Thursday, July 24, 2014

Drinking Water

India has 16 per cent of the total world’s population and four(4) per cent of its fresh water resources. 

Ninety two per cent groundwater extracted is used in the agricultural sector, five and three per cent respectively for industrial and domestic sector. 

Bacterial contamination of water continues to be a widespread problem across the country and is a major cause of illness and deaths with 37.7 million affected by waterborne diseases annually. 

The major pathogenic organisms responsible for water borne diseases in India are 

  • Bacteria (E Coli, Shigella, V cholera)
  • Viruses (Hepatitis A, Polio Virus, Rota Virus) and 
  • Parasites (E histolytica, Giardia, Hook worm)

An emerging threat to water quality is due to the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are chemicals that degrade very slowly and remain in the environment for years. 
POPs bio-accumulate in the fat tissue of organisms once exposed which meant that they are not excreted from the body. 
The POPs used widely in India are DDT, with an annual consumption of 10,000 Metric Tonnes; polychlorinated biphenyls used widely in capacitors and transformers and dioxins and furans used in the cement and pipe industry. 
Ground water in some locations in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi have reported levels of DDT, aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor that are in excess of prescribed standards.

Govt. Agencies responsible for Water Management:-

The Central Water Commission 

The Central Water Commission (CWC) in the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) is responsible for regulating the use of surface water for irrigation, industry and drinking water purposes. It also mediates in inter-state water allocation disputes. 

Central Groundwater Board 

Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) under the MoWR has an overseeing responsibility for the monitoring of groundwater levels and rates of depletion and the production of water resource inventories and maps. 

National Rivers Conservation Directorate 

National Rivers Conservation Directorate (NRCD)under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) oversees the implementation of Action Plans to improve the quality of the rivers in India 

Central Pollution Control Board 

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry  Ministry  Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) promotes basin-wide pollution control strategies. It liaises with State Water Pollution Control Boards for laying down standards for treatment of sewage and effluents. The Board is also responsible for action in the case of non-compliance by agencies. 


No comments:

Post a Comment