India is facing the need for a wave of state investment in water treatment for rural areas, after a response in parliament revealed widespread contamination of groundwater at a time when millions of people are being connected to water services for the first time as part of the national Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). For the first time in history, more than 50% of households in India are connected to piped water services, following a wave of investment under the JJM (see GWI December 2021, p18). Around 85% of rural water needs are met by groundwater, according to the country's Central Ground Water Board. However, new information presented to parliament indicated unacceptable levels of contaminants including iron, arsenic, lead, chromium, and cadmium, as well as nitrates and salinity in large parts of the country's groundwater reserves, prompting the government to call for the installation of community drinking water plants as an interim contingency measure. Iron is the most widespread issue, with 65% of dis- tricts across the country estimated to have levels of iron in groundwater beyond the acceptable limit.
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