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Uranium in water in Delhi: Uranium contamination in the groundwater of Delhi has surged to alarming levels, positioning the national capital as the third
most affected state in India, following Punjab and Haryana.
13-15% groundwater samples in Delhi exceed permissible uranium limit
According to the latest Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), between 13 per cent and 15 per cent of the analysed groundwater samples in Delhi exceed the permissible uranium limit of 30 parts per billion (ppb), raising red flags for public health and drinking-water safety, reported TOI earlier in November.
This marks a worrying rise from the 2020 assessment, which found the radioactive metal exceeded the threshold in 11.7 per cent of the samples. Hotspots in Dehi like Narela's Auchandi (42 ppb) and Kanjhawala's Nizampur (46.5 ppb) are noted in the report. The study also revealed one of Delhi's highest ever uranium readings — 89.4 ppb from a tubewell in North West district.
Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025: Key findings, worsening trends
Uranium Parameter |
2020 Assessement (Delhi) |
2024 Assessement (Delhi) |
CGWB 2025 Report (Delhi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium Contamination | 11.7% of samples > 30 ppb |
10.7% of samples > 30 ppb (Citywide average across 6 districts) |
13% (Pre-monsoon) to 15.66% (Post-monsoon) |
| Highest Reading Recorded | 89.4 ppb (North West district) |
Narela's Auchandi (42 ppb), Kanjhawala's Nizampur (46.5 ppb) |
Till 2024, groundwater in Delhi’s six districts — North, North West, South, South East, South West, and West — was found to have uranium levels beyond the safe limit, contributing to a citywide contamination share of 10.7 per cent.
The latest report, however, has triggered concern among environmental groups, which have sought more granular water quality data and details of treatment protocols being followed.
"Particularly alarming is the presence of uranium along with high nitrate, fluoride and salinity levels in groundwater, all of which pose severe health risks," environment group Earth Warrior warned in a letter to the lieutenant governor and chief minister.
The group highlighted that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) supplies approximately 450 million litres per day (mld) of semi treated or untreated groundwater to residents via 5,500 tubewells, directly exposing the population to these contaminants.
The national picture
The Central Ground Water Board, which is under ministry of Jal Shakti Ministry, after testing 3,754 groundwater samples across the country during pre- and post-monsoon periods of 2024 had found that safe limits of uranium were breached in 6.71 per cent and 7.91 per cent of the samples, respectively, indicating a slight spike after rainfall, reported TOI.
Punjab showed the highest level of contamination at 53 per cent of pre-monsoon and 62.5 per cent of post-monsoon samples crossed the limit. Next was Haryana (15% and 23.75%, respectively) and the came Delhi (13% and 15.66%, respectively).
In Delhi, areas like Narela's Auchandi (42 ppb) and Kanjhawala's Nizampur (46.5 ppb) have been marked as hotspots, reported TOI.
Health risks
The report highlighted long-term consumption of water contaminated with uranium, arsenic, and lead can lead to neurological damage, kidney disorders, skeletal deformities, and elevated cancer risk. Elevated iron and manganese levels further endanger the health of infants and children, while the overall contamination compromises the potability of groundwater and threatens agricultural productivity by enabling accumulation of toxins in soil and crops, reported TOI.Threat to agriculture
Beyond drinking water, the contamination threatens agricultural productivity. Other than uranium, the report flags other worrying parameters for Delhi. The national capital recorded one of the highest Sodium Adsorption Ratios (SAR) in the country at 179.8. This places the city among the 1.11% of areas where groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation 7.23% of areas reporting high salinity or electrical conductivity, jeopardising crops by enabling the accumulation of toxins in soil.
The board issues fortnightly alerts of ground water quality to state govt agencies to facilitate action and raise awareness on water safety, reported TOI.
