‘Ground Water Pollution’

17th January, 2011

This presentation is dedicated to people

who have been killed in fight over drinking water…

Water Resources

Total rainfall 4000

Total Water Availability

1869

Total Utilizable Water

Surface water 690

Ground water 432

Total 1122

BCM

Groundwater as Water ResourceGroundwater as Water Resource

55% of agricultural need 85% of domestic use in rural

areas 50% of Urban and industrial

use

Water Quality ScenarioWater quality is a major emerging concern throughout the India.

Drinking water sources are threatened from contamination.

Groundwater is emerging as an essential and vital component of our life support system.

There is growing concern on deterioration of ground water quality due to geogenic and anthropogenic activities.

Groundwater Quality Scenario

Increase in overall salinity of the groundwater,

Presence of high concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, iron, arsenic, total hardness and few toxic metal ions,

Like surface water pollution, groundwater is also susceptible to contamination from various natural and man-made sources.

Groundwater Quality MonitoringCGWB has been assessing ground water quality

of the country through twenty two parameters.These parameters include six important ones as

follows;I. Electrical Conductivity in GroundwaterII. Chloride in Ground WaterIII. Fluoride in Ground Water IV. Iron in Ground Water V. Arsenic in Ground WaterVI. Nitrate in Ground Water

Sources of Groundwater Pollution

Due to contamination by microbes, chemicals, hazardous substances and other foreign particles.

Industries which produce toxic effluent.

Agricultural run off.Sewage

What is Missing…

Trace Metals Pesticide

Arsenic Nickel Copper Mercury Chromium Total

Cadmium Zinc Lead Iron Total

Trace Metals

BHC(Total) Dieldrin Carbamate 2.4 D

DDT(Total) Aldrin Endosulphan

Pesticide

‘Sustainable Development of Groundwater’

As per the “Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules”, the subject ‘Water Quality Assessment’ is allocate to MoWR.

Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board under MoWR are premier organisation in the country for dealing with all matters related to surface water and ground water respectively.

National Water Policy indicated planning for water resources development and management duly incorporate quality aspects.

Role of MoWR

As per the “Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules”, the subject ‘Water Quality Assessment’ is allocate to MoWR.

Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board under MoWR are premier organisation in the country for dealing with all matters related to surface water and ground water respectively.

National Water Policy indicated planning for water resources development and management duly incorporate quality aspects.

Role of MoWR, contd...

SECRETARIATWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT

AUTHORITY (WQAA)

(Ministry of Water Resources)

Preamble

• Water quality monitoring, surveillance and remediation have attained significant global importance in view of environment & health concerns. Also a key component of Millennium Development Goals & enshrined in NWP & NEP.

• About 2.17 Lakh rural population affected with water quality problems.

• Developmental activities also have contributed significant pollution load in freshwater systems.

WQAA Constituted by MoEF in 2001under the

Environment (Protection) Act 1986 Chaired by Secretary, MoEF Addl. Secretary(WR), Member(RM), CWC

and Chairman, CGWA are among members

Jt. Secretary(A) is Member-Secretary Secretariat support provided by MoWR

(Water Quality Div., Adm.Wing)

To issue direction and for taking measuresfor investigations and research; establishment or recognition of

environmental laboratories and institutes;

collection and dissemination of information: and

preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention, control and abatement of water pollutionAlso to issues directions on various other

aspects related to water quality assessment and management in the country

Functions of WQAA

Institutional Setup

Review of water quality monitoring programmes of concerned central and state agencies for ensuring uniformity in monitoring systems; for generation of reliable and reproducible data; and to draw coordinated action plan for protecting the quality of national water resources by Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Shri Arunoday Bhattacharjya, Retd. Chairman, CPCB,

Study by a Task Force under the Chairmanship of Chairman, CPCB for drawing measures for optimum water quality observation network and coordinated data collection and dissemination system

Initiative by WQAA

Constitution of Water Quality Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of Addl. Secretary (MoE&F) to assist the WQAA in performing its functions.

Study by a Working Group under the Chairmanship of Member(RM), CWC to formulate methodology for assessment of the minimum flows in the rivers to conserve the eco-system.

Constitution of Standing Groups to deliberate and initiate actions on the functions of WQAA.

Constitution of State Level Water Quality Review Committees to coordinate the activities related to water quality assessment and management at State Level.

Initiative by WQAA

Achievement of WQAA Organisation of various workshops and

seminars on issues related to water quality assessment and management

"Uniform Protocol on Water Quality Monitoring Order 2005" was issued for observance of uniform protocol on water quality monitoring by all organisations, agencies and any other body monitoring surface and ground water quality.

Guidelines for preparation of Water Quality Management Plan were finalised.

Issues in MonitoringThe network of monitoring stations is not dense.

Water quality analysis excludes critical parameters.

There is virtually no agency taking up the matter of pollution by radioactive contaminants.

Lack of Institutions.

Monitoring does not cover “non-point” pollution from agriculture.

Problems with institutional design.

Groundwater contamination most often occurs due to geo-hydro chemical processes activated by pumping.

Challenges Ahead

Urgent need of research in this area for developing low cost technology.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) with viability gap funding model.

Civil society/institutions need to be strengthened.

Knowledge and awareness about ill-effects of drinking contaminated/polluted water.

The network of monitoring stations is not dense.

Water quality analysis excludes critical parameters.

There is virtually no agency taking up the matter of pollution by radioactive contaminants.

Lack of Institutions.Monitoring does not cover “non-point”

pollution from agriculture. Problems with institutional design. Groundwater contamination most often

occurs due to geo-hydro chemical processes activated by pumping.

Policy Inferences and Governance Issues

The task of controlling pollution today is not easy. The tremendous amount of types and sources of water pollution, in addition to its complex nature, calls for conducting much study and research into pollution problems. The most effective means of controlling pollution results from cooperation between scientists, legislators, citizens and industry.

Pollution Control Framework

Identify sources and types of pollutionDetermine amount and concentration

of pollutionStudy the effects of pollutionRecommend safe pollution levelsStudy and design pollution control

methodsDevelop pollution remediation and

clean-up plans control programsMonitor effectiveness of clean-up

effortsResearch new treatment technologies

Support research/educationEnact laws that limit pollution

levelsLevy fines and penalties

against pollutersCoordinate state pollution

control effortsCreate environmental

protection plansProvide mechanism to monitor

pollution

LEGISLATORS

Lobby for beneficial laws Educate public of pollution dangers Identify sources of pollution and

notify authorities and public Encourage consumer conservation

and recycling Volunteer to cleanup polluted areas Participate in citizen volunteer water

quality monitoring programs Provide public information

CITIZEN

GROUPS

Support education programs, wildlife preserves, etc.

Establish quality control to limit pollution

Develop recycling programs Find commercial uses for wastes

and byproducts Research and use better production

methods Monitor water quality of dischargesWork with the general public to

protect natural resources

INDUSTRIES

• Technical & financial support for water quality assessment programmes including, strengthening of water quality monitoring networks & surveillance systems, capacity building, R & D need promoting participatory water quality monitoring systems.

• Upgradation & benchmarking of laboratories, development and evaluation of technologies, tools and guidelines for water quality assessment and management.

• Managing water quality database / information systems etc and strengthening of mechanism for knowledge sharing amongst various stakeholders in the water quality management system

• Technical assistance and investment support for eco-restoration of rivers with a view to ensure minimum flow in rivers.

Way forward

While we watched this presentation and discussed the way forward…

Much water flowed down to the sea making it unusable…

…Thank You

Let us make water everybody’s concern…