Water Pollution In India: Understanding The Main Causes

Water pollution is a pressing issue in India, with an estimated 70% of surface water deemed unfit for consumption. The main causes of water pollution in India are diverse and include sewage discharge from cities, towns, and villages, as well as industrial and agricultural activities. The country faces challenges in treating domestic and industrial wastewater due to insufficient treatment capacity and inadequate maintenance of existing sewage treatment plants. In addition, India's growing economy and population, coupled with dwindling groundwater supplies and insufficient investment in treatment facilities, exacerbate the problem. Water pollution in India has severe implications for human health, with water-related diseases causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in children.

Sewage treatment plants are poorly maintained or closed

Sewage treatment plants in India are poorly maintained or closed due to a variety of factors, which has severe consequences for the country's water pollution crisis. Firstly, there is a lack of sufficient treatment capacity; India's major cities produce 38,354 million litres of sewage per day, yet the urban sewage treatment capacity is only 11,786 million litres. This gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity results in a large volume of untreated sewage being discharged into water bodies, primarily from urban centres.

Government-owned sewage treatment plants, in particular, face several challenges. These plants often suffer from improper design, poor maintenance, and a lack of reliable electricity supply. In addition, absentee employees and poor management further contribute to the issue of plant closures. As a result, wastewater generated in these areas seeps into the soil or evaporates, causing unhygienic conditions and releasing pollutants that leach into surface and groundwater.

The inadequate maintenance and operation of sewage treatment plants have significant impacts on water quality and availability in India. The discharge of untreated sewage leads to severe organic and bacterial contamination in water bodies, posing risks to both aquatic ecosystems and human health. The pollution of water sources also affects agricultural activities, with a study estimating a 16% drop in downstream agricultural yields attributed to water pollution.

Furthermore, the lack of proper sewage treatment exacerbates the water scarcity issue in India. With 21 major cities nearing water depletion and various cities experiencing water supply cuts, the country is facing a critical challenge in managing its wastewater and ensuring safe water reuse. The pollution of water sources also impacts India's economic growth, with a World Bank report suggesting that upstream pollution can reduce GDP growth in downstream areas by up to a third.

To address the issue of poorly maintained or closed sewage treatment plants, several interventions can be considered. Firstly, there is a need for increased investment in treatment facilities at the federal, state, and local levels. This includes constructing adequate sewage treatment infrastructure and ensuring proper maintenance and operation of these facilities. Additionally, cities should charge a proper price for water to provide local sewage work operators with the necessary resources for the maintenance and modernisation of treatment plants.

Industrial wastewater is dumped into rivers

India's water pollution problem is a complex issue with multiple sources and impacts. One of the main causes of water pollution in India is the discharge of industrial wastewater into rivers. This is due to the lack of regulation and treatment of industrial wastewater in the country.

The largest and most sacred river in India, the Ganges, is a prime example of the devastating effects of industrial wastewater dumping. Despite being a holy site for Hindus, with over 500 million people relying on it, the Ganges has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world. This is largely due to the activities of large industrial enterprises that discharge untreated wastewater directly into the river. In 2016, it was reported that there were 746 industries directly depositing wastewater into the Ganges, containing heavy metals and toxins such as lead, cadmium, copper, chromium, zinc, and arsenic. These pollutants have severe ecological and health impacts, including bioaccumulation, which can lead to impaired cognitive function, gastrointestinal damage, and renal damage in humans.

The Indian government has recognized the severity of the issue and has implemented various initiatives to address it. One such initiative is the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology, which aims to eliminate liquid waste from highly polluting industries. However, the high installation costs and the challenge of processing large amounts of dissolved solids in wastewater have deterred many industrial plants from adopting this technology. Additionally, the government has embarked on a $4 billion campaign to ensure that by 2020, no untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters the Ganges. This includes working with wastewater technology companies to design new sewage treatment systems and seeking the closure and relocation of industrial plants along the river.

While these efforts are commendable, the results have been limited. Proposed solutions, such as demolishing or constructing upstream dams to increase water flow, come with significant pumping costs and infrastructure challenges. Furthermore, the problem is exacerbated by the rapid population growth in nearby cities, increasing the amount of microbial pollution entering the river.

To effectively tackle industrial wastewater dumping into rivers, India needs to address the lack of infrastructure, funding, and awareness surrounding wastewater treatment. This includes investing in specialized and cost-effective treatment technologies, improving maintenance and operations of existing sewage treatment plants, and promoting sustainable practices among industries. By bridging the gap between wastewater generation and treatment capacity, India can work towards mitigating the severe environmental and health consequences of water pollution.

