2025 Water Quality Rankings: States wise Analysis

Rank	Region Name	Value
1	Mizoram	92.5
2	Sikkim	91.0
3	Arunachal Pradesh	90.0
4	Meghalaya	89.5
5	Manipur	88.0
6	Nagaland	87.5
7	Tripura	86.0
8	Kerala	85.0
9	Goa	84.0
10	Himachal Pradesh	83.0
11	Uttarakhand	82.0
12	Assam	80.5
13	Lakshadweep	80.0
14	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	79.5
15	Puducherry	78.0
16	Chandigarh	77.5
17	Karnataka	76.0
18	Tamil Nadu	75.0
19	Telangana	74.0
20	Odisha	73.0
21	Chhattisgarh	72.0
22	Madhya Pradesh	70.5
23	Andhra Pradesh	70.0
24	Jharkhand	69.0
25	Bihar	68.0
26	West Bengal	67.0
27	Rajasthan	66.0
28	Punjab	65.0
29	Haryana	64.0
30	Gujarat	63.0
31	Jammu and Kashmir	62.0
32	Ladakh	61.0
33	DNHDD	60.0
34	Maharashtra	58.5
35	Uttar Pradesh	55.0
36	Delhi	50.0

India is confronted with a significant water crisis in 2025, as pollution impacts nearly 70% of its water bodies.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified over 350 polluted river stretches across 323 rivers, emphasizing the need for immediate state-level intervention.

The following table ranks all 36 states and union territories according to their anticipated Water Quality Index (WQI) for 2025, which is a composite score ranging from 0 to 100 that assesses factors such as dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, pH, and coliform bacteria.

Higher scores reflect better quality that is suitable for drinking and irrigation. These projections are based on 2022 CPCB data, the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) from NITI Aayog, and trends from initiatives like Namami Gange and Jal Jeevan Mission.

Northeastern states are at the forefront due to their ample rainfall and minimal industrialization, whereas northern industrial centers are hindered by untreated sewage and effluents.

This ranking reveals disparities influenced by geography, population density, and governance, calling for targeted policies to address these gaps.

Geographical Influences on Water Quality

Geography significantly impacts water quality throughout India’s varied landscapes. The northeastern states, including Mizoram, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, lead with Water Quality Index (WQI) scores exceeding 90.

The region’s heavy monsoon rains—surpassing 2,000 mm each year—naturally wash away pollutants, while the dense forests act as natural filters for runoff.

For example, Mizoram boasts a WQI score of 92.5, indicative of its pristine rivers such as the Tlawng, which are largely unaffected by human activities.

The low population density of 52 individuals per square kilometer further restricts sewage discharge. In stark contrast, Rajasthan’s dry climate and a WQI score of 66 are consequences of excessive water extraction for agricultural purposes, which leads to the concentration of salts and nitrates.

The state produces 1,200 million liters per day (MLD) of wastewater, yet only 30% of this is treated, according to reports from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2024.

Union territories illustrate the extremes of this issue. Lakshadweep’s remote coral lagoons achieve a commendable score of 80, attributed to marine ecosystems that effectively dilute pollutants.

On the other hand, Delhi’s score of 50 highlights urban challenges: the Yamuna River is burdened with 3,000 MLD of untreated sewage from 22 drains, which drastically reduces dissolved oxygen levels to below 2 mg/L in certain areas.

Data from the CPCB indicates that Delhi’s Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels surpass 30 mg/L, making the water unsuitable even for bathing.

These trends underscore the influence of rainfall and topography on baseline water quality—regions with high precipitation benefit from dilution, while arid areas experience heightened pollution levels.

Industrial and Agricultural Pressures

The impact of industrialization and agriculture on water bodies is significant.

Maharashtra’s score of 58.5 reflects the strain on Mumbai, where the city releases 3,800 MLD of sewage, compounded by industrial contributions of heavy metals from sectors like textiles.

According to 2022 assessments by the CPCB, the Godavari and Tapi rivers contain 45 polluted segments, with chromium concentrations exceeding the 0.1 mg/L threshold.

