Mumbai’s tap water fit for direct consumption

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has achieved international standards for clean drinking water and the residents of the city will be able to consume water directly from taps. According to the MCGM, an average of only 0.7 per cent of the water samples collected daily in 2018-19 tested positive for coliform bacteria. This is better than the World Health Organization norm of 5 per cent. The transformation of the city’s water quality started in 2012-13 after a severe outbreak of waterborne diseases. At the time, around 17 per cent of the water samples collected were contaminated. The corporation revamped its water supply system by converting surface distribution pipelines to underground concrete water tunnels. The MCGM also appointed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to upgrade its water testing laboratories. However, residents will have to ensure the cleanliness of underground and overhead water storage tanks to avail of clean potable water.