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Vidarbha Faces Growing Challenges in Drinking Water Quality and Supply

Vidarbha Faces Growing Challenges in Drinking Water Quality and Supply
Vidarbha Faces Growing Challenges in Drinking Water Quality and Supply

Vidarbha comprises eleven districts and spans a diverse topography that leans heavily on seasonal rainfall.


Nearly 93% of its farmland is rain-fed, a condition that has grown riskier in recent years. Meteorological data from 2021 shows a rainfall deficit of 11%, with even more drastic shortages in places like Amravati and Gadchiroli. This pattern has continued through subsequent years, further affecting groundwater recharge.

With limited surface water infrastructure in many parts of the region, groundwater remains the primary drinking water source. Yet, this reliance has resulted in widespread extraction that affects both quantity and quality.


National groundwater assessments do not isolate Vidarbha-specific data, but broader patterns are telling. Over 11% of India’s assessment units are classified as over-exploited, pointing to a growing imbalance between recharge and withdrawal.


For Vidarbha, this imbalance plays out in daily life. When rainfall falters, aquifers do not replenish, and what remains in the ground often carries unwanted minerals.



Salinity, a recurring issue in areas such as Akola and Buldhana, compromises the usability of groundwater. Studies of the Purna river basin confirm this, revealing elevated levels of nitrate, phosphate, and conductivity.


Even when water is available, it does not always meet the standards required for safe consumption.

Agricultural needs further compound the situation. Vidarbha’s farms grow cotton, soybeans, and its famed Nagpur oranges, all of which require water security.


When farmers lose access to reliable irrigation or clean water for household use, both their livelihoods and health are placed at risk.


The link between water access and economic stability is direct, particularly in regions where agriculture remains the dominant occupation.



Contamination and Consequences


Water quality assessments between 2019 and 2020 involved the analysis of 88 groundwater samples across Vidarbha.


These were tested for ten parameters, including pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and presence of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. The findings indicated that in districts such as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Yavatmal, the groundwater regularly exceeded permissible contamination limits. Pretreatment was identified as essential before the water could be considered safe for use.

Contaminants like fluoride, chloride, and sulphate, as well as high levels of hardness, are not uncommon in this region.


Excessive salinity remains a consistent concern, as it not only affects taste but also has long-term health impacts.


Areas within the Purna basin show persistently high salinity levels, which limit the usability of groundwater and demand the development of alternate sources.


Water with elevated mineral content, especially when consumed over time without treatment, can contribute to several health issues, ranging from gastrointestinal illness to chronic kidney disease.



The presence of iron and magnesium in particular is linked with infrastructural issues, as these minerals corrode pipes and affect water transport systems.

In practical terms, this means residents in affected districts must either invest in domestic filtration systems or consume contaminated water.


While urban centres may provide some level of municipal treatment, rural areas continue to struggle. For economically weaker households, the absence of clean water adds to already existing financial stress, creating a cycle that intertwines public health with economic burden.

Government interventions such as the Jal Jeevan Mission have brought a measure of progress to rural water access nationwide.


Between 2019 and 2023, national rural tap water coverage increased from 16.8% to over 71%.


However, without district-level implementation data for Vidarbha, it is difficult to assess how much of this national progress has translated into local improvement.


For residents still dependent on untreated sources, the increase in national coverage offers little relief unless matched by effective implementation in their specific region.



Health and Economic Impact

Health and Economic Impact of Impure Drinking Water
Health and Economic Impact of Impure Drinking Water

The drinking water issues in Vidarbha have not remained confined to availability and purity alone.


They ripple outwards, affecting agriculture, food security, and public health infrastructure. As farmers struggle with low rainfall and increasing input costs, water shortages lead to repeated crop failures.

For a region where 65% of the population depends on agriculture, this translates into shrinking incomes and rising debt.


In parallel, contaminated water contributes to a rise in waterborne illnesses. Rural health centres report cases of diarrhoea, skin infections, and other illnesses that stem from unclean water.


The medical response is limited by available resources, which often cannot meet the volume or diversity of cases. The additional burden of treating chronic ailments related to mineral exposure only strains these systems further.


Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, both in terms of waterborne disease exposure and in handling the physical effort often needed to access clean water.

In many villages, the lack of nearby potable water sources means long walks or dependence on tankers and community taps, which do not always function reliably.


The crisis also plays out in terms of daily sanitation. Without sufficient clean water, basic hygiene practices such as washing hands or cleaning utensils become difficult, which then affects nutrition, child health, and overall well-being.



The cascading effect of water scarcity on household life is a major concern in several Vidarbha districts where infrastructure is limited and community-based distribution systems are still under development.


Even when new sources are developed, such as borewells or pipelines, they often face rapid degradation due to high mineral content or poor maintenance. This leads to a repeated cycle of temporary fixes rather than sustained improvement.


In areas where groundwater has turned brackish, residents often resort to collecting water from distant, untreated sources, risking contamination in transit.


Infrastructure and Monitoring Efforts


Efforts to address Vidarbha’s clean water challenges have included a combination of infrastructure development and resource monitoring.


The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in partnership with state agencies, has initiated a digital platform, IN-GRES, for tracking groundwater resources. This system provides national data but needs greater localisation and field-level accuracy to guide district-specific planning in Vidarbha.

The need for systematic water quality monitoring has been a recurring theme in research findings over the last five years. Districts identified as having consistently poor water quality require regular testing regimes, particularly where new pipelines or borewells are commissioned.

Localised water quality indices can help identify priority zones for intervention and pre-empt health issues before they escalate.


Recent developments have also pointed to growing private sector involvement in water infrastructure. A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in Nagpur in April 2025 initiated by Allcargo Group's Avashya Foundation in collaboration with local organizations, involved widening and deepening a 4.11-km canal, improving groundwater levels, and directly benefiting 200 families with drinking water access, as well as supporting irrigation and livestock needs for the broader community.


Such efforts suggest a widening recognition of water issues beyond the public sector, but sustained, collaborative approaches remain necessary for long-term change.



In some areas, basic rainwater harvesting systems have been installed, particularly in schools and health centres.


However, the impact of such measures remains dependent on rainfall patterns, which have grown unpredictable in recent years.

Without significant recharge, these systems offer short-term support but do not replace the need for deeper aquifer management and diversified water sourcing.


National policy frameworks like the Jal Jeevan Mission offer a backbone for progress, but their effectiveness depends on local alignment and execution.


Vidarbha's challenges, rooted in both environmental and socioeconomic realities, require consistent, place-based approaches. As of now, many communities remain outside the reach of a reliable water supply, facing ongoing exposure to health and livelihood risks tied to untreated or unavailable water.



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