Capacity-building model to strengthen water quality monitoring and treatment systems to address risk associated with contamination of water supplies

ABSTRACT Training from 2021-24: Geographical distribution, capacity-building framework, and overall effectiveness. Access to safe and wholesome water is a fundamental human need and a core objective of Goal 6 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Specifically, target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. In India, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to fulfil this by providing functional household tap connections to ensure the delivery of safe and adequate potable water. The Public Health Engineering and Rural Water Supply Departments serve as the nodal institutions for this implementation. With millions of sources being tested in their laboratories, there is a critical need for institutional strengthening through training and capacity building. Consequently, nationwide training programs have been conducted to enhance water quality monitoring and treatment systems. The effectiveness of these programs was evaluated to identify future requirements for the advanced training ecosystem. While these efforts align with various Sustainable Development Goals and address immediate troubleshooting gaps, future models must evolve. Given the rising prevalence of unregulated emerging contaminants – such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, microplastics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients – future capacity-building must prioritize the detection and management of these trace-level pollutants in water supplies.