At a time when a NITI Aayog report warns that nearly 70% of the country’s water supply is classified as “poor quality”, and much of the remaining 30% fares only slightly better, the idea of drinking straight from the tap sounds almost unreal. Yet scattered across India are rare pockets where municipal tap water is considered so clean that households do not depend on purifiers or bottled supplies. Leading that list is Puri in Odisha, which has emerged as the first city in the country to claim 100% safe drinking water directly from the tap, meeting ISO 10500 international standards. Residents and pilgrims now routinely fill their glasses straight from the tap. (News18 Hindi)
Also in Odisha, Bhubaneswar has built a strong reputation for safe urban water. Tests conducted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) showed that only one in ten samples failed quality norms, making it one of the safest municipal systems in the country. The state’s “Sujal” initiative now aims to extend similar purity levels to 24 cities. (News18 Hindi)
On the western coast, Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra stands out for having recorded zero failed samples in BIS testing. Supplied primarily from the Morbe Dam and treated through advanced filtration systems, the city has become a model for urban water governance in densely populated regions. (News18 Hindi)
Further south, Mysuru in Karnataka, known for its heritage charm and orderly civic planning, continues to deliver clean drinking water through long-established treatment systems linked to the Cauvery river. Despite their age, these facilities have remained robust thanks to consistent upkeep. (AI-Generated Image)
In northern India, Chandigarh benefits from being a fully planned city where water safety was integrated into its urban design. Supplies drawn from borewells and the Kajauli Waterworks are subjected to regular testing, ensuring high levels of safety. (AI-Generated Image)
Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram also maintains a strong record, with water sourced from the Aruvikkara Dam and treated under strict standards enforced by the Kerala Water Authority. Public health safeguards remain central to the state’s approach to water management. (AI-Generated Image)
Surat, better known as a textile and diamond hub, has invested heavily in purification infrastructure under the Har Ghar Nal Jal scheme. Despite its industrial base, the city has managed to maintain exceptionally clean domestic water. (AI-Generated Image)
On the eastern seaboard, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has earned praise for its disciplined approach to chlorination, purification and daily monitoring across multiple supply points. The municipal corporation conducts routine tests to catch contamination risks early. (AI-Generated Image)
Beyond urban centres, two hill rivers are frequently highlighted for their near-mythical clarity. The Umngot river in Meghalaya, often described as the cleanest river in Asia, is so transparent that boats appear to float mid-air. Strict community-imposed penalties for littering help preserve its purity. (News18 Hindi)
In Ladakh, the Zanskar river is fed by glaciers whose meltwater runs strikingly clear during summer months. Together, these ten locations form rare but encouraging examples in a country otherwise grappling with shrinking freshwater reserves, rising contamination and severe groundwater stress. (News18 Hindi)
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