Mumbai Residents Can Test Water at BMC Lab, Unfit Rate 0.46%

Govind Tekale

BMC launched a water testing facility on World Water Day 2025, allowing Mumbai residents to check if their drinking water is safe for consumption.

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This isn't an ordinary lab—it's NABL-accredited and FSSAI-recognized, ensuring tests meet international standards for reliability.

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The facility tests for harmful bacteria like E. coli within 24 hours using advanced Membrane-Filtration Technique.

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Chemical testing checks pH, turbidity, TDS, chlorine levels, and even dangerous heavy metals like arsenic and lead

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Worried about your water? Submit samples at G-South Division lab in Dadar West any weekday between 10:30AM-4:30PM.

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Testing costs are surprisingly affordable: ₹880 for bacterial testing and ₹1,780 for comprehensive chemical analysis.

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Mumbai's water quality has been steadily improving—unfit samples dropped to just 0.46% in 2023-24, down from 0.99% the previous year.

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However, certain areas still face challenges, with A ward (Colaba, Cuffe Parade) showing 2.1% contamination rate.

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How serious is the water problem? Maharashtra recorded 3,991 waterborne disease cases in early 2024—the highest in four years.

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The 2024 statistics are alarming: 1,474 diarrhea cases, 1,028 cholera cases, 669 gastroenteritis cases, and 820 jaundice cases.

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Dr. Padmaja Keskar, BMC's Executive Health Officer, recommends avoiding roadside vendors' drinks and carrying water from home instead.

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Did you know? The lab processes 180-220 samples daily and can scale up to 280 during monsoon emergencies

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Mumbai collects around 3,000 water samples monthly—far exceeding the WHO recommendation of 1,250 samples.

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When will you get your results? Typically within 24-48 hours via email, giving you peace of mind about your family's water safety.

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