Question

Describe the nature of water pollution in India.

Answer 1

Water pollution is the addition of unwanted and harmful material in the water which renders it harmful for the use of humans and degrades the flora and fauna around it. Indiscriminate use of water by increasing population and industrial expansion has led to the degradation of the quality of water considerably. Surface water available from rivers, canals, lakes, etc. is never pure. It contains small quantities of suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances. When the concentration of these substances increases, the water becomes polluted and hence becomes unfit for use. In such a situation, the self-purifying capacity of water is unable to purify the water.

Although water pollutants are also created from natural sources (erosion, landslides, decay and decomposition of plants and animals, etc.). Pollutants from human sources are the real causes of concern. Human beings pollute the water through industrial, agricultural, and cultural activities. Among these activities, the industry is the most significant contributor. Industries produce several undesirable products including industrial wastes, polluted wastewater, poisonous gases, chemical residuals, numerous heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc. Most of the industrial wastes are disposed of in running water or lakes. Consequently, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs, rivers, and other water bodies, which destroy the bio-system of these waters. Major water-polluting industries are leather, pulp and paper, textiles, and chemicals.

Various types of chemicals used in modern agriculture such as inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are also pollution-generating components. These chemicals are washed down to rivers, lakes, and tanks. These chemicals also infiltrate the soil to reach the groundwater. Fertilizer induces an increase in the nitrate content of surface waters. Cultural activities such as pilgrimage, religious fairs, tourism, etc. also cause water pollution. In India, almost all surface water sources are contaminated and unfit for human consumption. Also, the overutilization of groundwater resources in India has led to groundwater depletion and also increased the concentration of Arsenic in many parts of West Bengal and Bihar.

Domestic waste which includes sewage and other household waste also adds to the pollution of water. Water pollution is a source of various water-borne diseases. The diseases commonly caused due to contaminated water are diarrhea, intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc. World Health Organisation shows that about one-fourth of the communicable diseases in India are water-borne.