New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) Apart from air pollution, there are grave concerns for the people of Delhi due to rising uranium levels in the city’s groundwater posing grave health risks.
Delhi’s groundwater is facing a serious health crisis, with heavy metal contamination among the highest in India. According to the Central Ground Water Board’s (CGWB) latest annual report, the capital records alarming levels of uranium, lead, nitrate, fluoride, and salinity-related indicators, posing risks to residents who rely on borewell and hand pump water for daily use.
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element. Concerns have been raised over the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, which was made public in a report recently released, indicating that 13 to 15 percent of the total collected water samples show uranium contamination. Released under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Central Ground Water Board’s (CGWB) report is based on around 15,000 samples collected across India in 2024.
It revealed that of the 86 monitored locations in Delhi, several parameters in the samples exceeded the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking water limits.
In 2024, groundwater quality samples were collected from the 5,368 identified trend stations during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons to assess the impact of seasonal recharge on groundwater quality. Standard procedures as given in APHA, 2012 (Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Waste Water, American Public Health Association) were used for sample collection and analysis.
The objective of this report is to examine a wide spectrum of inorganic water quality parameters in groundwater used for drinking and agricultural purposes.
Groundwater quality varies considerably across India. In certain states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir, 100 percent of the water samples met BIS standards.
In contrast, states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh faced widespread contamination. Interestingly, the monsoon season showed some improvement in water quality, particularly in areas affected by high electrical conductivity (EC) and fluoride. Post-monsoon, a modest reduction in EC levels and fluoride was observed in some regions, indicating that monsoon recharge can temporarily improve water quality by diluting salts.
Water with uranium concentrations above the recommended maximum permissible concentration of 30 ppb is not safe for drinking purposes, as continuous intake can damage internal organs.
Elevated uranium concentrations in drinking water have been associated with various epidemiological studies, including urinary tract cancer and kidney toxicity.
A recent study found a strong correlation between uranium concentration in drinking water and uranium levels in bone, suggesting that bones are good indicators of uranium exposure via ingestion of drinking water. Such studies highlight the need for further assessment of uranium’s adverse health effects on humans and the environment in countries where elevated uranium concentrations in drinking water have been observed.
High uranium concentrations observed in groundwater may result from local geology, anthropogenic activities, urbanization, and the use of phosphate fertilizers in large quantities for agriculture. Studies have shown that phosphate fertilizers contain uranium concentrations ranging from 1 mg/kg to 68.5 mg/kg (Brindha K et al., 2011). Hence, phosphate fertilizers manufactured from phosphate rocks may contribute uranium to groundwater in agricultural regions.
There are several mitigation measures for uranium contamination. Multiple treatment technologies are available, including adsorption, coagulation, extraction, reverse osmosis, and evaporation. The selection of the appropriate method depends on cost, efficiency, and local conditions, with combined or need-based approaches recommended for the best results.
For iron and manganese, remedial options include aeration, filtration, use of iron or manganese removal plants, and chemical oxidation. Reverse osmosis and specialized media filters are suitable for smaller-scale or household applications.
To address lead contamination, key measures include the installation of filtration systems (activated carbon, RO, or ion exchange), strict regulation of industrial effluents, lead testing in public buildings, and hydrogeochemical mapping.
Delhi groundwater contamination: Uranium, Lead, and Nitrate levels reach alarming highs
