and normally do not pollute water and it is

WHAT IS WATER POLLUTION ? potable. Polluted waters, however, are turbid,

unpleasant, bad smelling, unfit for drinking, bath,
and washing or other purposes. They are harmful
Next to air, water 1S the most important substance and are vehicles of many diseases as cholera,
in our lives. We depend on water for domestic dysentry, typhoid, hepatitis etc.
eds, sanitation, shipping, industry and irrigation.
Ne use water for drinking, cooking, bathing,
washing, cleaning and disposal of wastes. We use HOW OUR WATER
Dlenty of it for irrigation the fields to grow food BODIES BECOME POLLUTED ?
and fodder. We use plenty of water in industries
also for various production processes and for
disposal of wastes. While air can be accounted As compared to air ahd land pollution, the
for globally, water is national, foremost problem in India is water pollution. The
It is defined as "the addition of any substance availability and quality of the freshwater resources
ater or
to water change in water's physical and is the most promising of the environmental
chemical characteristics in any way which challenges on the national horizon in India. The
interferes with its use for legitimate purposes". stress on water resources is from multiple sources
Normally water is never pure in a chemical sense. and the impacts can take diverse forms. Most of
Icontains impurities of various kinds, dissolved our water bodies as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers,
as well as suspended. These include dissolved sea, oceans have become polluted due to four
chief reasons, () geometric increase in
gases (H,S, CO), NH, NT), dissolved minerals
(Ca, Mg, Na salts), suspended matter (clay, silt, population, coupled with (ii) rapid urbanization,
Sana) and even microbes. These are natural
(iii) industrialization, and (iv) agricultural
impurities derived from atmosphere, catchment development. These had a high impact on quality
aeas and the soil. They are in very low amountS and quantity of water in India. India's population
(BC-4)
 March, 2011 was aroUnd 1.2I billion,
on Ist 1,640 million by SOURCES OF WATER
Cyetedto stabilise at around
2050. The urban population has increascl POLLUTANTS
tbe year period from 26
almost | fold in the 100 ycar total population
million to 285 million. Its share infold from 10,84 The key challenges to between management of
has also increascd
almost 3
pcr cent in 2001, which the water quality in India are temporal and spatial
per cent in 1901 to 28.5
indicates faster growthof urban population. One variation of rainfall, uneven geographic distributio
conspicuous features of urbanization in of surface water resources, persistent droughts
of the population with overuse of ground water and contamination
India is the skewed distribution ofpopulation in 35 drainage and salinisation and water
problems due to treated, partially treatedqualiand
ty
urban
as much 28.3 per ccnt of growth of urban
metro cities alone. Unregulated two decades. untreated wastewater from urban settlements
last
areas, particularly over the
without infrastructure
services for proper industrial establishments and runoff from imigation
and disposal sector besides poor management of municipal solid
collection, transportation, treatment pollution and
increased waste and animal dung in rural areas. It js
of domestic wastes led to estimated that amount 38,000 million liters ner
such other
health hazards. The municipalities and
civic authorities have not been able to
cope up day (mld) of wastewater are generated in the urban
with this massive task which
could be attributed centres having population more than 50,000 in
erosion of authority, India (housing more than 70 per cent of urban
to various reasons including population). The municipal wastewater treatment
inability to raise revenues and inadequate
became
managerial capabilities. That is why itPlan and capacity developed so far in India is about 11,000
necessary to launch the Ganga Action mld accounting for 29 per cent of wastewater
Plan, generation in these two classes of urban centers.
subsequently the National River Action
which is essentially addressed to the
task of In view of population increase, demand of
treatment of municipal freshwater for all the uses will be unmanageable.
trapping, diversion and immediate that the projected wastewater from
wastewater. The situation warrants It is estimated
may cross 1,00,000 mld by 2050
redressal through radically improved water urban centres
and the rural India will also generate not less
resource and water quality management strategies.
Many rivers of the world receive heavy flux than 50,000 mld in view of water supply designs
of sewage, domestic waste, industrial
effluents, for community supplies in rural areas. However,
agricultural wastes etc. which contain (heavy wastewater management is not addresses to that
metals, etc.). In our country all the 15 major rivers pace.
have become polluted. Godavari, Ganga, Gomati, Most human activities whether domestic,
Cavery, Narmada and Mahi all are facing pollution agricultural or industrial have an impact on water
problems. The Ganga from Haridwar to Calcutta ecosystems. World Health Organization statistics
is infect an unending sewer fit only to carry urban indicate that half of India's morbidity is water
liquid waste, half burnt dead bodies, carrion, related. Water borne diseases can be, to a large
pesticides and other wastes. Many of our lakes, extent, controlled by managing human consumption
pertinent
including Dal and Chilka lakes have become dark, and production patterns. It is therefore
activities,
with foul smell, chocked due to excessive algal to have an understanding of human
theí
growth and have silt deposits. Since water is including water management initiatives, and
unique chemical with properties of dissolving and impacts on water and the environment.
art
Cary1ng in suspension a huge variety of chemicals, The chief sources of water pollution
industrial effluents.
it may get contaminated easily. () sewage and other waste, (iü)
 Watel
agricultural discharges, and (iv) industrial
(i)
wastestronm chemical industries, fossil fucl plants organic and non-biodegradable wastes generated
(thermal power plants) and nuclear power plants. daily. As a consequence, garhage in most parts of
India is unscientifically disposed and ultimately
Eah ofthese sources of pollution carries a variety leads to increase in the pollutant load of surface
llutants that enter our water bodies, Following and ground water courses. On the other hand, the
sources of water pollution and kind of the
arcthe large population of the poor in India does not
pollutants caricd by them: have much choice but to live off the natural
resource base and pollute the environment in the
Sewage and Other Wastes process. They deforest for food, fuel, fodder and
fibre and pollute the water sources on which they
One of the most common primary sources of water depend, since they cannot afford access to
pollution is the discharge of untreated or partly sanitation services. Domestic water use today,
in water bodies, sometimes due to
treatedsewage though a small fraction of the total water
inproper sewage-handling processes of municipal requirement, is under-priced for political reasons.
uncommon in major cities.
bodies. This is not This leads to a considerable waste of the precious
of sewage and other wastes in
Such a discharge resource and inadequate revenues for operation
ater results into (1) depletion of Oxygen levels and maintenance. Low revenues result in

