Ancient Hindus considered the construction of wells a sacred duty. Inscriptions on ancient wells in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, exhort the people drawing water from them to pour an equal amount of water in a nearby pool. Texts like the Vishnu Purana clearly state that one who cares for water sources performs a righteous act.

Ancient Indians, very much aware of the existence of groundwater in alluvial plains, tried to tap it for drinking purposes. Evidence of canal-building activities is available from the time of the Indus Valley civilisation. The western Yamuna canal, constructed during the Tughlaq regime, was repaired during Akbar's reign and extended up to Delhi by Shahjahan. In the last phase of Mughal rule, Muhammad Shah constructed the eastern Yamuna canal.

Knowledge about water-borne diseases was consider able. Sushruta, the fourth century surgeon, cautioned against the use of water from certain sources such as the Vindhyas, which caused jaundice and leprosy; from Malwa Hills, which contained eggs of worms and intestinal parasites; rainwater of the Western Ghats, which begot cutaneous infection; and waters of Mahendra Hill, which could lead to elephantlasis and dropsy.