The Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) under the Jal Shakti Ministry published the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024, highlighting significant concerns about groundwater quality in India. Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use in India, supporting around 600 million people. Despite its importance, however, groundwater in many regions is facing severe contamination, giving rise to public health crises, economic losses, and environmental degradation.
Highlights of the Report
- Extraction of groundwater: As per the report, the degree of groundwater extraction across India is 60.4%.
- Safe Blocks: Around 73% of the analysed blocks come under the ‘safe’ category, suggesting adequate replenishment of groundwater resources.
- Nitrate Pollution: 440 districts had excessive nitrates in their groundwater in 2023.
- Rajasthan (49%), Karnataka (48%), and Tamil Nadu (37%) have the highest levels of nitrate contamination.
- In uranium contamination, particularly in Rajasthan and Punjab, the highest numbers of samples exceeded 100 ppb (parts per billion).
- Fluoride contamination is a major issue in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Primary Agents Responsible for Contaminating Groundwater
- Arsenic: Though it occurs naturally, it is also present in human-made forms used in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
- Fluoride: In India, fluorosis is a prevalent issue because of the consumption of water with high fluoride content.
- Nitrates: Excessive nitrate in drinking water reacts with haemoglobin, resulting in non-functional methaemoglobin and hindering oxygen transport, ultimately leading to methemoglobinemia and blue baby syndrome.
- Uranium: Uranium, being radioactive with a long physical half-life, is found in concentrations above WHO guidelines in localised pockets in India.
Reasons for Groundwater Contamination
- Excessive Use of Fertilizers: Over-reliance on nitrogen-based synthetic fertilizers in agriculture leads to nitrate leaching into groundwater.
- Effluents of industries: Discharge of untreated or inadequately treated industrial waste into the groundwater with heavy metals and other toxic substances.
- Geological formations: In some regions, the release of naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, and uranium into groundwater leads to their formation.
- Excessive extraction: lowers water tables, concentrating naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, uranium, and fluoride.
- Urbanisation: badly built sewage systems and improper waste disposal systems in urban areas give rise to groundwater pollution.
- Saltwater Intrusion: Over-pumping of groundwater in coastal areas can cause saltwater from the ocean to infiltrate freshwater aquifers, making the water unfit for drinking or agriculture.
Impact of Groundwater Contamination
- Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water can lead to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis.
- Chronic Illnesses: Long-term exposure to heavy metals and other pollutants can result in kidney damage, neurological disorders, and cancers.
- Reproductive Health Issues: Pesticides and heavy metals have been linked to reproductive health problems, including birth defects and infertility.
Government Initiatives
- National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM): It aims to delineate and characterize the aquifer system in the country.
- National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP): Addressing contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic through water treatment plants and alternate water supply solutions.
- Jal Kranti Abhiyan: It aimed at consolidating water conservation and management initiatives in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana: It was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.
- Namami Gange Program: Clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River Basin, including the mitigation of groundwater contamination in adjacent regions.
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Policy Recommendations
- Regulatory Framework: Implementation of the National Water Policy with more focus on water quality monitoring is essential.
- Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Implementation of precision farming techniques to reduce the overuse of fertilizers and irrigation water.
- Water Treatment Technologies: Promotion of low-cost filtration techniques for rural households to address contaminants like nitrates and heavy metals.
- Groundwater Recharge Initiatives: The Adoption of rainwater harvesting and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects to replenish groundwater levels.
- Participatory Groundwater Management: Considering it a common pool resource, we should stop its continuous, unchecked extraction.
- First, Mihir Shah Committee Recommendations: Restructuring and unification of The Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to form a new National Water Commission (NWC).
- Utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI): Leveraging AI to analyse vast sets of data on water quality, usage patterns, and aquifer characteristics. This can help predict contamination risks and develop targeted interventions.
Conclusion
Groundwater contamination is a grave issue that requires immediate attention and action. We all have to address the causes of contamination and strategies; only then can India safeguard its vital groundwater resources. Eventually, it will ensure a healthier future for its population. Moreover, Collaborative efforts of government, industry, and communities are necessary to create a sustainable and secure water future.