New Delhi: India has been ranked a highly poor 120th for its water quality above only Morocco and Belgium in the first ever United Nations system-wide evaluation of global water resources released on March 5.

The evaluation also ranks India 133rd in 180 countries for its poor water availability of 1,880 cubic metres per person annually.

India's quality indicator value is a pathetic -1.31 against first ranked Finland's 1.85.

The evaluation has been released as 'World Water Development Report-Water for People, Water for Life' on the eve of the third world forum to be held later in March in Kyoto, Japan.

The report ranks 122 countries according to the quality of their water, as well as their ability and commitment to improve the situation.

Belgium is considered the worst basically due to low quantity and quality of its groundwater, combined with heavy pollution and poor treatment of wastewater.

It is followed by Morocco, India, Jordan, Sudan, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The list of countries with the best quality is headed by Finland, followed by Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan and Norway.

Of the 180 countries ranked for water availability, the poorest is Kuwait, followed by Gaza Strip, United Arab Emirates, Bahamas, Qatar and Maldives. List of water rich countries is topped by French Guiana, Iceland, Guyana, Suriname and Congo.

India's poor rank in the study comes close on the heels of an independent survey, revealing presence of dangerous pesticides residues in bottled water.

PTI