Water pollution is a serious problem in India as almost 70% of surface water resources have serious pollution problem and a growing number of ground water resources are already contaminated by various pollutants. In many cases these sources have been rendered unfit for any useful consumption. This deterioration is more apparent in and around the large urban areas. Inadequately treated industrial effluent is finding way in the water sources causing sever contamination beyond repair through conventional means.

Rapid increase in the use of Agro-chemical and Pesticides in the agricultural fields has entered the water supply through surface run-off or underground leaching.

Although, Industrial sector accounts for only 3% of annual water withdrawals in India, its contribution through the effluent load is disproportionate to its consumption figures. These effluents are often contaminated with highly toxic organic and inorganic substances which remain in the ecological systems for many years.

Domestic wastewater is also one of the major pollution source causing 14 major river systems getting heavily polluted from 50 million M3 of untreated sewage discharged into them each year. This also causes high incidence of water related diseases. To date, only 14% of rural and 70% of urban inhabitants have access to adequate sanitation facilities.