, the contamination rate of 0.03% in J&K is notably lower than the national contamination average of 4.1%, showcasing the UT’s better performance in ensuring water safety.

It is also pertinent to mention that during the ongoing financial year 2025–26, around 25,000 samples have already been tested, so far, and not a single case of contamination has been reported. These figures reflect the seriousness with which the department treats water safety.

The Department of Jal Shakti remains fully committed towards providing safe and clean drinking water to every household in Jammu & Kashmir. Any sporadic issue like those arising due to turbidity are being swiftly addressed through a well established protocol. The Department assures that the water supply in the UT is safe, routinely tested and among the best performing in the country in terms of quality assurance and responsiveness.