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Ground realities: Groundwater contamination poses serious hazards
- Business Standard |
- Environment |
- 2025-01-14
- Groundwater contamination
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
India's groundwater, crucial for rural water and irrigation, faces severe contamination as highlighted in the 2024 Groundwater Quality Report by the Central Ground Water Board. Notable pollutants include nitrate, fluoride, and arsenic, with significant regional quality variations.
Groundwater Reliance and Contamination in India
India's dependence on groundwater is critical, serving as the primary source for drinking water and irrigation:
- Approximately 85% of rural water supply relies on groundwater.
- Groundwater meets 62% of the country's irrigation needs.
Groundwater Quality Concerns
The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 by the Central Ground Water Board highlights significant contamination issues:
- Nearly 20% of samples exceeded permissible nitrate limits.
- 9.04% had fluoride levels above the limit.
- Arsenic contamination was found in 3.55% of samples, notably in the Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplains.
Regional Variations in Contamination
- States like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Meghalaya showed 100% compliance with BIS norms.
- High contamination hotspots were identified in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Punjab faces high nitrate levels due to excessive fertilizer use.
- Rajasthan deals with different but severe contamination issues.
Causes of Groundwater Contamination
- Natural leaching of minerals.
- Industrial discharge and unregulated mining.
- Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Increased salinity and microplastics.
- Urban challenges include untreated sewage and industrial effluents.
Impact on Public Health and Agriculture
- Contaminated groundwater poses health risks.
- Reduces crop yields and introduces harmful substances into the food chain.
- Coastal regions face reduced productivity due to salinity from over-extraction and seawater intrusion.
Recommendations for Mitigation
- Adopt sustainable agricultural practices and low-cost water filtration.
- Ensure proper sewage disposal and artificial aquifer recharge.
- Focus on localized groundwater management and last-mile community participation.
- Establish hydrogeological monitoring networks and water-security plans at the gram-panchayat level.
- Consider initiatives like water meters, public-awareness campaigns, and defining groundwater rights detached from land ownership.