Geogenic Contamination

Featured Articles
July 5, 2022 Studies reveal that children are the most vulnerable to the health risks associated with groundwater contamination due to nitrate and fluoride, highlighting the need for urgent remedial measures.
POisoned waters, dangerous outcomes (Image Source: India Water Portal)
August 26, 2021 This study from Rajasthan found that anthropogenic factors led to nitrate contamination of groundwater. High nitrate levels in drinking water posed major health risks to children.
A well in Rajasthan (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
March 3, 2021 Need to remove arsenic from the food chain and not just drinking water in endemic areas
Median excess lifetime cancer risk of 2 per 10,000 from food arsenic exposure in Bihar. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
October 25, 2019 Groundwater use has doubled in Pune. Comprehensive mapping of groundwater resources and better management and governance is the need of the hour.
Groundwater, an exploited resource (Image Source: India Water Portal)
July 25, 2019 A young college graduate shares his experience working with Tata Trusts in Assam on water issues.
Stream Network in Tezpur, Assam. Image credit: Rohit Sar
Influence of anthropogenic contamination on fluoride concentration in groundwater: A study of Mulbagal town, Kolar district, Karnataka
Groundwater contamination is a serious, but relatively ignored issue in the country. This contamination occurs in either through geogenic or anthropogenic means. This paper analyses the Fluoride contamination, one such example of geogenic contamination, widely found in the Kolar district of Karnataka. Posted on 15 Feb, 2013 04:53 PM

Groundwater contamination is a serious, but relatively ignored issue in the country. This contamination occurs in either through geogenic or anthropogenic means. Fluoride contamination is one such example of geogenic contamination that is widely found in the Kolar district of Karnataka. However, the fluoride levels in the town of Mulbagal are lower than those in the surroundings. Earlier, a study was conducted on the impact of pit toilets on the groundwater in the area. The present paper investigates the presence of any link between these two phenomena.View of Mulbagal Town, Kolar District, Karnataka

Assessment of exposure, intake and toxicity of fluoride from groundwater sources in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh
A research paper on fluoride contamination of groundwater in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. It assesses the exposure to fluoride through drinking water consumption and also elucidates fluoride endemic areas. Posted on 28 Jan, 2013 01:40 PM

Fluoride is one of the most commonly found elements in the earth’s crust. It is naturally found d in water and helps in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention. However its high concentration in water can be harmful to human health. The amount of Fluoride (F) occurring naturally in groundwater is governed principally by climate, composition of the host rock, and hydrogeology. As per the World Health Organization and Indian Council of Medical Research the permissible limit to fluoride in drinking water is 1.5mg/L. Anything more than this value can cause fluorosis (dental and skeletal), which can affect the bones and teeth. In the backdrop of this aspect of water quality, this paper in RASĀYAN Journal of Chemistry,  tries to assess the exposure to fluoride through drinking water consumption and to elucidate fluoride endemic areas through mapping in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh.

Water, sanitation and health situation in select villages of Nadia district, West Bengal
To assess the exact level of water contamination in Nadia district of West Bengal, India Water Partnership commissioned a brief study to one of its east zone partners - Kalyani Institute for Study, Planning & Action for Rural Change (KINSPARC). KINSPARC conducted a comprehensive base-line survey of a cluster of villages in Nadia, based on which Iswaripur and Chandamari village were identified for in-depth study. Awareness and attitudinal changes among people generated by this survey may be interpreted as a step towards mitigating the threat of an impending disaster. Posted on 13 Jan, 2013 03:45 PM

Guest post: Veena Khanduri, India Water Partnership

The Gangetic river basin in Eastern India receives heavy monsoon rainfall, much higher than the rest of India. Nonetheless, the region suffers from both the problem of year round water availability as well as poor quality of drinking water. Due to excessive exploitation, the groundwater aquifers in the region have been depleting alarmingly, surface water is highly limited & poorly maintained and consequently cannot count up as a major source of safe drinking water.

