By admin 
Why don’t people demand clean drinking water from their taps? Until they do, India’s water problem won’t go away
Right now, the Yamuna River is a hot topic in Delhi, with politicians from AAP and BJP blaming each other. But instead of focusing on that, let’s ask a bigger question—why is tap water not safe to drink in most parts of India?
According to a government survey in 2022-23, about 95% of Indian households have access to some form of drinking water—like piped water, tube wells, or packaged water. But that doesn’t mean all of it is safe to drink. In fact, India ranks 120 out of 122 countries in water quality. Almost 70% of our water is contaminated! Every day, 40 million litres of dirty wastewater flow into rivers and lakes, and only a small part of it gets cleaned.
Even if the water is treated, it often becomes unsafe while traveling through old and damaged pipes. Many water pipes run right next to sewage lines, increasing the chance of contamination. Also, since water is supplied only for a few hours a day, low pressure in pipes allows dirty groundwater to seep in. This means the tap water in most places is not safe to drink.
Some cities do better than others. In 2019, Mumbai’s tap water was officially declared 100% safe—but just before the monsoon, cases of waterborne diseases increased. Clearly, the problem is far from solved.
The real question is—why don’t people demand safe drinking water from their leaders? Politicians don’t seem to care because it’s not a big election issue. Until voters start asking for it, India won’t get the investment needed for clean and safe tap water. Maybe it’s time to vote for water!
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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