SPM NIWAS, Evidence Action Ink MoU to Boost Rural Water Chlorination

Kolkata hosted a key national workshop on February 20, 2026, titled 'Strengthening Chlorination for Safe Water Supply' at SPM NIWAS. Organized by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM NIWAS) with support from Evidence Action via its technical partner EAII Advisors in

India, the event fell under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

Shri Mohd. Ishfaq, IAS (Retd.), Advisor at SPM NIWAS, kicked off proceedings by outlining the goal: pinpoint actionable fixes for beefing up chlorination systems to guarantee safe drinking water. He gave a rundown on current disinfection practices and flagged major gaps in the setup. The big moment came with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SPM NIWAS and Evidence Action. This pact zeros in on water sector boosts, especially safe drinking water via in-line chlorination tech—plugged right into village pipelines for seamless disinfection.

The MoU promises help in capacity building, research, technical know-how, program management, and policy pushes for rural drinking water. It targets better water quality control, wider rollout of disinfection fixes, evidence-driven choices, and stronger institutions. Attendees included top officials, academics, tech experts, and industry folks, all hashing out chlorination's role in wiping out harmful microbes from drinking water.

"Safe and clean drinking water must move from aspiration to reality, and strengthening chlorination through collective action is essential to achieving that goal," said Shri Priyatu Mandal, IAS, Joint Secretary-cum-Director and Head, SPM NIWAS, Kolkata. He stressed tough monitoring, accountability, and governance for rural schemes. He further reiterated that, “Drink from Tap is only possible if the water is chlorinated at the point of consumption, with a residual chlorine level of not less than 0.2 mg/litre”.

Shri Ankur Garg, Executive Vice President and India Country Director at EAII Advisors, pushed scalable, cheap, and lasting chlorination tech to plug technical and ops holes. "Our collective goal remains clear: ensure the Har Ghar Jal milestone delivers not just connections, but safe, reliable water for all. I am hopeful these discussions will yield practical insights to make robust chlorination a routine reality in piped water delivery nationwide."

Talks dove into tech shortfalls, monitoring tricks, staffing needs, daily ops, and getting communities on board. Shri Mohd. Ishfaq wrapped up by recommitting everyone to tougher chlorination and safe water for rural folks. This comes amid India's big Jal Jeevan Mission drive for tap water in every home, but quality remains a sticking point.

The partnership couldn't be timelier. Rural India still battles waterborne diseases from poor disinfection—chlorination is cheap, proven, and quick. In-line systems cut human error, ensuring steady chlorine residuals like the 0.2 mg/litre target. Evidence Action's global track record in scaling such tech in places like Kenya adds credibility. SPM NIWAS, with its policy muscle, can drive nationwide adoption.

Experts say this MoU could accelerate Har Ghar Jal's next phase: not just pipes, but potable water. Discussions flagged needs like better training for operators and real-time testing kits. With climate stresses hitting water sources harder, reliable chlorination is non-negotiable. The workshop sets a blueprint—now it's about execution across states.

This collaboration underscores government's push for public-private ties in water security. Rural households stand to gain most, dodging outbreaks of cholera or diarrhea. As India eyes full coverage by 2024's extended deadlines, moves like this bridge the safe water gap effectively.