Water Quality in India and its Impacts


Water Quality in India and its Impacts


By: Blessen Kuriakose




Clean drinking water is often viewed as easily attainable and accessible to some, while many view it as a luxury. Though it is necessary to sustain life, many take it for granted. Countries like India exemplify the actual value of drinking water and its importance to life.


Freshwater is commonly found in India in surface water sources such as wetlands, lakes, rivers, ponds, springs, cave waters, etc. USGS defines freshwater as the "supply the human population, animals, and plants with the fresh water they need to survive." Though freshwater is necessary for sustaining life, it is found in slight traces throughout the planet, with only 2.5% of the water on earth being freshwater. Much of this freshwater is often contaminated and polluted by human intervention.


In countries like India, clean drinking water is commonly found in scarcity. With a population of nearly three times that of the United States, only less than 50 percent of the population has access to clean drinking water. The water that few have access to is often contaminated and harbors potent waterborne diseases. Harmful chemicals like fluoride and arsenic can be commonly found in millions of homes within the country. Water contamination from arsenic has been thought to have impacted nearly 15 million people in West Bengal alone. The pollution and contamination of India's significant waterways are mainly caused by its growing efforts to become more urbanized. Such efforts have led to the disposal of nearly 40 million liters of waste into different bodies of water within India. Poor methods in India also contribute to the growing number of victims of waterborne illnesses. Without proper access to materials like toilets and sinks, many rely on bodies of water due to their availability. This ultimately leads to a growing number of waterborne illnesses, injuries, and even possibly death.


The pollution of local bodies of water and waterways is created in many ways. The use of potent and harmful fertilizers and pesticide residues are transported from the area where they were applied into freshwater. The harmful chemicals often originate from human activities such as factory work and agricultural activities. These chemicals can seep into the water in many different ways, making tracking the location of the damage expensive and not always cost-effective. India's surface waters are heavily polluted, primarily because of the lack of proper sewage management. Due to poor sewage disposal systems, untreated sewage can make its way into local waterways, which begins harboring microorganisms.


Efforts to combat the impact of pollution of central and local bodies of water in India are actively being fought. Efforts are being made by the Indian government and UNICEF, an international organization working towards bettering the quality of life for all around the globe. The Indian government, under the aid of prime minister Narendra Modi, established the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. UNICEF continues assisting by developing improved water quality monitoring systems. The Indian government recently developed a program known as Swajal to continue demanding and providing clean drinking water to rural areas. Such efforts are continuously being made to provide clean drinking water safely to the people of India.


Citations:

Priyank Hirani, and Vikas Dimble. “Water Pollution Is Killing Millions of Indians. Here’s How Technology and Reliable Data Can Change That.” World Economic Forum, 4 Oct. 2019, www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/water-pollution-in-india-data-tech-solution/.


unicef. “Clean Drinking Water.” Www.unicef.org, www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/clean-drinking-water.


Behal, Anuj, and Dimple Behal. “India’s Water Crisis: It Is Most Acute for Women.” Www.downtoearth.org.in, 16 Aug. 2021, www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/india-s-water-crisis-it-is-most-acute-for-women-78472.


Snyder, Shannyn. “Water in Crisis - Spotlight India.” The Water Project, 2019, thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-in-crisis-india.


“Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle | U.S. Geological Survey.” Www.usgs.gov, www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/freshwater-lakes-and-rivers-and-water-cycle.

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