Water Testing Labs in 15 Bihar Districts Receive NABL Certification

Patna: To ensure safe drinking water under Bihar’s ‘Har Ghar Nal Jal’ scheme, 15 district-level water testing laboratories have received certification from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). These labs are part of a network of 115 water testing centers across the state, capable of assessing water quality on multiple parameters.

The certified districts include Bhagalpur, Ara, Sasaram, Banka, Gaya, Saharsa, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, Munger, Bihar Sharif, Purnia, Patna, Begusarai, Sheikhpura, and Araria. Meanwhile, laboratories in Buxar, Jehanabad, and Arwal are currently under evaluation, and efforts are underway to certify the remaining labs.

Water quality is tested on 16 key parameters, including pH level, TDS, turbidity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, and bacterial presence. These tests are conducted at the state-level Chhajjubaag laboratory in Patna, as well as 38 district-level and 76 sub-divisional labs.

NABL certification, issued by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, ensures that these labs meet international standards. In the financial year 2023-24, water quality assessments were conducted at over 1.46 lakh water sources, 34,379 schools, and 44,052 Anganwadi centers.

This certification marks a significant step in providing pure and safe drinking water to the people of Bihar. The government aims to complete the accreditation process for all remaining districts soon, ensuring access to clean water for every household.