Contamination, Pollution and Quality

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Technology for Sustainable Development and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne EPFL have produced a report titled Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Development in Water Resources Sector.

A presentation titled Water Quality Issues in India by Dr. R C Trivedi of Central Pollution Control Board gives a comprehensive understanding of issues related to water quality. This includes the reasons responsible for degradation in water quality, to the coverage area of the national water quality programme.

The Environmental Information Centre & Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has prepared water quality monitoring maps that, at a glance, reflects the various water sources and their locations.

This presentation by Arghyam deals with filters used in a rainwater harvesting system as also in other sources to remove suspended pollutants from rainwater collected. In a rainwater harvesting system, the water comes in contact with several surfaces, such as the roof or gutters. Water sources too are contaminated by various minerals and chemicals. These affect the colour, odour, taste and composition of water.Its flow becomes possibly mixed with leaves or dust.

The monitoring of water quality at the community/cluster or district level involves key processes including survey, processing of data, and implementing remedial and preventive action.

Arsenic contamination of irrigation water, soil and crops in Bangladesh: Risk implications for sustainable agriculture and food safety in Asia.

Click here to download the paper

Arsenic (As) in groundwater is a major health concern in Asia and the risks from using shallow tube wells (STWs) for drinking-water are well- known. At present, twelve countries in the Asian region have reported high As levels in part of their groundwater resources.

How can citizens or NGOs initiate a movement at the local level for the protection of groundwater?

Groundwater Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and motivating people to care for and about groundwater.

Click on to read more about the Groundwater Foundation

Click on the link below for a comprehensive understanding about the issues related to groundwater.

Click on to know more about critical issues on groundwater in India

The School of Environmental Studies - Jadavpur University (SOES-JU), has done path-breaking research in reporting and documenting the issue of Arsenic contamination in the country.