The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) found that in 2023, about 20% of groundwater samples surpassed the safe nitrate limit of 45 mg/L. Additionally, fluoride exceeded safety levels in 9.04% of samples, and arsenic did so in 3.55% .In 2023, 440 districts across India reported high nitrate levels—a growing public health concern .2. Bihar: A Hotspot for Multiple Contaminants.
A 2024–25 Bihar Economic Survey revealed 30,207 rural wards with groundwater contaminated by arsenic (4,709 wards), fluoride (3,789 wards), and iron (21,709 wards)—affecting roughly 26% of wards across 31 districts .
A geospatial study in Bihar linked elevated manganese (Mn) levels in household handpump water to increased Mn in blood among cancer patients—a potential factor in the state’s rising cancer rates .
Punjab: Uranium and MoreRecent CGWB data shared in Rajya Sabha shows 32.6% of groundwater samples in Punjab exceeded safe uranium limits. Other contaminants included fluoride (13.8%), nitrate (12.6%), arsenic (4.8%), and overall salinity (6.7%) .
The Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission has demanded a detailed report on uranium contamination by September 25, 2025 .
Other Regional Concerns
The NGT has flagged heavy metal contamination (chromium and mercury) in the Kanpur region of Uttar Pradesh, and directed AIIMS to assess the health impacts and recommend treatment within two months (order dated July 1, 2025) .
At the Adampur dumpsite near Bhopal, the CPCB reported that groundwater within a 1 km radius is unsafe due to high levels of iron, fluoride, calcium, chloride, and chemical oxygen demand from leachate. The Supreme Court has mandated immediate remediation actions .
Nitrate contamination can lead to methemoglobinemia (“blue baby syndrome”), and is linked with digestive and developmental disorders .
Fluoride exposure raises risks of fluorosis, skeletal issues, and reproductive and neurodegenerative conditions .Arsenic is a known carcinogen, associated with skin lesions and various cancers .
Uranium can cause kidney damage, infertility, neurotoxicity, and cancer .
Chromium and mercury, implicated in Uttar Pradesh, have serious systemic toxicities—including neurological, renal, and developmental impacts .Excess manganese exposure may elevate cancer risks, especially in long-term consumption scenarios .
Groundwater contamination in India—stemming from natural geochemistry, industrial discharge, irresponsible waste, and agricultural inputs—is silently exacerbating chronic diseases across communities. Regions like Bihar and Punjab are experiencing overlapping crises: arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate, uranium, manganese, and heavy metals all contributing to a growing public health emergency
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