Groundwater Contamination – A Public Health Emergency

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• India’s worsening groundwater contamination crisis has emerged as a major public health threat, with toxic pollutants linked to chronic illnesses across several states.

Introduction

• Groundwater is the lifeline of India, meeting over 85% of rural drinking water and 65% of irrigation needs. 
• Once considered pure, it is now increasingly tainted by nitrates, heavy metals, industrial pollutants, and pathogenic microbes. 
• The 2024 Annual Groundwater Quality Report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has revealed alarming contamination levels across the country, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform. 
• This crisis is no longer limited to environmental concerns; it is a nationwide public health emergency.

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Scale and Nature of Groundwater Contamination

• Groundwater samples from over 440 districts show dangerous levels of contaminants:
  • Nitrates: Found in more than 20% of samples, mainly due to excessive fertiliser use and septic tank leakage.
  • Fluoride: Excess levels in over 9% of samples, causing dental and skeletal fluorosis in states like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • Arsenic: Detected at unsafe levels in parts of Punjab, Bihar, and the Gangetic belt, posing severe cancer and neurological risks.
  • Uranium: Recorded above 100 ppb in districts of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, linked to phosphate fertilisers and over-extraction.
  • Iron and Heavy Metals: Over 13% of samples exceeded safe iron limits; lead, cadmium, and mercury have been traced to industrial discharges.

Documented Health Impacts

• The health effects of groundwater contamination are severe and widespread:
  • Fluorosis: Affecting over 66 million people in 230 districts; leads to joint pain, deformities, and stunted growth in children.
  • Arsenicosis: Causes skin lesions, cancers, gangrene, and respiratory illnesses; prevalent in West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Nitrate Poisoning: Responsible for “blue baby syndrome” in infants; 56% of districts exceed safe nitrate limits.
  • Uranium Toxicity: Causes chronic organ damage and kidney disorders; children are particularly at risk.
  • Waterborne Diseases: Outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis due to sewage infiltration into aquifers.

Case Studies of Groundwater “Death Zones”

• Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh: 13 deaths in two weeks from kidney failure linked to industrial effluents in borewells.
• Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh: Petroleum-like fluids found in handpumps due to suspected underground fuel leaks.
• Paikarapur, Bhubaneswar: Hundreds fell ill from sewage-contaminated groundwater due to a faulty treatment plant.

Root Causes of the Crisis

• Fragmented Governance: Multiple agencies like CGWB, CPCB, SPCBs, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti work in silos, reducing policy coherence.
• Weak Legal Framework: The Water Act, 1974 barely addresses groundwater; enforcement is lax.
• Inadequate Monitoring: Lack of real-time, public data prevents early detection.
• Over-Extraction: Falling water tables concentrate pollutants and mobilise geogenic toxins.
• Industrial Negligence: Minimal oversight allows illegal discharges and untreated effluent disposal.

Pathways to Reform

• To safeguard groundwater, a multi-pronged approach is essential:
  • National Groundwater Pollution Control Framework: Assign clear responsibilities and empower CGWB with enforcement powers.
  • Technology-Driven Monitoring: Real-time sensors, satellite imaging, and public data access.
  • Health-Centric Interventions: Community-based defluoridation and arsenic removal units, piped safe water supply.
  • Zero Liquid Discharge Mandates: Strict regulation for industrial effluent and landfill leachate.
  • Agrochemical Management: Shift towards organic and balanced fertilisation practices.
  • Citizen Participation: Empower panchayats, schools, and local monitoring groups to test and report water quality.

Source: TH