New Delhi, December 1, 2025: A comprehensive groundwater quality assessment by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has uncovered disturbing levels of heavy metal contamination in Delhi’s groundwater.

The Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, based on more than15,000 samples collected nationwide in 2023, places Delhi among the worst-affected urban regions in India for naturally occurring radioactive uranium in drinking water sources.

"Overall, the study shows that while most groundwater in India is safe, certain regions face rising uranium levels, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and local mitigation measures to protect drinking water quality and health," the report said.

The Scale of the Problem

Out of 135 groundwater samples analyzed from Delhi, 13.35–15.66% exceeded the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible limit of 30 µg/L (parts per billion) for uranium in drinking water.

This puts the national capital third-worst in the country, behind only Punjab (53–62%) and Haryana (15–24%).

While uranium has dominated headlines, the same samples also revealed elevated levels of lead, nitrate, fluoride, and salinity, confirming that Delhi’s groundwater crisis is a multi-contaminant emergency.

Uranium: Delhi Ranks Third-Worst in India

• Permissible Limit (BIS provisional guideline): 30 µg/L (ppb)

• Samples Exceeding Limit in Delhi: 13.35–15.66%

• National Ranking: 3rd (after Punjab and Haryana)

Identified Hotspots in Delhi

The CGWB report pin-pointed two locations with the highest recorded uranium concentrations:

1. Auchandi, Narela (North Delhi)

   Source: Tubewell

   Uranium concentration: 42.0 µg/L (1.4 times the permissible limit)

2. Nizampur EW-1, Kanjhawala (North-West Delhi)

   Source: Exploratory/Production Well

   Uranium concentration: 46.5 µg/L (1.55 times the permissible limit)

Why Northwestern India Is Worst Affected

The CGWB report states: “Spatially, northwestern India: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh emerged as the main hotspot of uranium contamination. The enrichment is primarily geogenic in nature, accentuated by over-exploitation of groundwater, falling water tables, and the presence of uranium-rich granitic intrusions and alluvial sediments that facilitate uranium mobilization under oxidizing conditions.”

The report adds a stark warning: “Finding a remedy for the uranium-contaminated groundwater effectively and thoroughly has become the need of the day.”

Long-term consumption of uranium-contaminated water is linked to:

1. Uranium even in low concentrations in drinking water can cause nephrotoxic effects. ¹

2. It affects reproductive health of an individual. ²

3. Uranium exposure is also associated with greater diastolic and systolic blood pressures.³

Delhi residents, especially those dependent on private borewells and tube-wells in north and north-west Delhi, are urged to immediately test their water and install certified reverse osmosis systems capable of removing uranium and co-occurring heavy metals.

References:

1. Kurttio, Päivi, Anssi Auvinen, Laina Salonen, Heikki Saha, Juha Pekkanen, Ilona Mäkeläinen, Sari B. Väisänen, and Ilkka M. Penttilä. 2002. “Renal Effects of Uranium in Drinking Water.” Environmental Health Perspectives 110 (4): 337–42. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110337.

2. Corlin, L., Rock, T., Cordova, J. et al. Health Effects and Environmental Justice Concerns of Exposure to Uranium in Drinking Water. Curr Envir Health Rpt 3, 434–442 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-016-0114-z

3. Kurttio, Päivi, Aimo Harmoinen, Heikki Saha, Laina Salonen, Zeev Karpas, Hannu Komulainen, and Anssi Auvinen. 2006. “Kidney Toxicity of Ingested Uranium From Drinking Water.” American Journal of Kidney Diseases 47 (6): 972–82. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.03.002.