Groundwater in Telangana exceeds permissible limits for several contaminants
The Central Ground Water Board report shows high levels of fluoride, nitrate, uranium, iron and manganese across the state.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2026 has recorded concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, uranium, iron and manganese above permissible limits at various locations in Telangana, according to a report by Urban Acres.
In Rangareddy, nitrate levels in several samples were found to be four to five times higher than the allowed 45 milligrams per litre. High levels of uranium and fluoride were also noted in Vikarabad, Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthy, Nirmal and Nalgonda.
The Times of India reported that experts identified inadequate waste management and insufficient sewage infrastructure in urban areas as potential causes. In cities like Hyderabad, sewage reportedly flows through open stormwater nalas, which can overflow and seep into the ground during rains.
In rural areas, nitrate pollution is attributed to the disposal of festive waste, indiscriminate garbage dumping and human waste. The 2025 CGWB report previously showed that 290 out of 1,114 samples in the state exceeded nitrate limits, while 167 samples had fluoride levels above 1.5 milligrams per litre.
Health experts cited by the Times of India warned that excessive nitrate, fluoride and uranium in drinking water pose risks to infants, children and pregnant women. Nitrate can cause blue baby syndrome, fluoride can lead to dental or skeletal fluorosis, and uranium can damage kidneys.
Experts also cautioned that drilling deeper borewells, sometimes reaching 1,500 to 3,000 feet, does not guarantee safer water. Deeper extraction can increase the concentration of total dissolved solids, which may affect potability.