Major Causes and Impact of Water Pollution in India
In this growing and developing world there is growing pollution too which though we think that its negligible but its not. There are many types of pollution one amongst them is water pollution and its a major environmental issue in india. Unthreatened sewage is one of the major reasons for water pollution. Small scale industries and agricultural runoff are the other major reasons behind it. Solid untreated waste sewage is also the reason.
The surface and groundwater which is considered fit for drinking is now getting affected by the sewage which is untreated and a study in 2007 had research on its well.
There is a difference between the treatment of domestic wastewater in
India and generation but the proper treatment is not only the problem but the running existing programme also which is not monitored.
The government-owned sewage treatment plains also remains closed for most of the time due to poor maintenance or improper design or lack of reliable electricity supply to operate the plants along with absentee employees and management.
In these areas the wastewater generated is percolated into the soil or evaporates.in urban areas the waste water starts to accumulate causing unhyginity.
Most Polluted River in India
There are many rivers that are getting polluted due to waste or solid waste that affects water bodies like river effect severely. Few of the major rivers like ganga and yamuna and many are affected very badly due to human activities which causes pollution in rivers.
Ganga is the river alongside which many peoples live and around 2000000 peoples bath, as it’s considered as the holy river of Hindus which is very unhealthy and risky for the people.
The Yamuna is another holy river which is popularly known for pollution caused in Delhi as estimated in 2012. It contained 7500coliform bacteria per 100cc of water.
To increase community population and decentralized water management india has revised national water policy in 2002. The country's bureaucracy ensures that it remains a mere state of intent.
River Pollution in India
The other most coliform polluted water bodies are Ganga, Yamuna, Yamunotri, Chambal, Mahi , Vardha and godavari.the coliform must be below 104mpn/100ml is absent from water for it to be considered fit for drinking water and general human use and for irrigation.
47 percent of water qualifying monitoring reported that coliform concentration is above 500mpn/100.water monitoring station reported a coliform level above levels suggestions recent programme for infrastructure and upgrade treatment plant in India may be reversing the water pollution.
Introduction to Water Pollution in India
Contamination of water bodies such as rivers, lake groundwater etc is known as water pollution . WHO in 1992 had reported that 3119 towns and cities just 209 had partial water facilities. Downstream, the river water is getting polluted due to the untreated water used for drinking , bathing and washing.
But there are solutions to these problems as well like the water conservation in India is gaining place . some of the initiatives like yamuna cleanups are taking place.
Efforts are taken to clean the Cooum,Adyar rivers in Chennai by the Chennai river restoration trust.
Water Pollution Problems in India
Pollution itself is a great problem for human beings and if it’s due to human beings plus water pollution then it’s even more difficult to sustain for a longer period of time. Water pollution problems are caused due to many things that are listed below:
Human activities: throwing waste water into pure water bodies make them polluted eg. detergent water is even more harmful for not only humans but animals who are totally dependent on these sources only.
Industrial waste: many mega cities(prayagraj, kanpur, varanasi,delhi,mumbai) have a lot of factories and industries which releases a lot of pollutants in the form of liquid and air pollution also.
Dams and pumping waste and religious wastes also contribute to pollution of water bodies.
Water Pollution Issues in India
Water is one of the main sources of human sustainability. There is 71% water which earth occupies and only 2.5% is used in drinking and other using purposes. Which is quite less amount to be used by crores of people. Water is not just used in drinking but mostly in everything even our body is made up of 70%of water. it’s used in household purposes like drinking and agricultural practices like irrigation etc etc. humans are using water promptly but they don’t realise its importance thats why now its becoming hard to get good water quality. The reason behind these all is also human activities construction activities in rivers causes rivers polluted and the industrial waste water which is released into it and several human waste discharge ,whose tributaries somehow reaches farmers and that toxicated water is then used by farmers in croups. It anyhow returns back to humans and makes it unhygienic and unfit to drink and even at times causes different hazardous diseases.
India health authorities have also taken different limited actions in tackling the public health impeding . Waste water undergoes any sort of treatment before being discharged which is sent to a wretched stream of industrial effluent which contains heavy metals and toxic effluent and this is with only 30% of water. Recognition of the water crisis is necessary for present human beings and the future generation to come.
