Kerala Water Authority has a well-established system for monitoring water quality through a network of district laboratories. The State lab, State Referral Institute for Water Quality (SRI), Nettoor, Ernakulam, which was set up in 2009 is the apex body for water quality monitoring and surveillance activities. The State lab has got NABL (National Accreditation Board for Laboratories) accreditation in 2017. Besides this 14 District labs and 67 Sub district labs have obtained NABL accreditation now.
വിവിധ ജലവിതരണ പദ്ധതികളിലൂടെ വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്ന ജലത്തിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരം നിരീക്ഷിക്കുകയും വേണ്ട ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ നൽകുകയും ചെയ്യുക എന്നതാണ് ഗുണനിലവാര നിയന്ത്രണ വിഭാഗത്തിന്റെ പ്രധാന പ്രവർത്തനം. KWA ജലമെടുക്കുന്ന നദിസ്രോതസ്സുകളിലെയും, കിണറുകളിലലേയും, സ്വകാര്യ വ്യക്തികളുടെ ജലസാമ്പിളുകളുടേയും ജലത്തിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരം ഗുണനിലവാര നിയന്ത്രണ വിഭാഗത്തിന് കീഴിലുള്ള ലാബുകളിൽ പരിശോധിക്കുന്നു. ജലസംസ്കരണത്തിന് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന രാസവസ്തുക്കളുടെ ഗുണനിലവാര സർട്ടിഫിക്കേഷനും ലാബുകളിൽ നടക്കുന്നു.
The Quality Control Wing is under the control of the Director (Superintending Engineer), SRI. There are three Quality Control Divisions under SRI, headed by Executive Engineers. Each Division has two Quality Control Sub Divisions, under the control of Assistant Executive Engineers. The Assistant Engineers are in charge of District labs.
The surveillance and monitoring of quality of drinking water supplied through various water supply schemes of Kerala Water Authority is monitored by conducting analysis of water samples taken at stipulated frequency through an effective three-tier inspection system up to the level of Executive Engineers. The samples collected in these inspections are analysed for basic physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters as per IS 10500-2012 in the District laboratories and the results of analysis are communicated to the officers of Maintenance wing in charge of the schemes for taking corrective measures, if any. On an average samples from about 20,000 locations of various water supply schemes are taken and analysed every year. Parameters tested comprise Colour, Odour, Turbidity, pH, Electrical conductivity, Acidity, Alkalinity, Sulphate, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Fluoride, Iron, Nitrate, Residual Chlorine, Total Coliforms and E.Coli.
Water samples received from public are also tested in District Labs after collecting testing fees. In 2021-22 about 40000 private samples were tested. In addition, Kerala Water Authority monitors the water quality of specified intake points of water supply schemes in 44 rivers in the state through monthly sampling. Quality certification of chemicals used for water treatment such as Alum, Lime and Bleaching powder is also done at District labs. The quality monitoring activities are carried out in Sabarimala season to ensure the quality of drinking water supplied in Sabarimala, Pamba and Nilackal.
The State Lab of SRI is NABL accredited for testing of 29 parameters of water quality. There is facility for heavy metal analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and pesticides analysis using Gas Chromatograph in addition to the physical- chemical and bacteriological parameters being tested in district labs. Further expansion in the field of testing is envisaged in the coming years.
About 100000 water sources are tested annually and the results are uploaded in the Government of India site in https://ejalshakti.gov.in.
കുടിവെള്ള വിതരണത്തിനും മലിനജല സേവനങ്ങൾക്കുമുള്ള കേരളത്തിന്റെ നോഡൽ ഏജൻസി