Introduction Safe drinking water and proper sanitation are important public health requirements, and providing these services is the mandated duty of city governments. Certain governments perform the task effectively. For instance, in Japan, tap water anywhere is safe to drink due to rigorous testing, and multiple stages of filtration and treatment. In addition, water utilities such as Tokyo Waterworks undertake routine inspections of water treatment plants and pipelines. [1] Similarly, Singapore’s National Water Agency ensures the safety of tap water such that further filtration is not required. Water samples are collected from reservoirs, waterworks and desalination plants, and distribution systems for laboratory testing. Moreover, online sensors monitor the quality at each stage in real-time, and advanced membrane technologies and ultraviolet disinfection methods are used to make wastewater ultra-clean and safe to drink. [2] In most developing nations, in contrast, the quality of drinking water and wastewater is a serious concern. India has been making efforts to provide an improved quality of water and sanitation services to all citizens. National initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission aim to provide households in all villages and statutory towns with piped water, while the Swachh Bharat Mission addresses the issue of wastewater treatment. [3] Additionally, a number of state and city governments have also implemented projects to improve water and sanitation services. Despite these measures, however, water quality-related problems persist.
Authors
- Attribution
- Rumi Aijaz, “Water and Sewage Quality in Delhi: Persistent Challenges and Ways Through,” ORF Issue Brief No. 753 , November 2024, Observer Research Foundation.
- Pages
- 18
- Published in
- India
