Indian Railways Launches Nationwide Drive to Clean Water Tanks, Check Purification Systems and Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Indian Railways has launched a special cleanliness and water-quality drive across its network to ensure passengers and railway staff have access to safe and hygienic drinking water at stations, colonies and workplaces.

Drinking Water Systems Under Comprehensive Inspection

According to an official statement issued on Monday, the drive focuses on cleaning and disinfecting drinking-water tanks, filtration systems and water dispensing facilities across railway stations.

The initiative forms part of a broader action plan aimed at strengthening drinking-water quality management across Indian Railways. Officials have been directed to focus not only on testing water at the final dispensing point but also on monitoring the quality of water at its source and throughout the treatment and distribution system.

Zonal Railways will conduct detailed inspections of water sources, treatment and filtration plants, underground and overhead tanks, PVC tanks, water booths, taps and other water dispensing points.

Tanks to Be Drained, Cleaned and Disinfected

As part of the special drive, drinking-water tanks will be completely drained before being desludged, scrubbed and disinfected.

Officials will also check whether tanks have properly secured covers and whether vents and overflow points are adequately protected from birds, animals and algae.

Any deficiencies identified during inspections will be recorded for corrective action.

Damaged tanks, pipelines and filtration equipment will be repaired or replaced wherever necessary. Officials will also check the drinking-water network to ensure there are no cross-connections between potable and non-potable water systems.

All pipelines forming part of the drinking-water circuit will be inspected for leakage, with repairs undertaken to prevent contamination and unnecessary water wastage.

Water Quality to Be Tested at Multiple Points

The Railway Board has directed officials to carry out physical, chemical and bacteriological testing of water samples from identified locations.

Samples will be collected, wherever feasible, from water sources, post-treatment outlets, storage tanks, water coolers, vending machines and representative taps and water booths.

The system is intended to help officials detect contamination at different stages rather than relying only on testing the final water supplied to passengers.

Daily monitoring of residual chlorine levels will also be carried out. Where chlorine levels are found to be inadequate, immediate re-chlorination or other corrective measures will be taken.

Hand Pumps and Borewells Also Under Scanner

Special attention will be given to railway locations where drinking water is extracted through hand pumps and borewells.

Zonal Railways have been instructed to verify that water drawn from these sources is not contaminated and remains suitable for drinking after any required treatment.

The inspection will cover the source as well as the infrastructure used to store, treat and dispense the water.

Water Coolers and Purification Systems to Get Special Attention

The Railway Board has also instructed Zonal Railways to conduct comprehensive inspections of water coolers and water purification systems installed at stations.

Water tanks inside coolers will be thoroughly cleaned, while leakages involving coolers, pipelines and taps will have to be repaired promptly.

Officials have also been asked to ensure complete hygiene around water-cooler dispensing areas.

UV and RO purification systems installed in water coolers will be checked to ensure they are functioning properly. Such systems will be installed wherever required.

Scheduled maintenance, servicing and overhauling will be carried out according to requirements. Filter candles and other components will also be replaced on time where they have reached the end of their service period.

The Railway Board has directed that new or replacement UV/RO systems be taken up on a mission-mode basis depending on the condition of existing equipment and the requirements at individual locations.

Water Vending Machines Included in Drive

The cleanliness and water-quality measures will also cover water vending machines installed at railway stations.

Officials will inspect the machines, their storage and filtration components and the water being dispensed to ensure that it meets prescribed safety and hygiene standards.

The aim is to ensure that passengers receive safe drinking water regardless of whether it is obtained from a water booth, cooler, vending machine or another dispensing facility.

Repairs and Replacement of Water Infrastructure

The Railway Board has directed Zonal Railways to monitor and expedite already sanctioned works involving the construction and replacement of overhead and underground water tanks.

Zonal authorities will prepare summaries of such sanctioned works and identify projects that require faster execution.

Where additional infrastructure is needed, fresh sanctions will be processed.

The exercise is intended to address both immediate cleanliness concerns and longer-term deficiencies in railway drinking-water infrastructure.

Station-Wise Deficiency Reports

Zonal Railways will prepare station-wise details of deficiencies identified during the inspections along with the corrective action taken.

The reporting mechanism is expected to allow railway authorities to track individual shortcomings and monitor whether remedial measures are completed within a stipulated timeframe.

Officials will therefore have a record of problems ranging from damaged tanks and leaking pipelines to malfunctioning purification systems and inadequate hygiene around water dispensing points.

Railway Colonies and Workplaces Also Covered

The initiative will not be limited to passenger areas at railway stations.

Similar measures will be implemented for drinking-water infrastructure in railway colonies and workplaces, extending the cleanliness and safety drive to facilities used by railway employees and their families.

The broader action plan seeks to ensure that water quality is monitored from the source through treatment, storage and distribution, with regular cleaning, testing and maintenance forming part of the system.

The special drive is aimed at reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring that drinking-water facilities across the railway network remain clean, functional and safe for use.