FAQs on Water Pollution in India: Complete Guide for Students
1. What is the basic definition of water pollution for students?
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances, known as pollutants, contaminate a body of water like a river, lake, ocean, or groundwater. This contamination degrades the water quality, making it toxic and unsafe for humans, animals, and the environment. The primary sources include domestic sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff.
2. What are the main causes of water pollution in India?
The main causes of water pollution in India are multifaceted and stem from various human activities. The key sources include:
Domestic Sewage: A large volume of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities and towns is discharged directly into rivers and lakes.
Industrial Effluents: Factories release harmful chemicals, heavy metals (like mercury and lead), and hot water (thermal pollution) into nearby water bodies.
Agricultural Runoff: The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in farming washes into rivers and groundwater, causing nutrient enrichment.
Religious and Social Practices: Activities like idol immersion and dumping of ritual materials contribute significantly to the pollution of sacred rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna.
3. What are the major effects of water pollution on human health and aquatic life?
Water pollution has severe consequences. For human health, it leads to water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and jaundice from consuming contaminated water. Long-term exposure to chemical pollutants can cause chronic health issues. For aquatic life, pollution depletes dissolved oxygen, leading to the death of fish and other organisms. Toxic chemicals can accumulate in aquatic food chains through a process called biomagnification, and nutrient pollution causes eutrophication, resulting in destructive algal blooms.
4. What is the difference between point and non-point source water pollution?
This is a key distinction in understanding pollution sources:
Point Source Pollution: This refers to pollutants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source. For example, a pipe discharging wastewater from a factory or a municipal sewage treatment plant directly into a river.
Non-point Source Pollution: This type of pollution comes from diffuse, or scattered, sources. It occurs when rainfall or snowmelt moves over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into water bodies. Examples in India include agricultural runoff from fields and stormwater runoff from urban areas carrying oil and chemicals.
5. How is the level of water pollution measured scientifically?
Scientists measure water pollution using several key indicators. Two of the most important, as per the NCERT syllabus, are:
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): This measures the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic bacteria to break down organic waste present in the water. A high BOD value indicates a high level of organic pollution, meaning the water quality is poor.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): This measures the total quantity of oxygen required to oxidise all organic and inorganic compounds in water. It provides a broader measure of pollution than BOD.
6. Why is eutrophication a major concern for Indian lakes and ponds?
Eutrophication is a critical environmental issue where a water body becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, primarily nitrates and phosphates from agricultural fertilizers and domestic sewage. This enrichment fuels excessive growth of algae, known as an algal bloom. When these algae die and decompose, they consume vast amounts of dissolved oxygen, creating a hypoxic (low-oxygen) environment that kills fish and other aquatic life. This process, often called the 'ageing' of a lake, degrades the entire ecosystem and is a common problem in many urban and rural water bodies in India.
7. How do government regulations like the Water Act 1974 aim to control pollution in India?
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 is a cornerstone of environmental legislation in India. Its primary objective is to prevent and control water pollution and maintain or restore the wholesomeness of water. It established central and state pollution control boards (CPCB and SPCBs) empowered to set standards for sewage and industrial effluents, issue permits for discharge, and take legal action against violators. This act provides the legal framework for all major pollution control initiatives in the country.
8. Why does thermal pollution from power plants harm aquatic ecosystems?
Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes the ambient water temperature. Power plants and industries use water as a coolant and then discharge this heated water back into rivers or lakes. This sudden increase in temperature has two major negative effects: it reduces the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, as warmer water holds less oxygen, and it increases the metabolic rate of aquatic organisms. This thermal shock can be fatal to fish and other species that are adapted to a specific temperature range, disrupting the entire local ecosystem.
9. As a student, what are some practical steps I can take to help reduce water pollution?
Every individual's effort counts. As a student, you can contribute significantly by adopting these habits:
Conserve Water: Using less water reduces the amount of wastewater that needs to be treated.
Proper Waste Disposal: Never pour chemicals, oils, paints, or medicines down the sink or toilet. Dispose of them responsibly.
Reduce Chemical Use: Encourage the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable cleaning products at home.
Spread Awareness: Educate your family and friends about the importance of water conservation and pollution prevention. Participate in school-led awareness campaigns or community clean-up drives.
