A report by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said that the tap water in the National Capital is not potable at all. BIS took tap water samples from 11 locations in the city. These locations also included the Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan’s home at Janpath and his office in Krishi Bhavan, both in central Delhi.

Centre has announced plans to test the quality of piped drinking water in the states and released Swachh Pani rankings early next month. It is also trying to build a consensus to make quality standards for tap water a mandatory requirement.

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Ram Vilas Paswan, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister told the reporters on Thursday that a team from BIS was sent to state capitals to collect samples of tap water to see if they meet the quality standards.

“We expect the report by the first week of November and will release Swachh Pani rankings to show which state is supplying safe drinking water at least in their capitals,” he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi has already failed the test to meet the BIS standard.

As per the preliminary lab testing, all the samples failed to meet the 42 parameters, including odour, PH levels, total dissolved solids and metal content, that make up the BIS standard. The final lab results would be made public soon.

“After seeing the preliminary report for Delhi, we are holding consultations to see if we can mandate BIS’ piped water standards at least in the national capital, the state capital and 100 smart cities,” said the minister. BIS would be writing to state governments seeking their views on the issue, he added.

Minister further said that all the governments must agree on this issue, as it is a matter of people’s lives.

It is to be noted that it is mandatory for bottled water manufacturers to meet the BIS quality standard. Perhaps, the BIS standard for tap water is voluntary for the public agencies which supply and distribute piped water.

The latest BIS standard was made in 2012, but it is not on par with international standards.

Paswan was speaking after a meeting of senior officials of the Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporations (NDMC), BIS, Union Jal Shakti and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to discuss the BIS report on Delhi water.