ENVIS Centre on Control of Pollution Water, Air and Noise

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)

MANDATE FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING

Government of India enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 to maintain wholesomeness of aquatic resources. The act prescribes various functions for the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level.

 

The main functions of the Central Pollution Control Board are as follows:

* To advise the Central Government on any matter concerning restoration and maintaining the wholesomeness of aquatic resources and the prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.

* To plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.

* To provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.

* To carry out and sponsor investigations and research related to prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.

* To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data related to water pollution; and

* To lay down and annul standards for the quality of water in streams and wells.

 

The main functions of the State Pollution Control Boards are as follows:

* To plan a comprehensive programme for prevention, control and abatement of water pollution and to secure the execution thereof;

* To advise the State Government on any matter concerning prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.

* To collect and disseminate information related to water pollution.

* To collaborate with Central Pollution Control Board in programme related to prevention, control and abatement of water pollution; and

* To inspect air pollution control areas, assess quality of water and to take steps for prevention, control and abatement of water pollution in such areas.

 

To perform the above functions, CPCB needs continuous monitoring of water quality in the country. Keeping this fact in mind, CPCB has established a network of water quality monitoring.

The water quality monitoring is performed with following main objectives in mind:

* For rational planning of pollution control strategies and their prioritisation;

* To assess nature and extent of pollution control needed in different water bodies or their part;

* To evaluate effectiveness of pollution control measures already is existence;

* To evaluate water quality trend over a period of time;

* To assess assimilative capacity of a water body thereby reducing cost on pollution control;

* To understand the environmental fate of different pollutants.

* To assess the fitness of water for different uses.

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)

MONITORING NETWORKS

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has established a network of monitoring stations on aquatic resources across the country. The present network comprises of 4111 stations in 28 States and 8 Union Territories spread over the country. The monitoring network covers Rivers, Lakes, Tanks, Ponds, Creeks/Marine/Sea/Coastal, Canals, Drains, Ground water, STP and Water Treatment Plant (Raw Water). Water Body wise number of locations under NWMP is as follows:

 

Type of Water Body	No. of Monitoring Locations
River	2021
Lake	341
Pond	129
Tank	138
Creek/Marine/Sea/Coastal	63
Canal	65
Drain	60
Ground water	1233
STP	56
Water Treatment Plant ((Raw Water)	5
Grand Total	4111

 

 

STATE WISE STATIONS UNDER NWMP

State	River	Lake	Pond	Tank	Canal	Creek Marine Sea/ Coastal	Drain	Ground Water	STP	Water Treatment Plant (Raw Water)	Grand Total
ANDHRA PRADESH	42	3	-	1	6	11	4	33	1	-	101
ARUNACHAL PRADESH	29	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	29
ASSAM	102	6	27	1	-	-	-	64	-	-	200
BIHAR	96	3	2	-	-	-	-	70	-	-	171
CHANDIGARH	-	1	-	-	-	-	3	7	-	-	11
CHHATTISGARH	29	1	1	-	-	-	-	8	-	-	39
DAMAN & DIU, DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	-	-	25
DELHI	10	4	-	-	2	-	9	45	6	-	76
GOA	32	9	-	-	3	11	-	10	2	-	67
GUJARAT	67	20	2	1	3	3	-	89	2	-	187
HARYANA	20	3	1	-	14	-	1	29	-	3	71
HIMACHAL PRADESH	142	5	23	-	-	-	-	49	-	-	219
JAMMU & KASHMIR	64	36	-	-	-	-	1	23	-	-	124
JHARKHAND	65	4	4	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	76
KARNATAKA	109	80	-	95	-	-	1	2	-	-	287
KERALA	75	16	2	-	3	-	-	34	1	-	131
LAKSHADWEEP	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	42	-	-	45
MADHYA PRADESH	158	22	12	1	-	-	-	54	-	-	247
MAHARASHTRA	162	-	-	-	-	34	10	50	-	-	256
MANIPUR	41	5	13	-	1	-	-	10	-	-	70
MEGHALAYA	64	7	-	-	-	-	-	13	-	-	84
MIZORAM	46	1	2	1	-	-	-	26	-	-	76
NAGALAND	17	2	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	-	29
ODISHA	128	7	8	-	9	4	4	90	3	-	253
PUDUCHERRY	6	3	-	-	-	-	-	22	-	-	31
PUNJAB	61	3	3	-	-	-	9	46	8	-	130
RAJASTHAN	35	17	1	-	5	-	-	141	-	-	199
SIKKIM	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	19
TAMIL NADU	86	8	-	1	5	-	5	22	16	-	143
TELANGANA	55	50	13	37	-	-	13	45	11	-	224
TRIPURA	38	8	10	-	7	-	-	57	-	-	120
UTTAR PRADESH	115	2	2	-	1	-	-	40	-	2	162
UTTARAKHAND	39	2	-	-	4	-	-	19	3	-	67
WEST BENGAL	59	13	-	-	2	-	-	68	-	-	142
Grand Total	2021	341	129	138	65	63	60	1233	56	5	4111