of water, and
(ii) stimulation of algal growth. deterioration of the supply infrastructure and
Sewage is the waterborne waste derived from further loss of the resource due to system
home (domestic
waste) and animal or food inefficiencies. In most parts of the country,
processing plants. It includes human excreta, paper, wastewater from domestic sources is hardly
cloth, soap, detergents etc. These are a major treated, due to inadequate sanitation facilities. This
proportion of the pollutants entering our water. wastewater, containing highly organic pollutant
of rural
There is uncontrolled dumping of wastes load, finds its way into surface and groundwater
stream courses, very often close to dense pockets of
areas. towns and cities into ponds, lakes,
or ivers. Due to accumulation of
sewage and human habitation from where further water is
other wastes in these bodies, they are not able to drawn for use. Considerable investments will be
recycle them and their self-regulatory capability required to install treatment systems in at least
is lost. The decomposition of these wastes by the 500 major cities and towns of the country.
aerobic microbes decreases due to higher levels Coupled with investment requirements, are the
difficulties of mobilizing consumers to pay for
of pollution. The self-purifying ability of the water
is lost and it becomes unfit for drinking and
other centralized systems. Estimates indicate that it is
domestic uses. Since decomposition of sewage and viable to set up decentralized treatment systems
to 200
other wastes is largely an aerobic prOcess, for clusters of approximately 100
accumulation of these in water increases its oxygen households where it is possible to convince users
soft
requirements (BOD). to pay for efficient services. Incentives like
Phosphates are the major ingredient of most loans may be provided to these initiatives.
detergents. They favour luxuriant growth of algae
which form water blooms. This extensive algal
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD
available
growth also consumes most of the for
BOD is the anmount of oxygen required unit
Oxygen from water. This decrease in O level biological oxidation by microbes in any
becomes detrimental to growth of other organisms volume of water. The test is done
at 20°C for at
which produces a foul smell upon decay. Some least five days. BOD values generally
decomposing plants are known to produce toxins approximates the amount of oxidisable
organic
as strychnine which kills animals including cattle. matter, and is, therefore, used as a
measure of
Waste management systems have not been waste level. Thus
degree of water pollution and
able to keep pace with the huge volumes of
 324

