Introduction Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), in partnership with the States, aims to significantly improve rural “ease of living” by providing access to safe water at the doorstep, eliminating the need to fetch water from distant sources. Under the Jal Jeevan mission, it is envisaged that every rural household should have a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) providing a quality, reliable water supply. The initial target was to achieve it by 2024. So far, 80% households across the country have been covered with Functional Household Tap Connections. Considering the progress achieved so far and ongoing work, the Hon’ble Finance Minister has announced the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028 to provide FHTC to the remaining rural households. Under this scheme, the water supplied must meet the quality standards prescribed by BIS 10500, be delivered in a minimum quantity of 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd), and be available regularly and over the long term. According to the JJM Dashboard, a total of 7,58,909 water sources have been established as of 12th February 2026 across Public Water Supply (PWS) Schemes (SVS and MVS combined). Of these, 6,67,900 sources are groundwater-based, 67,394 are surface water sources, 15,023 are spring sources, and 8,592 fall under other categories. The data indicate a predominant reliance on groundwater, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the total sources supporting rural water supply schemes. Hence, the sustainability of groundwater sources is critical to long-term, norm-compliant rural water supply. Given that many drinking water sources (particularly groundwater aquifers) are also used for agricultural irrigation, it is critical to conserve and maintain these water sources—such as springs, recharge zones, and catchments—to sustain the prescribed norms over time. This implies integrated water resource management, aquifer mapping, community stewardship, water source recharge, and regulated extraction, so that both domestic and agricultural needs can be met without compromising drinking water security. Source Sustainability To ensure the long-term sustainability of drinking water sources in villages that depend on groundwater for their JJM (Jal Jeevan Mission) schemes, large-scale conservation and recharge measures are essential. A scientific approach across varied terrains requires a well-defined Standard Operating Procedure for Groundwater Source Sustainability. The document provides a step-by-step guide and a structured framework for drinking water source sustainability for drinking water supply agencies and field workers. It includes the following steps: Step 1: Collection of Foundational Data & Geotagging: Gather basic information, including geographic and geological features, aquifer maps, existing sources, and infrastructure. Geo-tag key assets to enable spatial monitoring. Step 2: Assessment of Water Demand & Supply: Estimate current and projected water requirements (household, livestock, agriculture, if applicable) and compare them with available supply from sources. Identify seasonal variations and peak demand. Step 3: Monsoon / Seasonal Recharge Assessment: Analyse monsoon rainfall, surface water inflows, and natural recharge zones. Estimate the extent of recharge and identify where interventions may be needed. Step 4: Village-Level Risk Assessment: Identify risks such as over-exploitation, contamination, declines in water levels, drought, land-use changes, and others. Prioritise villages at higher risk of intervention. Step 5: Drinking Water Source Sustainability Measures: Design interventions to enhance source sustainability, including artificial recharge (e.g., recharge wells, percolation tanks), rainwater harvesting, spring restoration, catchment protection, etc. Step 6: Source Protection Practices: Secure existing sources from contamination or degradation through fencing, proper drainage, and control of nearby land use (latrines, livestock, wastewater), buffer zones, etc. Step 7: Groundwater Monitoring & Measurement: Regularly monitor groundwater levels, water quality (including chemical and biological parameters), and usage metrics. Use tools such as observation wells, field test kits, and sensors where feasible. Step 8: Technical & Financial Support Systems: Provide technical guidance/design standards, cost estimates, and training. Ensure financial resources (budget allocations, grants, and community contributions) are available and sustainably managed to support the above measures. The steps specified above are based on the SOP on drinking water source sustainability, available at the following link: sop-for-sustainability-of-ground-water-sources. Reference: Jal Jeevan Mission – Operational Guidelines SOP for Sustainability of Ground Water Sources (JJM) JJM Dashboard (Source Statistics) BIS Drinking Water Standards Framework for Groundwater Management Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) Atal Bhujal Yojana (Groundwater Sustainability) India Ground Water Year Book Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) MGNREGA Convergence with other programmes, Govt of West Bengal