This Is the Only City in India Where You Can Drink Water Directly From the Tap

Contaminated water is one of the most pressing social and healthcare issues in India today. The recent deaths of more than 15 people in India, considered the cleanest in India, after drinking contaminated water, have led to a lot of questions regarding what people are drinking, despite access to safe water being a right. While most Indian cities have unsafe tap water for consumption, Puri, in Odisha, has become the first city where you can consume tap water directly, without any side effects. According to the city’s management, the water here meets all standards that have been set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, or the BIS, marking a significant achievement in terms of both public health and safety, along with environmental sustainability.

How did Puri get safe tap water?

The 24/7 potable water in Puri is the result of an advanced multi-stage treatment, which includes sedimentation, filtration, ozonation, and chlorination, along with real-time quality monitoring with sensors and upgraded high-pressure pipelines. Officials are doing testing and have partnered with local 'Jal Sathi' women for field checks – as part of the state government’s Sujal initiative, which ensures water meets strict standards for the residents.

What is the DFT mission?

Puri’s clean drinking water success comes under the ‘Drink from Tap’, or DFT, mission, which aims to provide every home with safe, pure drinking water, available 24/7 and meeting international standards. According to the state government, more than 25,000 households in the city receive safe drinking tap water with quality monitored constantly. Following success in Puri, the government is now planning to include Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to adopt the DFT mission. BIS reports and 2025 data show that some additional cities have also scored high for tap water purity.

What does contaminated water do?

Drinking contaminated water can be disastrous for your health, as it can lead to immediate illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid and long-term health diseases such as cancer, developmental issues, and organ damage. According to experts, it happens when you drink dirty water loaded with invisible microbes, toxic chemicals like lead and arsenic, and pollutants from industrial and agricultural waste. It affects human health through drinking, cooking, bathing, and even swimming, while also harming aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. Experts say exposure to contaminated water can cause a range of waterborne diseases, especially bacterial infections. The most common include:

• Vomiting and nausea
• Watery or bloody diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps and abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Dehydration (dry mouth, reduced urine output, dizziness)
• Weakness and fatigue

These symptoms align with conditions like bacterial gastroenteritis, often caused by pathogens such as E coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter. The WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that contaminated drinking water is a major vector for such infections.

Who is the most vulnerable?

According to doctors, those who are most at risk include:

• Young children and infants with an underdeveloped immune system
• Older adults
• Those with weakened immunity
• People with chronic illnesses

Doctors say these groups are more likely to develop severe dehydration and complications, making early recognition and prompt care essential.