Rising contamination in India’s groundwater, uranium and nitrate as key pollutants
India, the world’s largest consumer of groundwater, uses 87% for irrigation and 11% for domestic purposes. However, groundwater quality is deteriorating, with nearly 20% of samples exceeding safe pollutant limits, according to the 2023 Annual Ground Water Quality Report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Nitrate pollution is the most significant concern, affecting over half of India’s districts, followed by contamination from uranium, fluoride, and arsenic.
Nitrate pollution, caused by agricultural runoff and fertilizer use, is the most pressing issue, affecting 56% of India’s districts. Uranium contamination, found in 6.6% of samples, poses health risks, particularly in Rajasthan and Punjab. Fluoride contamination exceeds safe limits in 9.04% of samples, with high levels in districts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Karnataka. Arsenic contamination is also a concern, affecting 3.55% of samples, particularly in states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The report highlights the challenges of maintaining groundwater quality due to urbanization, industrial activities, and agricultural practices. It also notes a slight increase in nitrate contamination after the monsoon. Groundwater overexploitation, with extraction rates at 60.4%, exacerbates contamination, especially in areas with high uranium levels.
Source: Mongabay
Category: Health alert
