‘Over 20% of Delhi’s water samples had nitrate levels above safe limit’

More than 20% of groundwater samples tested in Delhi contained nitrate levels above the permissible limit of 45 mg/l, with some samples reaching up to 994 mg/l - over 22 times the safe standard - according to data submitted by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

With a peak reading of 994 milligrams of nitrates per litre of drinking water, Delhi fared as the fifth worst-affected state or Union territory for high nitrate contamination, according to the report.

Andhra Pradesh fared the worst in the country with nitrate levels touching a peak of 2,296 mg/l, it showed.

While 20.39% of Delhi’s samples exceeded safe limits (eighth-worst among states and UTs), Rajasthan recorded the highest proportion of contaminated samples at 49.52%.

In total, high nitrate levels were found in seven out of Delhi's 11 districts, including New Delhi, north, northwest, south, southeast, southwest and west Delhi, it said.