Drought mitigation measures through climate adaptation for securing agricultural livelihoods in Uttar Pradesh
Prolonged and recurrent drought, being experienced in India and various parts of south Asia, is the manifestation of climate change, partly caused by human interventions. Posted on 13 Jan, 2013 02:43 PM

Prolonged and recurrent drought, being experienced in India and various parts of south Asia, is the manifestation of climate change, partly caused by human interventions. Drought has been one of the primary reasons for widespread poverty and environmental degradation including deteriorating water quality and water security. The world has been more drought-prone during the past 25 years and the vulnerability of tropical countries to drought is likely to increase (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007).

Effect of drinking arsenic-contaminated water in children- Article in Indian Journal of Public Health
This paper in Indian Journal of Public Health sheds light on the specific impact of arsenic on health of children based on the review of literature on the subject. Posted on 09 Jan, 2013 10:44 PM

This paper in Indian Journal of Public Health sheds light on the specific impact of arsenic on health of children based on the review of literature on the subject. The effects of chronic arsenic toxicity under the following aspects:

  • Psychological
  • Skin abnormalities
  • Lung diseases
  • Defect in intellectual function
  • Genetic issues

Impact of pit-toilet leachate on groundwater chemistry and role of vadose zone in removal of nitrate and E. coli pollutants in Kolar District, Karnataka, India
Impact of pit-toilet leachate on groundwater chemistry and role of vadose zone in removal of nitrate and E. coli pollutants in Kolar District, Karnataka, India Posted on 04 Jan, 2013 02:00 PM

Given the many problems associated with flush toilets and the sewerage system, pit toilets offer a viable solution in India. However, the use of soakpits raises the question of groundwater contamination. This paper assesses the impact of pit toilet leachate on groundwater quality in Mulbagal town (pop ~ 60,000) in Karnataka relies on pit toilets, and uses groundwater for drinking.View of the town of Mulbagal, Karnataka

Briefing papers on ‘Jal kothis’, ‘Matka filter’, 'Dug wells' and ‘Phayedemand shauchalaya’: Local innovative solutions in flood prone Bihar by Megh Pyne Abhiyan (2011)
Megh Pyne Abhiyan, supported by Arghyam, has been working towards self-reliance and access to safe drinking water and secure sanitation, in 22 panchayats of five flood-prone districts of north Bihar. Included below are four briefing papers that describe innovative localised solutions implemented by Megh Pyne Abhiyan to deal with the problems arising out of the recurrent flood situation in the state of Bihar Posted on 29 Dec, 2012 03:14 PM

The briefing papers include the following:

"Arghyam prepares Water Quality Management (WQM) framework for rural areas" - Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation releases its first e-newsletter on water and sanitation in India (December 2012)
This first e-newsletter, launched by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, titled - 'Swajal Nirmal Bharat' begins with a renewed focus on the achievement of sanitation outcomes. It discusses the Working Group’s review of the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), now called the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) or the Clean India Campaign and its suggested strategies, priorities, and allocation for implementation in the 12th Five Year Plan. It talks on how the new strategy is aimed at transforming rural India into ‘Nirmal Bharat’ by adopting the community saturation approach. Posted on 24 Dec, 2012 08:51 PM

The newsletter refers to the nationwide campaign carried out by Arghyam, with the aim of creating awareness on water quality issues with a specific focus on fluoride contamination in groundwater sources, by engaging students from across the country in a water quality testing, analysis, and reporting.

In the newsletter, the spotlight is turned on:

Highlights from the 10-year water policy research programme of the International Water Management Institute and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust discussed at the IWMI - TATA Annual Partners' Meet at Anand, between 28-30 November, 2012
IWMI -Tata water policy research programme aims to draw upon research carried out throughout the country to identify solutions for India's water stress and present these as policy recommendations Posted on 05 Dec, 2012 02:06 PM

IWMI-Tata water policy research programme is a collaborative initiative between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT). 

Drinking water treatment technologies - A handbook by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute & Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation
This handbook prepared by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute aims to build capacities to identify appropriate water treatment technologies suiting to local conditions. Posted on 30 Nov, 2012 10:22 PM

This handbook prepared by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has eight chapters:

Chapter 1 introduces the objectives and approaches adopted to prepare the handbook.

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