Over a period of one year, the government tested 63.96 lakh drinking water samples across the country and found more than 1.61 lakh contaminated.This data was shared in the Rajya Sabha today by Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna in response to a question on overall drinking water impurity.The minister said from 2025 to 2026, the government tested 63,96,035 samples in labs across India. Of these, 1,61,062 samples were found to be contaminated. This is 2.51 per cent of all samples, with the WHO recommending zero impurity standards for drinking water.Against 1.61 lakh contaminated samples, remedial action was taken in 42,384 cases, the government said. Among the northern states, Haryana reported 396 contaminated samples out of 25,240 tested. In Punjab, 768 samples were found contaminated out of 63,722 tested in laboratories.In Himachal Pradesh, 2.37 lakh samples were tested, of which only eight were found contaminated. In Jammu and Kashmir, 135 samples were found impure out of 2.85 lakh tested, while in Ladakh, 91 out of 8,235 samples were found contaminated.Contamination in drinking water samples has been reported in previous years as well. In 2023-24, a total of 59,09,306 samples were tested across the country, of which 7,22,322 were found contaminated. In 2024-25, out of 82,68,247 samples tested, 3,39,548 were reported to be contaminated.The information was provided in response to a question by TMC’s Sukhendu Shekhar Ray. The minister said under the Jal Jeevan Mission, an online JJM-Water Quality Management Information System portal has been developed to enable states and Union Territories to test water samples for quality and facilitate sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water.“As reported by states and UTs on the JJM-WQMIS portal, more than 59 lakh samples during 2023-24 and over 82 lakh samples during 2024-25 were tested in drinking water quality testing laboratories. As on March 2, 2026, during 2025-26, states and UTs have reported testing more than 63 lakh samples in drinking water quality testing laboratories,” the minister said.He added that the Jal Jeevan Mission prescribes that water sources be tested for various physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters, and lays down detection and remediation measures to ensure safe drinking water.