Contamination, Pollution and Quality

Featured Articles
December 16, 2022 In this article, we will understand how the WQM course is continuing to influence the needs of learners that come from diverse backgrounds. The course model also offers core insights to many others who would like to engage in a virtual training program.
During a WQM course, a field team member from INREM facilitating a demonstration
September 9, 2022 Highlights from a new report released by iFOREST
An old coal-fired power plant has been dumping vast quantities of ash out in the open for many years. (Image: Lundrim Aliu/ World Bank; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
September 5, 2022 In an attempt to present a perspective on how rivers are used and abused, a map of the Bengaluru rivers illustrate how waste flows through natural river corridors, polluting the rivers and altering their status.
Vrishabhavathi river flow at Thagachguppe Bridge, Kumbalgodu (Image Source: Paani.Earth)
August 27, 2022 Study looks at microplastic types in lakes of Ladakh
(Vinay Goel, Wikimedia Commons)
August 19, 2022 Better access to clean water coupled with health education to bring about changes in behaviour are critical to prevent exposure to dangerous cholera bacteria that lurk in untreated waters.
The hidden threat of cholera in India (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
August 11, 2022 This could lead to water quality crisis reinforcing the need for basin-specific management strategies
Around the world, more than a fifth of nitrogen released by human activity ends up in aquatic ecosystems (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Peak stubble burning to worsen air quality in North India
Chilly winters due to La Nina may lead to more air pollution Posted on 05 Nov, 2021 09:21 PM

As La Nina makes an appearance for the second time in a row and meteorologists expect an intense winter, North India can expect to see prolonged spells of pollution over the coming months.

A farmer burning crop residue in his farm to prepare the farm for monsoon crop (Image: Abhiriksh, Wikimedia Commons)
Balancing water security with saving biodiversity in the river Beas
Will it be possible to achieve tradeoffs between meeting water needs of people and retaining river waters to sustain the rare and beautiful, but endangered Indus River Dolphin in the Beas river? Posted on 25 Oct, 2021 02:22 PM

Ensuring water security Vs conserving biodiversity: The challenge

Beas river at Kullu, Himachal Pradesh (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Haryana ranks third in providing tap water to all rural households
News this fortnight Posted on 19 Oct, 2021 06:16 PM

Haryana comes third in providing tap water to rural households under Jal Jeevan Mission

Women filling water from a tap (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Water contamination and pollution - A growing challenge for health and biodiversity
Contamination and pollution of water is on rise in India. Here is all the information you need to know on the causes and effects of water contamination and pollution. Posted on 17 Oct, 2021 02:03 AM

Where is water on earth located?

Water on earth exists in two forms, freshwater and salt water. Less than 3 percent of the water found on earth is freshwater, and the remaining 97 percent is salt water found in the oceans.

Poisoned waters of the Yamuna (Image Source: India Water Portal)
India needs a comprehensive emissions database
India needs an official national emissions inventory for pollutants, as existing ones show 37% variation Posted on 10 Oct, 2021 01:35 PM

India needs to develop and maintain a comprehensive inventory of baseline emissions to ascertain whether its policy and technological interventions are able to reduce air pollution, according to an independent 

Database needed to assess emissions from industries, power plants, road transport, domestic sources, and agricultural waste burning (Image: Pxfuel)
Over 500 million people in India exposed to sand and dust storms
Storms worsen air quality and degrade vast farmland areas, as per a new UN study that analyses the impact of sand and dust storms on health, clean energy, transport, glaciers, cities and agriculture in Asia and the Pacific. Posted on 08 Oct, 2021 02:25 PM

According to a new UN report, more than 500 million people in India are exposed to medium and high levels of poor air quality due to sand and dust storms.

Storms worsen air quality and degrade vast farmland areas, disrupt commercial flight services, lower the efficiency of solar power generation, and accelerate the melting of glaciers. (Image: ESCAP)
Only a third of sewage generated per day in India treated, reports CPCB
News this fortnight Posted on 23 Sep, 2021 01:30 PM

Only a third of sewage generated daily is treated in India, according to CPCB

A sewage treatment plant in Karnataka (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
The holy composting unit
While preventing nirmalya (religious waste) from being thrown in the rivers along the ghats of rivers in India is a dire need, so is increasing public awareness and citizen involvement on the issue, urges Jeevitnadi from Pune. Posted on 18 Sep, 2021 03:48 PM

Cleaning the river banks has been a regular activity taken up by Jeevitnadi Living River Foundation (an NGO working on saving the river Mula Mutha in Pune city through citizen involvement) as a part of the Adopt a river stretch initiative.

A composting unit installed in one of the temple premises in Pune (Image Source: Jeevitnadi Living River Foundation)
Transforming wall paintings into speaking walls
An innovative initiative for awareness building and communication on water quality issues Posted on 09 Sep, 2021 07:02 PM

If you travel to rural India, you can find wall paintings near bus stands or compound walls of schools or walls of a Panchayat office adorned with messages.

Fluoride contamination is leaving villagers crippled, while authorities struggle to find solutions. (Image: India Water Portal)
Uranium in drinking water: A growing concern for India
A recent report by CGWB reveals that uranium contamination of groundwater is on the rise with Punjab and Haryana being the most affected. Posted on 07 Sep, 2021 04:47 PM

Groundwater continues to be extracted at frightening proportions in India and the fear of severe depletion of groundwater resources in the coming years is real. As if this is not enough, the available groundwater is also deteriorating in quality posing a severe threat to the health of the population.

India drinks water poisoned with uranium

Uranium contamination of drinking water on the rise in India  (Image: Pxhere)
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