In a significant breakthrough, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have unveiled the first comprehensive metagenomic profile of municipal drinking water in India.
According to the researchers, the study moves beyond conventional culture-based testing by applying metagenomic sequencing to public drinking-water systems for the first time in India. The research demonstrates that metagenomics can serve as a powerful surveillance tool, complementing traditional chemical and microbial testing mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards. By revealing the “hidden microbiome” of treated water, it opens avenues for early detection of emerging pathogens and AMR dissemination routes—critical to India’s One Health implementation strategy.
According to Dr Vikas Kumar, scientist-E at ZSI and principal investigator of the project, this is the first time in India that metagenomic sequencing has been applied to public drinking-water systems to understand microbial ecology, antibiotic-resistance profiles, and their environmental drivers. “Our findings provide baseline data crucial for integrating microbial surveillance into national water-safety programmes,” pointed out Dr Kumar. He reiterated that even treated water harbours diverse microbial life, with its composition shaped by factors such as temperature and distribution-system conditions.
The analysis provides an in-depth picture of microbial communities, including both beneficial and opportunistic bacteria, and traces of antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARGs) such as adeF and ermR, which are associated with multidrug resistance. “Water connects humans, animals, and the environment — the three pillars of the Government of India’s One Health Mission. Our study provides the environmental-health evidence base necessary for integrating microbiome monitoring into One Health frameworks.”
He added that these findings align perfectly with national programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, and the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR),” said Dr Inderjeet Tyagi, scientist at ZSI and study co-supervisor. “Through metagenomic analysis, we can detect thousands of microbial species and potential ARGs in a single run, supporting early-warning systems for antimicrobial resistance and water-borne infections,” added professor Karthik Raman, from IIT-Madras.