mostly BOD value is proportional to the aont other animals begin to die and clean water
of organ Waste present in water 0s turned into a stinking drain.
Eutrophication is limiting factor in
Thus due to addition of sewage And waste,
clean water for drinking, fishing
and supply
OXvgen levels are depleted, which are reflected in
terms of BOD values of water, The number of
merobes as Excherichia coi (bacterium) also
clc. Pollowing are
eutrophication:
the methods to stop or navigreavertiosne
inereases tremendously and these also consume () The waste water must be treated
most of the oxvgen. The number of bactcria as
before
discharge into lake or river. This would its
its nutrient input.
E. coli in unit volume of water is also taken
(E. coli index) as a paramcter of water pollution. (2) To stimulate bacterial multiplication in
BOD valucs are thus useful in evaluation of to reduce the amount of nutrients order
sclf-purification capacity of a water body and for in water. This ssolubilialsgedal
would help disruption of
possible control mcasures of pollution. The food-web.
quantity of oxygen in water (Dissolved Oxygen - (3) To check recycle of nutrients into the
DO) along with B0D is indicated by the kind of through harvest and removal of algal water
organ1sms prescnt in water. Thus fish becomne rare upon their death and decomposition. blooms
at DO value of 4 to 5 ppm of water. Further (4) To remove dissolved nutrients from
decrease in DO value may lead to increase in physical or chemical methods. For
water by
anaerobic bacteria. phosphorous can be removed by precipitatio:
instance,
nitrogen by biological nitrification and
Eutrophication denitrification or by air stripping of NH3 from
Due to addition of domestic waste (sewage), an alkalised waste water, or by ion exchange.
electrodialysis or reverse-osmosis.
phosphates, nitrates etc. from wastes or their
decomposition products in water bodies, they Many pathogenic microbes (viuses, bacteria
become rich in nutrients, especially phosphates and protozoa etc.) may begin to grow on products
nitrate ions. Thus with the passage of these coming from tanneries, slaughter houses, sewage
nutrients through such organic wastes, the water disposal plants etc. in the water bodies under
bodies become highly productive or eutrophic and anaerobic conditions. These may result into spread
the phenomenon as eutrophication. It must be of fatal water-borne diseases, some of which may
remembered that ponds, lakes etc. during their assume on epidemic state. These are viral hepatitis,
early stages of formation are relatively barren and polio (viral), cholera, typhoid, dysentry, diarhoea
nutrient-deficient, thus supporting no or very poor (bacterial), amoebiasis etc. (protozoal).
aquatic life. This state of these bodies is known
as oligotrophic. With the addition of nutrients, Industrial Effluenty
there is stimulated luxuriant growth of algae in
water. There is also generally a shift in algal flora, The industrial sector, contributing to about 20
blue-green algae begin to predominate. These start percent of the national income, accounts for about
forming algal blooms, floating scums or blankets 8 percent of the current water use. With rapid
of algae. Blooms o. algae are generally not utilised industrialization and urbanization, the water
by zooplanktons. The algal blooms compete with requirement for energy and industrial use s
other aquatic plants for light for photosynthesis. estimated to rise to about 18 per cent (191 bcm)
Thus oxygen level is depleted. Moreover, these of the total requirements in 2025. Poof
blooms also release some toxic chemicals which environmental management systems, especially n
kill fish, birds and other animals, thus water begins industries such as thermal power stations,
to stink. Decomposition of blooms also leads to chemicals, metals and minerals, leather processing
oxygen depletion in water. Thus in a poorly and sugar mills, have led to discharge of highly
Oxygenated water with higher CO, levels, fish and toxic and organic wastewater. This has resulted in
Wate

