India, Sept. 20 -- For many Indian households, checking the TDS level has become almost as routine as checking the price of a water purifier. But TDS is only one part of the picture. The CGWB's 2024 groundwater assessment found nitrate levels above the BIS permissible limit in nearly 20% of monitored samples, while fluoride exceeded the limit in 9.04% and arsenic in 3.35%. These numbers show why a single reading on a TDS meter may not tell the full story of the water flowing into your home.

So, the next time you check your water quality, Dr Anil Kumar, Chief Water Scientist, Eureka Forbes, shares seven questions worth asking:

A reassuring TDS number doesn't automatically mean the water is free of bacteria. Ask whether the water has been...