Agricultural activities cause chemical runoff

Agricultural activities, such as irrigation, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and manure management, are significant contributors to water pollution in India. The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture can lead to chemical runoff, which occurs when nutrient-rich materials enter nearby water bodies, causing eutrophication and disrupting aquatic ecosystems.

India's intensive agriculture practices, coupled with a lack of proper wastewater treatment, exacerbate this issue. Fertilizers, for instance, contain nitrogen and phosphorus, which, when washed into rivers and lakes, cause an overgrowth of algae. As the algae die off, they are decomposed by bacteria, which consumes oxygen and leads to the death of fish and other aquatic life. This process, known as eutrophication, has decimated aquatic life in many water bodies, such as the Chesapeake Bay.

Pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides, are also commonly used in Indian agriculture. These toxic chemicals have serious environmental and health impacts. For example, atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, can harm photosynthetic organisms even at very low concentrations. Meanwhile, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an endocrine disruptor, and chlordane, a carcinogen, can bioaccumulate in fish tissues, leading to increased organ damage and reduced reproductive success.

Additionally, manure management in agriculture can contribute to water pollution. When excess manure is spread on land, it can exceed the ground's natural absorption rate, leading to runoff into water sources. Manure storage in large lagoons also poses risks, as these lagoons can leak or spill, allowing antibiotics residue, chemicals, and bacteria to contaminate the soil and groundwater.

The Indian government has recognized the need to address industrial agricultural pollution. While advancements in wastewater treatment technologies offer promising alternatives, the lack of infrastructure, funding, and awareness remain challenges, resulting in a significant amount of untreated wastewater being discharged into water bodies.

Solid waste and hazardous waste are dumped in water bodies

Solid waste and hazardous waste being dumped in water bodies is a significant issue in India, causing environmental degradation and threatening public health. The problem is exacerbated by the country's rapid population growth, economic development, and changing consumption patterns and lifestyles.

The quantity of hazardous waste in India is rising, particularly in mega-cities with large and growing populations. This waste includes a range of pollutants such as heavy metals, chemicals, plastics, and oils, which can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health when dumped into water bodies. For instance, ingestion of plastics by aquatic animals, toxicity, and contamination of drinking water sources are some of the adverse impacts.

Municipal solid waste management is a major challenge for many urban local bodies (ULBs) in India. With urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth, the generation of solid waste per person has increased. Inadequate treatment facilities, limitations in governance systems, and non-compliance with regulations have led to ineffective management of hazardous solid waste. As a result, a substantial amount of waste remains untreated and is dumped in collection centers, roadsides, and riverbanks, polluting water sources.

The Central Pollution Control Board of India has reported that as of 2016, 746 industries were directly depositing wastewater into the Ganga River, which contains heavy metals and pollutants that negatively impact aquatic life and human health. Furthermore, flooding during the monsoons worsens the situation by washing and moving solid waste and contaminated soils into rivers and wetlands.

To address this issue, India has introduced Solid Waste Management Rules in 2016, which include mandatory waste segregation at the source. However, the implementation of these rules remains challenging due to financial constraints, lack of appropriate skills, and technological limitations within the public sector. There is a dire need for improved solid waste management services and effective wastewater treatment processes to mitigate the impacts of water pollution in India.

Population growth and urbanisation

India is the second most populated country in the world, with 1.3 billion people. The rapid urbanisation of its cities, particularly Delhi, has resulted in a significant increase in the population growth rate. This growth has outpaced the development of essential water and sanitation services, leaving many urban residents without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. According to a 2014 report by the UN, the urban development and population growth rate in Asia, where India is located, are expected to be the highest globally.

The consequences of this rapid urbanisation and population growth are evident in the form of reduced rainwater infiltration, surface runoff, waterlogging, flooding, pollution, changes in the regional hydrological cycle, and water shortages. The increase in water demand to cater to the growing population often leads to the over-exploitation of groundwater resources, resulting in reduced groundwater recharge and an increase in surface water runoff and evaporation. This, in turn, leads to less infiltration and lower groundwater recharge.

The impact of population growth and urbanisation on water pollution is further exacerbated by the discharge of untreated municipal wastewater and urban drainage into river basins. The high population density in urban areas, coupled with inadequate sanitation infrastructure, results in the discharge of sewage and domestic wastewater into water bodies without proper treatment. This leads to the contamination of water sources and negatively affects aquatic life and agriculture, ultimately impacting the health and well-being of humans who rely on these water sources.

To address these issues, it is crucial to implement effective wastewater treatment processes and improve urban planning to ensure that water and sanitation services keep pace with population growth. This includes investing in infrastructure, adopting cost-effective treatment technologies, and prioritising sustainable water resource management practices. By addressing the challenges posed by population growth and urbanisation, India can work towards mitigating water pollution and ensuring safe and adequate water supplies for its growing population.

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