‘Ground Water Pollution’
17th January, 2011
This presentation is
dedicated to people
who have been killed
in fight over
drinking water…
Water Resources
BCM
Total rainfall
4000
Total Water Availability
1869
Total Utilizable Water
Total
Surface water
690
Ground water
432
1122
Groundwater as Water Resource
 55% of agricultural need
 85% of domestic use in rural areas
 50% of Urban and industrial use
Water Quality Scenario
Water 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 Monitoring
 CGWB 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 Groundwater
II. Chloride in Ground Water
III. Fluoride in Ground Water
IV. Iron in Ground Water
V. Arsenic in Ground Water
VI. 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
Trace Metals
Arsenic Nickel Copper Mercury Chromium Total
Cadmium Zinc Lead Iron Total
Pesticide
BHC(Total) Dieldrin Carbamate 2.4 D
DDT(Total) Aldrin Endosulphan
‘Sustainable Development of
Groundwater’
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...
 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.
SECRETARIAT
WATER 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)
Functions of WQAA
 To issue direction and for taking measures
 for 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
pollution
 Also to issues directions on various other aspects
related to water quality assessment and
management in the country
Institutional Setup
Initiative by WQAA
 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.
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 Monitoring
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.
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.
Policy Inferences and Governance
Issues
 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.
Pollution Control Framework
 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.
S
C
I
E
N
T
I
S
T
S
 Identify sources and types of pollution
 Determine amount and concentration of
pollution
 Study the effects of pollution
 Recommend safe pollution levels
 Study and design pollution control methods
 Develop pollution remediation and clean-up
plans control programs
 Monitor effectiveness of clean-up efforts
 Research new treatment technologies
L
E
G
I
S
L
A
T
O
R
S
 Support research/education
 Enact laws that limit pollution levels
 Levy fines and penalties against
polluters
 Coordinate state pollution control
efforts
 Create environmental protection
plans
 Provide mechanism to monitor
pollution
C
I
T
I
Z
E
N
G
R
O
U
P
S
 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
I
N
D
U
S
T
R
I
E
S
 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 discharges
 Work with the general public to protect
natural resources
Way forward
• 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.
While we watched this presentation and discussed the
way forward…
Much water flowed down to the sea making it
unusable…
Let us make water everybody’s
concern…
…Thank You