Time needed: 10 minutes
Do you also believe checking the TDS level of the water means testing the quality of the water?
We wish it was as simple as that.
Unfortunately, it isn’t.
There are over 50 parameters/contaminants, in the Drinking Water Specifications published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), against which your drinking water should be tested.
And TDS level is only one of them.
Potable water quality testing means analyzing the drinking water for any possible harmful contaminants.
Useful read: Step-by-step guide on checking the pH level of water at home.
A thorough analysis of drinking water requires special training and equipment.
Which makes it difficult to test the drinking water at home.
If you suspect your drinking water is contaminated then we recommend getting it tested in specialized water testing labs.
In our previous post, we’ve done a detailed discussion on how you can find a water testing lab near your home.
In this post, you’ll get a step-by-step guide on how you can get your drinking water sample tested in a water testing lab.
You can select your nearest lab and place the sample collection request online. But you’ll have to deposit the water sample at the lab.
The process is easy, just follow the below-given steps:
- Open Website
Open any web browser and go to the official website of Jal Jeevan Mission – Water Quality Management Information System https://neer.icmr.org.in/
- Login/Register
To get your drinking water sample tested, login/register as a ‘Public User’.
- New User Registration
If you are a new user, click on ‘New User Registration’.
- Validate Mobile Number
The following screen will appear. Enter your mobile number. Click on the ‘Generate OTP’ button. Enter the OTP received on your mobile and click on ‘Validate Mobile Number’.
- Enter the Required Details
The following registration page will appear. Enter the required details including your password. Your mobile number will be your login id.
- Dashboard Screen
When you are logged in to your account. You’ll see the following dashboard screen.
- Navigation Options
The main navigation menu shows the following options.
- Two Testing Options
Now you have two options for placing a request for water sample testing a) as per laboratories and b) as per parameters
- As Per Laboratories
Select your respective district and block from the dropdowns
- Select Lab & Test Parameters
Click on the ‘Select Tests’ button in front of the laboratory of your choice. Enter the details and select the parameters for which you would like the lab to test the water sample.
Tests for some parameters are free and for some, a nominal amount is charged.
Once you enter the required details and select the tests, click on ‘Proceed’.
Note:
> In the Lab-wise option, you have to select the lab first and then only the test done by that particular lab can be selected.
> On successful submission, you’ll get a sample ID. This has to be provided to the lab technician along with the water sample.
- Successful Submission
Upon successful submission, of all details, you’ll get the following message on the screen.
- As Per Test Parameters
In this option, you are required to first select all the test parameters like the TDS level, water hardness, chlorine, pH level, lead, arsenic, fluoride, etc.. Based on your selection, a list of all the nearby water quality testing labs performing the selected tests will be displayed.
Click on ‘Proceed’, after you have filled in all the required details, selected your tests, and selected the laboratory from the given list.
- Water Sample ID
Upon successful submission, you’ll get a sample ID. This has to be provided to the lab technician along with the water sample.
- List of Submitted Samples
Click on the ‘List of Samples Submitted’ to see a complete list of all the samples that you have submitted. Once the water sample is tested by the lab, the test report will be uploaded online and you can access the same from this section.
Conclusion and Suggestions for Improvement in the Current Procedure of Water Sample Testing?
We appreciate all the good work that is being done under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jalshakti.
We also appreciate the setting up of all the drinking water testing labs across India.
The online process of finding a water testing lab near your home is also great.
Like with all good things, there is always scope for improvement.
We suggest the following improvements in the present process –
- When we searched for the lab, while the complete address of the laboratory was given, no contact no. is shown. It would be really helpful for the common man if contact no. is provided as he/she can call and confirm from the lab before visiting physically for sample submission.
- At present, not all labs are equipped to do all tests. All labs should be equipped to test the water sample for all the parameters as specified in the BIS’s drinking water specifications. Expecting a common man to submit a water sample to a lab located hundreds of kilometers away from his home fails the whole objective.
- If possible, at the time of test selection, an option for a home collection of water samples may be provided. The department can fix a standard home sample collection fee for this. Anyone who wishes to use the facility can avail.
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