News18: New Delhi: Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
When asked if complainants had reported illness or adverse health effects, the DJB replied that it had no records
The Delhi Jal Board has
received more than 43,000 complaints of contaminated drinking water between
2021 and 2025, according to information provided under the Right to Information
(RTI) Act.
In the RTI, filed by News18, the DJB was asked about complaints related to contaminated water and whether complainants had reported illness or adverse health effects linked to the utility’s drinking water supply.
To the adverse health effects question, the DJB reply stated that the RTI Act, 2005 provides access to information as available on record. “No specific document or record sought in the query is available in the records of this office."
The DJB, responsible for supplying water across the national capital, said it has received a total of 43,325 complaints related to contaminated drinking water between 2021 and 2025.
Listing the year-wise
complaints, the DJB reply stated that in 2021, there were just 2,549 complaints
related to contaminated drinking water that increased to 12,286 in 2022 –
almost five times higher than 2021. This means complaints increased from about
seven per day in 2021 to roughly 34 per day in 2022.
Since 2023, the numbers have remained largely consistent, with 9,767 complaints recorded in 2023, 9,387 in 2024, and 9,336 in 2025. On average, the city reported around 26 complaints of contaminated drinking water each day over the last two years.
Earlier this year, News18 had reported that the water and sewer pipelines in the national capital are as old as 50 years and no fixed timeline has been set for the replacement of these old pipelines.
In May 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the DJB, along with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), for alleged contamination of drinking water supplied to residents of Janakpuri. The Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) in March 2025 had alleged that sewage had mixed with the drinking water due to corroded pipelines caused by a blocked sewer line.
The water supply contamination has been gathering attention after 15 people died and several others were hospitalised due to consuming contaminated water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura in January this year. The contamination of water in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly caused by sewage leakage that led to mass hospital visits.
When asked if complainants had reported illness or adverse health effects, the DJB replied that it had no records
 |
| The Delhi Jal Board is responsible for supplying water across the national capital, (File) |
In the RTI, filed by News18, the DJB was asked about complaints related to contaminated water and whether complainants had reported illness or adverse health effects linked to the utility’s drinking water supply.
To the adverse health effects question, the DJB reply stated that the RTI Act, 2005 provides access to information as available on record. “No specific document or record sought in the query is available in the records of this office."
The DJB, responsible for supplying water across the national capital, said it has received a total of 43,325 complaints related to contaminated drinking water between 2021 and 2025.
 |
| Excerpt from the RTI response provided by the Delhi Jal Board showing year-wise complaints of contaminated drinking water and the department’s response on illness-related records. |
Since 2023, the numbers have remained largely consistent, with 9,767 complaints recorded in 2023, 9,387 in 2024, and 9,336 in 2025. On average, the city reported around 26 complaints of contaminated drinking water each day over the last two years.
Earlier this year, News18 had reported that the water and sewer pipelines in the national capital are as old as 50 years and no fixed timeline has been set for the replacement of these old pipelines.
In May 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the DJB, along with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), for alleged contamination of drinking water supplied to residents of Janakpuri. The Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) in March 2025 had alleged that sewage had mixed with the drinking water due to corroded pipelines caused by a blocked sewer line.
The water supply contamination has been gathering attention after 15 people died and several others were hospitalised due to consuming contaminated water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura in January this year. The contamination of water in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly caused by sewage leakage that led to mass hospital visits.
.JPG)
.JPG)
