Vijayawada: A recent study by the Jal Shakti ministry has found that about 30% of population in the state is struggling to get potable water due to absence of dedicated drinking water schemes. Dependence on ground water is causing chronic health issues, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) even among younger populations.
A large population of the state is still dependent on ground water despite the presence of large canals and major irrigation projects in all regions of the state. Usage of high volumes of pesticides and fertilisers by farmers is also a reason for the contamination of ground water even in districts like Krishna, West Godavari, and East Godavari where there is a strong canal system.
Ground water quality in several districts including Sri Satya Sai, Ananthapuram, Palnadu, and Prakasam is not potable due to high fluoride content. Krishna district topped the country in electric conductivity (EC) rate in ground water. The higher EC rate means water is not potable. While Krishna tops the list, Palnadu and Prakasam districts are in 11th and 16th spots in EC rate.
The study further found that arsenic rate was above permissible levels in Ananthapuram, East Godavari, Guntur, Krishna, Nellore, and Prakasam districts. Similarly, nitrate in ground water was found to be way above permissible levels in Palnadu district, which was in eighth place in the country in nitrate category.
Samples collected from borewells, handpump sources, and other ground water in at least 12 districts found dangerous levels of iron content (over 1 mg per litre). As per standards prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), sodium carbonate levels should not exceed 1.25 mg per litre. However, the levels exceeded in many districts in the state, indicating that ground water source is not fit for drinking.
Central Water Commission (CWC) has suggested the state govt to provide water through dedicated pipeline sources or depend on surface water (irrigation canals) to avoid complications from consumption of hazardous ground water. It also suggested the govt to restrict the digging of new borewells in areas where water quality is found not potable. “The govt should set up water treatment plants (ROs) in areas where ground water is the only source to tap drinking water,” said the CWC report.
The state govt’s recent studies too came out with similar results which found that ground water in about 4,000 habitations is not potable due to the presence of high fluoride contents.
