The two concepts required for analysis of water as regards human consumption are availability and access. Availability refers to the physical presence of adequate water supplies and is influenced by physical and environmental factors. Access refers to the ability of people within a particular country or region to actually receive or gain access to clean freshwater and is influenced by social and political factors.
The challenges:
Water stress in India is largely caused by the following:
- poor management
- unclear laws
- industrial and domestic pollution
- increasing demand due to rapid population growth and industrialisation
India's irrigation infrastructure is performing poorly due to inadequate maintenance. Water is also one of the public services most clearly identified with corrupt practices.Overexploitation of aquifers in some areas has resulted in falling groundwater levels. Fluoride and arsenic have become increasingly recognized as problem elements in a number of groundwater sources.
Guidelines for drinking water quality
This section lists the drinking water standards as established by WHO, the Bureau of Indian Standards, and the European Union. These are compared with each other in a single table. Certain parameters in Indian standards are stricter like Cu (compared to both), Cyanide (compared to WHO), Cu (compared to WHO), Mn (compared to WHO), Mercury (Compared to WHO) and in certain parameters it is relaxed like Fe (compared to both), Pb (compared to both), Mn (as compared to EU).
Conclusion
The author advocates the use of a national set of standards for drinking water quality and a regionally developed action plan for achieving these standards.Investment in recycling and conservation technologies is also recommended
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