pollutionof the surface and groundwater sources

which water is also drawn for demand for food and farm employment, India has
fiom
domestic use. The enforcement
irrigation and
of regulations 0 Inerease the area under irrigation and enhance
ngardng discharge of inodustrial wastewater and productivity in both irrigated and rainfed areas.
extraction of groundwater necds to be For the agricultural sector, water and electricity
lmits t0
considerably strengthened, while more for irrigation are subsidized for political reasons.
incentives This leads to wasteful flood irrigation rather than
rquircd for pronnoting wastewater reuse and
arr adoption of more optimal practices such as
revchng. Sprinkler and drip irrigation. Cropping patterns and
Awide variety of both, inorganic and organic farming practices also do not necessarily encourage
polltants are present in effluents from breweries, the judicious use of water. Conservative estimates
(anneries, dying textiles, paper and pulp mills, steel indicate that the same quantity of irrigation water
industries, mining operations etc. The pollutants Used today can irrigate double the current area
include oils. greases, plastics plasticizers, metallic with optimized irrigation and farming practices.
suspended solids, phenols, toxins, acids, With limited revenues and budgetary support, t
wastes.
cyanides, DDT etc., many of which State engirneering departments are unable to operate
salts. dyes, susceptible to
are not
readily degradation and thus and maintain the irigation systems efficiently.
cause serious
pollution problems. H,SO4 as acid leading to increasing deterioration of the structures
coal mines is a serious pollutant that and systems over time. Consequently, there are
waste from
increases the hardness of water, has diastrous further water losses due to breaches and seepage,
effect on live organisms and corrodes concrete resulting in water logging and salinity. Water
Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, etc. are the heavy quality is further affected due to the overuse of
etc. Na. Cu,
metal effluents, discharged from industries. chemical fertilizers and pesticides
About 180 million litres of toxic effluents are Agricultural discharges include chiefly the
discharged into the Periyar river every day by the chemicals used as fertilisers and the pesticides
(biocides) used in disease control. Their discharges
industrial units in the greater Cochin area. The
reach into the water bodies. As compared to
toxicants pumped into the river are acids and developed nations, India has relatively a low use
allkalies. fluorides, free ammonia, ammonical
nitrogen, radionuclides, insecticides, dyes, mercury, of these chemicals, thus discharges into water are
river has still low. India uses about l6 Kg/ha of fertilisers
hexavalent chromium and lead. BOD of
16.2 as against the normal value of 5. (chemicals) on an average, whereas the world
gone up
The back water system also received a considerable
average is 54 Kg/ha and that in the Netherlands
is 709/Kg/ha. But NCA could indicate increase in
proportion of the pollution load directly, the India from 2,8 Mt in 1975-76 to 6 Mt in
Vembanad lake and Chitrapuzha estuarine waterway 1984-85 and 9.7 Mt in 1994-95. Phosphate
receiving about 78 million litres of effluents every
fertiliser consumption would go up from 2.3 Mt
day. None of the industry discharges its effluents in 1984-85 to 3.3 Mt in 1989-90. It is still on
in municipal sewers. The total effluent discharge increase. Thus it is not only the increased use but
on land was two million litres a day.
also escalated production that enhanced pollution.
We shall describe these and other metal
pollution problems in the next chapter on Artificial Fertilisers
Radiation and Chemical Toxicology.
Modern agriculture rely heavily on a wide range
Agricultural Discharges of synthetic chemicals which incude different types
of fertilisers and biocides (pesticides, herbicides or
Two-thirds of India's farm production comes from weedicides). These chemicals along with waste are
one-third of its land which is irrigated. The rest wasted off lands through irigation, rainfall,
is from rainfed areas that employ large drainage etc. reaching into the rivers, lakes, streams
Populations. In order to meet the increasing etc. where they disturb the natural ecosystem.
 GROUNDWATER POLLUTION

