The groundwater quality in the province is reported to be poor, with testing revealing the presence of multiple pollutants, including arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, and iron. The affected districts include Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Ballia, Prayagraj, and Unnao.
District-Wise Contamination Data
Agra: Groundwater quality is poor in 567 out of 906 villages, containing arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate.
Firozabad: Fluoride and other pollutants were detected in 351 out of 790 villages.
Ballia: Arsenic has been found in water at depths of 100 metres.
Unnao: Testing revealed the presence of fluoride, nitrate, and iron.
Mathura: Levels of minerals, salt, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are above standard limits.
Prayagraj: Identified as an affected district containing arsenic and fluoride.
Strategic Intervention: Shift To Surface Water
To address this crisis, the Jal Jeevan Mission has launched schemes to provide clean piped drinking water. The primary strategy in affected areas is to supply surface water rather than treating the contaminated groundwater.
Expert Study And Conclusion
A joint study was conducted in Unnao by experts from the Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Nigam (Rural), State Water and Sanitation Mission, Groundwater Department, Central Ground Water Board, and Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMUT), Gorakhpur.
The team concluded that removing pollutants like fluoride and iron requires special treatment plants, making groundwater-based schemes complex and expensive to maintain. Consequently, surface water-based schemes are deemed more effective and have been launched in districts affected by fluoride and arsenic.
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The Resulting Harm: Health Implications
Exposure to these pollutants poses significant health risks.
1. Fluoride
Threshold: Risks arise if fluoride levels in drinking water exceed 1.5 ppm (parts per million).
Impact: While 96 per cent of the body's fluoride is found in bones and teeth, excess accumulation leads to fluorosis.
Symptoms: This can cause tooth decay, skeletal deformities, and other physical abnormalities.
2. Arsenic
Immediate Symptoms: Consumption can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Long-term Effects: Chronic consumption of arsenic-contaminated water can lead to:
- Dark spots on the skin.
- Sores.
- Cancer of the lungs, bladder, and skin.