Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has released the Annual Groundwater Quality Report for the entire country for the year 2024.

• For the first time, this report introduced Standard Operating Procedure for groundwater quality monitoring, ensuring uniformity in data collection, analysis and interpretation.

Status of Groundwater 

• India is the largest groundwater user in world (more than 25% of global total).

• 87% groundwater extracted is used in agricultural sector and about 11% in domestic sector. 

Key Points

• The groundwater quality assessment was carried out by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB).

• This report is the first report to adopt Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring.

• It ensures uniformity in data collection, analysis and interpretation.

• The use of internationally recognized methods further enhances the reliability and technical rigor of the findings.

• This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the groundwater quality of India through background monitoring, trend analysis and hotspot identification.

• Regional Variability: 100% of water samples met BIS standards in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, etc.

• While Rajasthan, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh faced widespread contamination.

• Irrigation Suitability: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura and others have excellent category water for irrigation.

• Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc. fall in very high sodium range and are unsuitable for use in irrigation practices.

• Specific Contaminants of Concern: Nitrate (Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra), Fluoride (Haryana, Karnataka), Arsenic (floodplains of Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers); Uranium (Rajasthan, Punjab). 

Points of the Report

• As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country is estimated at 446.90 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM).

• Keeping an allocation for natural discharge, the annual exploitable groundwater resource is estimated at 406.19 BCM.

• Annual groundwater exploitation for all uses is 245.64 BCM.

• The average level of groundwater exploitation for the country is 60.47%.

• Total annual groundwater recharge has increased significantly (15 BCM) and depletion (3 BCM) in 2024 from the 2017 assessment.

• Recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures has shown a consistent increase over the last five assessments.

• In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM as compared to 2023. 

• With respect to the year 2017, recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures has increased by 11.36 BCM (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).

Key factors contributing to decline in groundwater quality

• Industrialization: Discharge of untreated industrial waste, including heavy metals, chemicals, and solvents. 

• Agricultural Practices: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in farming.

• Urbanization: Due to improper waste disposal, sewage leakage, and landfill contamination.

• Climate Change: Changes in precipitation patterns and over-extraction affect replenishment of aquifers. 

Significance of the Report

• This report serves as an important scientific baseline for policy makers, researchers and stakeholders engaged in groundwater management.

• It can be used by various stakeholders to take appropriate remedial measures and plan for the future.