Why in news?
Recent studies have highlighted widespread contamination of groundwater across India. Dangerous levels of pollutants such as arsenic, fluoride, nitrate and heavy metals are threatening drinking water supplies and public health.
Importance of groundwater
- About 60 percent of India’s irrigation and 80 percent of its drinking water needs come from groundwater. Safe and clean groundwater is therefore vital for agriculture, industry and daily life.
- Groundwater acts as a buffer during droughts and reduces dependence on surface water. However, it is a hidden resource that is difficult to monitor.
Sources of contamination
- Agricultural run‑off: Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides leads to nitrate, phosphate and pesticide residues seeping into aquifers.
- Industrial discharge: Unregulated factories often discharge toxic chemicals, heavy metals and dyes into the ground.
- Domestic sewage: Leaking septic tanks and drains contaminate water with pathogens and nitrates.
- Geogenic sources: Natural deposits of arsenic, fluoride and iron dissolve into groundwater, particularly in regions like the Gangetic Plain and Rajasthan.
Health impacts
- Arsenic causes skin lesions, cancer and developmental problems. High fluoride leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis, while nitrates cause “blue baby” syndrome in infants.
- Heavy metals such as lead, chromium and mercury can damage organs and disrupt neurological development.
- Diseases spread more easily where sewage contaminates drinking water, leading to diarrhoeal outbreaks.
Governance challenges
- Multiple agencies – central, state and local – regulate groundwater, leading to overlap and gaps.
- Many states still lack clear laws on extraction limits and pollution control. Over‑extraction lowers water tables, concentrating contaminants.
- Monitoring networks are inadequate. Data on water quality and groundwater levels are often outdated or unavailable.
Solutions
- Strengthen the Central Ground Water Board and state agencies to monitor water levels and quality regularly.
- Promote low‑chemical farming and integrated pest management to reduce agricultural runoff.
- Enforce zero liquid discharge norms for industries and invest in effluent treatment plants.
- Encourage rainwater harvesting, recharge wells and watershed management to replenish aquifers.
- Engage local communities in testing and maintaining hand pumps and wells, empowering them to act on contamination.
Conclusion
- About 60 percent of India’s irrigation and 80 percent of its drinking water needs come from groundwater. Safe and clean groundwater is therefore vital for agriculture, industry and daily life.
- Groundwater acts as a buffer during droughts and reduces dependence on surface water. However, it is a hidden resource that is difficult to monitor.
Sources of contamination
- Agricultural run‑off: Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides leads to nitrate, phosphate and pesticide residues seeping into aquifers.
- Industrial discharge: Unregulated factories often discharge toxic chemicals, heavy metals and dyes into the ground.
- Domestic sewage: Leaking septic tanks and drains contaminate water with pathogens and nitrates.
- Geogenic sources: Natural deposits of arsenic, fluoride and iron dissolve into groundwater, particularly in regions like the Gangetic Plain and Rajasthan.
Health impacts
- Arsenic causes skin lesions, cancer and developmental problems. High fluoride leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis, while nitrates cause “blue baby” syndrome in infants.
- Heavy metals such as lead, chromium and mercury can damage organs and disrupt neurological development.
- Diseases spread more easily where sewage contaminates drinking water, leading to diarrhoeal outbreaks.
Governance challenges
- Multiple agencies – central, state and local – regulate groundwater, leading to overlap and gaps.
- Many states still lack clear laws on extraction limits and pollution control. Over‑extraction lowers water tables, concentrating contaminants.
- Monitoring networks are inadequate. Data on water quality and groundwater levels are often outdated or unavailable.
Solutions
- Strengthen the Central Ground Water Board and state agencies to monitor water levels and quality regularly.
- Promote low‑chemical farming and integrated pest management to reduce agricultural runoff.
- Enforce zero liquid discharge norms for industries and invest in effluent treatment plants.
- Encourage rainwater harvesting, recharge wells and watershed management to replenish aquifers.
- Engage local communities in testing and maintaining hand pumps and wells, empowering them to act on contamination.
Conclusion
Groundwater contamination is a silent crisis. A coordinated policy, backed by scientific monitoring and community participation, is essential to protect this critical resource.