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)

POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES

IDENTIFICATION OF POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES

The water quality data under national water quality monitoring programme for the year 2016 and 2017 is analysed statistically and monitoring locations exceeding the water quality criteria are identified as polluted.

The polluted locations in a continuous sequence are defined as polluted river stretches and categorised in five priority classes based on BOD concentration exceeding to BOD levels >30 mg/l, BOD between 20&30 mg/l, BOD between 10&20mg/l, BOD between 6-10 mg/l and BOD between 3& 6 mg/l.

CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZATION

The rivers have been prioritized based on the concentration of BOD in five classes from priority I to V. The criteria of each priority are elaborated indicating the concentration range of BOD in mg/l.

Criteria for Priority 1

• Monitoring locations exceeding BOD 30 mg/l has been considered as it is the standard for discharge of treated sewage from sewage treatment plants and general standard for effluent discharge from effluent treatment plants to rivers/streams it appears without dilution.(River locations having water quality exceeding discharge standards for BOD to fresh water sources)
• All monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 6 mg/l on all occasions.
• Monitoring locations exceeding 3 mg/l BOD are not meeting desired water quality criteria but does not affect to Dissolved Oxygen level in water bodies. If BOD exceeds 6mg/l in water body, the Dissolved Oxygen is reduced below desired levels.
• The raw water having BOD levels upto 5 mg/l are does not form complex chemicals on chlorination for municipal water supplies. Hence the water bodies having BOD more than 6 mg/l are considered as polluted and identified for remedial action.

Criteria for Priority 2

• Monitoring locations having BOD between 20-30 mg/l.
• All monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 6 mg/l on all occasions.

Criteria for Priority 3

• Monitoring locations having BOD between 10-20 mg/l.
• All monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 6 mg/l on all occasions.

Criteria for Priority 4

• Monitoring locations having BOD between 6-10 mg/l.

Criteria for Priority 5

• Monitoring locations having BOD between 3-6 mg/l.
• The locations exceeding desired water quality of 3mg/l BOD.

NUMBER OF STRETCHES- PRIORITY-WISE : The priority wise number of river stretches are given below:-

Priority	Number of Stretches
Priority 1	45
Priority 2	16
Priority 3	43
Priority 4	72
Priority 5	175
Total	351

STATUS OF POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES IN INDIA

The assessment of water quality for identification of Polluted River Stretches has found that there are 31 States and Union Territories having rivers and streams not meeting water quality criteria.
The state of Maharashtra has highest number of 53 polluted river stretches followed by the Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Tamilnadu, Nagaland, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Punjab, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Haryana and Delhi.

Table : STATE-WISE NUMBERS OF POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES IDENTIFIED IN YEAR 2018

State-wise  number of Polluted River Stretches identified in Year 2018
Name of the State / UT	Total No. of Identified Polluted River stretches (PRS)
Andhra Pradesh	5
Assam	44
Bihar	6
Chhattisgarh	5
DD & DNH	1
Delhi	1
Goa	11
Gujarat	20
Haryana	2
Himachal Pradesh	7
J & K	9
Jharkhand	7
Karnataka	17
Kerala	21
Madhya Pradesh	22
Maharashtra	53
Manipur	9
Meghalaya	7
Mizoram	9
Nagaland	6
Odisha	19
Puducherry	2
Punjab	4
Rajasthan	2
Sikkim	4
Tamil Nadu	6
Telangana	8
Tripura	6
UP	12
Uttarakhand	9
West Bengal	17
Grand Total	351

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)

PARAMETERS UNDER NATIONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)

WATER QUALITY CRITERIA

 

Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing Waters click here

Designated Best Use Water Quality Criteria

Designated Best Use Water Quality Criteria
Designated-best-Use/ Beneficial Use	Classification of water	Criteria
Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection	A	1. Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100 ml shall be 50 or less 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 3. Dissolved Oxygen 6 mg/l or more 4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C 2 mg/l or less
Outdoor bathing (organised)	B	1. Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100 ml shall be 500 or less 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 3. Dissolved Oxygen 5 mg/l or more 4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C 3 mg/l or less
Drinking  water source after conventional treatment  and disinfection	C	1. Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100 ml shall be 5000 or less 2. pH between 6 and 9 3. Dissolved Oxygen 4 mg/l or more 4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C 3 mg/l or less
Propagation of wild life and fisheries	D	1. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 2. Dissolved Oxygen 4 mg/l or more 3. Free Ammonia (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less
Irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste  disposal	E	1. pH between 6.0 and 8.5 2. Electrical Conductivity at 25 °C micro mhos/cm maximum 2250 3. Sodium absorption ratio maximum 26 4. Boron maximum 2 mg/l

Water Quality Standards for Coastal Water Marine Outfalls click here

World Health Organization (WHO) GUIDELINES

 

WHO GUIDELINES FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY

WHO produces international norms on water quality and human health in the form of guidelines that are used as the basis for regulation and standard setting, in developing and developed countries worldwide. The quality of drinking water is a powerful environmental determinant of health. Assurance of drinking water safety is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne diseases. The guidelines developed by WHO are prepared through a vast global consultative process involving WHO member states (India is the member state), national authorities and international agencies, in consultation with the WHO Expert Advisory Panel.

Parameters	Standard limits as per WHO guidelines (mg/L)
Acrylamide	0.0005
Alachor	0.02
Aldicarb	0.01
Aldrin and Dieldrin	0.00003
Ammonia	1.5
Antimony	0.02
Arsenic	0.01
Atrazine	0.002
Barium	0.7
Benzene	0.01
Benzo(α)pyrene	0.0007
Boron	0.5
Bromate	0.01
Bromodichloromethane (BDCM)	0.06
Bromoform	0.1
Cadmium	0.003
Carbofuran	0.007
Carbon tetrachloride	0.004
Chlorate	0.7
Chlordane	0.0002
Chloramines	0.5 – 1.5
Chloride	200 – 300
Chlorine	5
Chlorite	0.7
Chloroform	0.3
Chlorotoluron	0.03
Chlorpyrifos	0.03
Chromium	0.05
Colour in drinking water	No visible colour
Copper	2.0
Cyanazine	0.0006
Cyanide	0.07
1,2-Dichlorobenzene	1.0
1,4-Dichlorobenzene	0.3
1,2-Dichloroethane	0.03
Dichloromethane	0.02
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid	0.03
DDT and metabolites	0.001
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate	0.008
1,2-Dichloroethylene	0.05
1,2-Dichloropropane	0.04
Dimethonate	0.006
1,4-Dioxane	0.05
Dissolved oxygen	No health-based guideline value is recommended
Edetic acid (EDTA)	0.6
Endrin	0.0006
Epichlorohydrin	0.0004
Ethylbenzene	0.3
Fenoprop	0.009
Fluoride	1.5
Hexachlorobutadiene	0.0006
Iron	No health-based guideline value is proposed
Isoproturon	0.009
Lead	0.01
Lindane	0.002
Manganese	0.4
Mercury	0.006
Methoxychlor	0.02
Metolachlor	0.01
Microcystin-LR	0.001
Molinate	0.006
Molybdenum	0.07
Monochloroacetate	0.02
N-Nitrosodimethylamine	0.0001
Nickel	0.07
Nitrate	50
Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)	0.2
Nitrite	3
Pendimethalin	0.02
Pentachlorophenol	0.009
Permethrin	0.3
pH	No health-based guideline value is proposed
Pyriproxyfen	0.3
Selenium	0.01
Simazine	0.002
Sulphate	No health-based guideline value has been derived
Styrene	0.02
Terbuthylazine	0.007
Tetrachloroethylene	0.04
Toluene	0.7
Total dissolved solids (TDS)	No health-based guideline value is proposed
Trichloroacetate	0.2
Trichloroethylene	0.02
2,4,6,-Trichlorophenol	0.2
Trifluralin	0.02
Trutuim	10000 Bq/L
Uranium	0.015
Vinyl chloride	0.0003
Xylenes-total	0.5
Zinc	No health-based guideline value is proposed

References:
Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edition, World Health Organization, 2011.