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Picture Courtesy:  DOWNTOEARTH

Context

Indore, India's cleanest city, faces a public health crisis as contaminated municipal water in Bhagirathpura caused at least 15 deaths and over 200 hospitalizations, exposing major lapses in urban water management.

Water Contamination in India

Contaminated water is defined as water containing physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substances that make it unfit for its intended use, such as drinking, cooking, or agriculture. 

The pollutants can range from industrial chemicals and heavy metals to bacteria and viruses, posing risks to human health and ecosystems.

Status of Water Contamination in India

India holds 18% of the global population but only 4% of the world's freshwater. A 2023 NITI Aayog report states nearly 70% of its water is contaminated, risking public health and economic development.

Surface Water Pollution: The 2022 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) assessment identified 311 polluted river stretches on 279 rivers in 30 States/Union Territories, mainly due to untreated sewage from urban centers and industrial effluents.

Groundwater Contamination

• Arsenic & Fluoride: High concentrations of arsenic and fluoride, which are geogenic (naturally occurring), are found in the groundwater of several states.  
• Nitrate: High nitrate contamination, largely from excessive fertilizer use and improper sanitation, affects groundwater in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Heavy Metals: Industrial activities contribute to contamination by heavy metals like lead, chromium, and cadmium, particularly in industrial clusters.

Inadequate Wastewater Treatment: India's urban sewage treatment capacity is 36,668 MLD, only about 50% of the 72,368 Million Litres per Day (MLD) generated (CPCB, 2023). This gap results in untreated sewage being discharged into water bodies.

Root Causes of Water Contamination

Untreated Municipal Sewage

Lack of sewage treatment infrastructure in many cities and towns leads to direct discharge into rivers and lakes. Pollutants include pathogens (bacteria, viruses), organic matter, and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus).

Industrial Effluents

Industries like tanneries, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and chemicals release untreated or poorly treated waste containing heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), toxic chemicals, and organic sludge.

Agricultural Runoff

The overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in farming leads to runoff into surface and groundwater. Key pollutants are nitrates and phosphates, which cause eutrophication.

Religious and Social Practices

Activities like idol immersion and the disposal of religious offerings into rivers contribute to the pollution load, especially during festivals.

Geogenic Contamination

Natural geological formations release harmful substances into groundwater. This is the primary source of arsenic in the Indo-Gangetic plains and fluoride in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Improper Solid Waste Management

Leachate from unscientific landfills and garbage dumps seeps into the ground, contaminating both soil and groundwater with a mix of hazardous substances.

Impacts of Water Contamination

Health Impacts

• Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water is a primary cause of diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis A.
• High Mortality & Morbidity: Annually, about 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases. The UN estimates that 1.4 million deaths in India in 2019 were attributable to water pollution.

Economic Impacts

• Healthcare Costs: The health-related costs of water pollution are estimated to be between $6.7 to $8.7 billion per year (Source: World Bank).
• Loss of Livelihoods: Pollution affects fisheries, which employ over 14.5 million people, by causing mass fish deaths.
• Agricultural Loss: Contaminated water used for irrigation can reduce crop yields and introduce toxins into the food chain, impacting agricultural revenue.  

Environmental Impacts

• Ecosystem Degradation: Pollutants kill aquatic life, disrupt food chains, and create "dead zones" in rivers where oxygen levels are too low to support life.
• Loss of Biodiversity: The destruction of aquatic habitats leads to a significant loss of biodiversity in and around water bodies.

Government Initiatives to Combat Water Contamination

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Launched in 2019, its goal is to provide a functional household tap connection to every rural household.   

Namami Gange Programme: Launched in 2014, this integrated mission aims to rejuvenate the Ganga River through sewage and industrial effluent treatment, river-surface cleaning, and afforestation.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0): Provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps in all statutory towns and sewerage/septage management in 500 cities.

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): A World Bank-funded central scheme for sustainable groundwater management with community participation. It is being implemented in identified water-stressed areas of seven states.

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQMP): The CPCB monitors water quality at numerous locations across the country to assess the nature and extent of pollution. 

Way Forward

Strengthen Infrastructure

Universalize sewage treatment, focusing on decentralized systems for smaller towns. NITI Aayog advocates reusing treated wastewater for non-potable purposes like irrigation and industry.

Enforce 'Polluter Pays' Principle

Enforce strict environmental rules, mandating Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) for highly polluting industries and upgrading Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for industrial clusters.

Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Encourage natural and organic farming to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Implement policies for efficient water use and runoff management.

Community Participation

Make water management a "Jan Andolan" (People's Movement) by engaging local communities in monitoring quality and managing local resources.

Learn from Global Best Practices

Singapore's "Four National Taps" Model: Singapore, a water-scarce nation, has achieved water security through a diversified strategy comprising:

• Local Catchment Water: Harvesting rainwater from two-thirds of the island's surface.
• Imported Water: Sourced from neighboring Malaysia.
• NEWater: High-grade reclaimed water produced by treating used water with advanced membrane technologies. NEWater currently meets up to 40% of Singapore's water demand (Source: PUB Singapore).
• Desalinated Water: Turning seawater into fresh drinking water.

Israel's Water Technology: Israel is a world leader in wastewater recycling and drip irrigation. It treats and recycles nearly 90% of its wastewater for agricultural use and has pioneered advanced desalination technologies.

Conclusion

Water contamination harms public health and the economy. Existing efforts like Jal Jeevan Mission and Namami Gange need better implementation. Future water security requires a comprehensive approach: stricter rules, consistent infrastructure spending, technology, and community involvement.

Source: DOWNTOEARTH