Water testing laboratories

Drinking water facilities are being set up in every village of Jammu and Kashmir under Jal Jeevan Mission. But there have been lot complaints about the quality of drinking water and in order to redress such grievances recently J&K government set up 97 water testing laboratories to ensure quality tap water

For this purpose not only the government will give Field Testing Kits, 5 persons particularly women being trained in every village for water testing quality.

Jal Jeevan Mission not only ensures regular tap water supply but also stresses water quality. Water testing is important for monitoring the operation of water supply, verification of the safety of drinking water, investigation of disease outbreaks, validation process and preventive measures.

Water quality testing tools would be used for measuring the purity of drinking water: at the source; within a piped distribution system; or at the end of the supply. Drinking water quality monitoring and water quality surveillance are distinct yet closely related activities. The drinking water quality will be monitored by the supplier/ agency responsible for water quality whereas the surveillance of water quality at the grassroots will be the responsibility of the GPs/ rural community.

Under JJM, up to 2% of total fund allocation is to be used on water quality monitoring & surveillance activities which primarily comprise water quality monitoring by the Department through laboratory testing and water quality surveillance by the community through testing local water sources using Field Test Kits (FTKs). All drinking water sources are to be tested once a year for chemical contamination and twice a year for bacteriological parameters.