Uttar Pradesh, scoring 55, faces similar challenges; the Ganga is contaminated by discharges from 1,000 tanneries in Kanpur, resulting in fecal coliform levels reaching 10^6 MPN/100mL.

The agricultural sector exacerbates these issues: Punjab and Haryana, with scores of 65 and 64 respectively, excessively apply fertilizers, which leach nitrates into the groundwater.

Notably, 80% of Punjab’s irrigated land is responsible for 70% of the national groundwater depletion, as reported by NITI Aayog, leading to eutrophication in the Sutlej River.

In contrast, southern states demonstrate better outcomes due to regulatory measures. Kerala, with a score of 85, benefits from eco-tourism rather than heavy industrial activity, and its backwaters maintain a pH range of 6.5-8.5.

Telangana’s score of 74 reflects the growth driven by Hyderabad’s IT sector, while the Musi River’s cleanup under the Namami Ganga initiative has achieved a 20% reduction in BOD since 2020.

These examples illustrate the effectiveness of proactive effluent treatment; states with sewage treatment capacities exceeding 50%, such as Gujarat with a score of 63, are able to lessen environmental damage.

However, Bihar’s score of 68 reveals a lack of attention to sanitation issues: 90% of its 38,000 villages are without proper sanitation, resulting in 500 MLD of untreated sewage being released into Ganga tributaries.

The data indicates that enhancing common effluent treatment plants could potentially improve the scores of underperforming states by 10-15 points.

Urbanization and Population Dynamics

The expansion of urban areas exacerbates pollution in regions with high population density.

Delhi’s low ranking is linked to its 22 million inhabitants producing 800 million gallons of wastewater daily, which overwhelms 35 sewage treatment facilities that are functioning at 70% of their capacity.

In Haryana, the situation is dire as Gurgaon’s industrial waste combines with domestic sewage in the Yamuna River, leading to a ranking of 64.

Conversely, Goa stands out with a ranking of 84, thanks to tourism regulations that limit urban pollution; the dissolved oxygen levels in the Mandovi River remain above 5 mg/L.

The divide between rural and urban areas continues to be significant. Chhattisgarh’s ranking of 72 reflects improvements from rural sanitation initiatives under the Swachh Bharat mission, aiming to reach 95% household coverage by 2024.

However, Bihar struggles with rural poverty, resulting in 40% of the population practicing open defecation, which increases coliform levels in the Sone River.

The rapid population growth—India’s population of 1.4 billion—places immense pressure on resources: Uttar Pradesh’s 240 million residents are responsible for polluting 20% of the country’s rivers.

Initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to connect 78% of households to piped water by mid-2025, offer hope for improvement.

Odisha’s rise to a ranking of 73 is attributed to the establishment of 50 new treatment plants since 2022, which have reduced pollution in the Mahanadi River by 15%.

Governmental Initiatives and Future Trajectories

Government initiatives are fostering gradual advancements. The Namami Gange program allocates ₹30,000 crore to rehabilitate 350 river stretches, with projections indicating an increase in the Ganga’s Water Quality Index (WQI) from 45 in 2018 to 60 by 2025.

Uttar Pradesh stands to gain the most, as Varanasi’s sewage interception efforts have led to a 25% reduction in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

The Atal Bhujal Yojana, implemented in seven states including Rajasthan, encourages groundwater recharge, which could potentially enhance scores by 5-8 points by 2030.

The Northeastern states are experiencing improvements due to minimal intervention requirements; Mizoram’s community-managed watersheds are effectively preserving water quality.

However, challenges are on the horizon: climate change is projected to reduce Himalayan water flows by 20% by 2050, according to the IPCC, which poses a threat to Uttarakhand’s ranking of 82.

Additionally, Delhi requires an investment of ₹10,000 crore for the revival of the Yamuna River.

Source

• Central Pollution Control Board. (2022). Polluted river stretches in India. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• NITI Aayog. (2018). Composite water management index. Government of India. https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-03/CompositeWaterManagementIndex.pdf