In most developing countries as ours, most of the

underground sources of drinking water, especially
in outskirts of larger cities and villages are
polluted. For instance trans-yamuna areas of Delhi
face drinking water pollution problem at regular
intervals. There had been epidemics of cholera,
dysentry and other diseases in last couple of years.
This is mainly due to inadequate water supply
 WAter
328 in India
Was rich species diversity which
Vstem in these Aeas Grond watet is
thCatened

with ol1tion fnn scepage pits, refuse

dumps,
lecrease with inereasing pollution load, In
tended
Nepic tnks, branyard maures, nsport ovdents
Ad difleent pollutants. Iipotant soCesofer0
ad
poluted areas, maCrOSCopíc henthic
nbsent, but chironomid
hottom.
Jarvae (0Ccurred
at the
heavy
animalsat Mer ,
PNmd water jollution are sewape In marine water the most serious
WIstes Mhewise Raw sewage is
dumed im
shallow soakpits, This pives bith to
cholera, oil, particularly when afloat on sea. An spit i
oil or pctroleum product due to
pollutant
hepatiis, dysentiy cte, especially inofareas
industrics
willh
wOolcns,
accidents
deliberate discharge of oil polluted waste of
high water tablc. The
bicycles in aras of Punjab
(Lndhiana) und
contribute high
about pollution. About 285 million gallons
are spillcd each year into ocean, mostly
bring,
Harvana (Ambala, Soncpa) transport tankers. This is enough to Coat a from
grOUnd
anounts of Ni, e, (u, Cr and eyanides to
Walers
20 fcet wide with half-an inch oil layer for
miles. From Indra Dock basin alone more 8633
beash
90,000 litres of waste oil was collected in than
MARIEE POLLUTION
Oil pollution causes damage to marine fauna and 1984,
flora including algae, fish, birds,
About 50,000 to 250.000 birds are
year by oil. The oil is soaked
inkilled
vertebreverates,y
All that what is carried by rivers ultimately
ends
displacing the air and thus interfers with feathers,
up in the scas, On their way to
huge amounts of sewage, garbage,
sca, rivers receive
agricultural and maintenance ofbody buoyancy
temperature.
Hydrocarbons and benzpyrene accumulate in fox
discharge. biocides, including heavy metals. These chain and consumption of fish by man may cauge
all are added to sea. Besides these discharge of cancer. Detergents used to clean up the spill are
oils and petroleum products and dumping of also harmful to marine life.
radionuclides waste into sea also cause marine
pollution. Huge quantity of plastic is being added
to sca and oceans. Over 50 million 1b plastic
packing material is being dumped in sea of MERCURY POLLUTION
commercial fleets, whereas over 300 million 1b
entering through inland waterways in U.S.A.
Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes Mercury enters water naturally as well as through
gastro-intestinal disorders. The chemical principle industrial effluents. It is a potent hazardous
substance. Both, inorganic and organic forms are
in PCBs causes more damage as thinning of
eggshell and tissue damage of egg. Radionuclide highly poisonous. Methyl mercury gives off
waste in sea include Sr-90, Cs-137, Pu-239, vapors. Mercury was responsible for the
Pu-240. Minamata epidemic that caused several deaths.
The pollutants in sea may become dispersed in Japan and Sweden. The tragedy had occurred
by turbulence and ocean currents or concentrated due to consumption of heavily mercury
in the food chain. They may sediment at the contaminated fish (27 to 102 ppm, average
bottom by processes like adsorption, precipitation 50 ppm) by the villagers. Source of mercury to
and accumulation. Bioaccumulation in food chain the bay was a single chloride producing plant,
may result into loss of species diversity. The using HgClh as a catalyst. In Sweden many rivers
pollution in Baltic sea along the coast of Finland, and lakes are already polluted due to widespread
took place largely from sewage and effluents from use of mercury compounds as fungicides and
wood industries. This pollution effect brought algicides in paper and pulp industries and in
changes in species diversity in the bottom fauna. agriculture. Chloral alkali plants seem to be the
There was seen distinct zonation with extent of chief source of mercury containing effluents. Paper
pollution. In clear or less polluted water there and pulp industries of Japan and Canada also