27-02-2013, 12:54 PM
Drinking water quality in rural India: Issues and approaches
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Executive Summary
The rural population of India comprises more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42
million habitations spread over 15 diverse ecological regions. It is true that providing drinking
water to such a large population is an enormous challenge. Our country is also characterised by
non-uniformity in level of awareness, socio-economic development, education, poverty, practices
and rituals which add to the complexity of providing water.
The health burden of poor water quality is enormous. It is estimated that around 37.7 million
Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually, 1.5 million children are estimated to die of
diarrhoea alone and 73 million working days are lost due to waterborne disease each year. The
resulting economic burden is estimated at $600 million a year. The problems of chemical
contamination is also prevalent in India with 1,95,813 habitations in the country are affected by
poor water quality. The major chemical parameters of concern are fluoride and arsenic. Iron is also
emerging as a major problem with many habitations showing excess iron in the water samples.
The provision of clean drinking water has been given priority in the Constitution of India, with
Article 47 conferring the duty of providing clean drinking water and improving public health
standards to the State. The government has undertaken various programmes since independence
to provide safe drinking water to the rural masses. Till the 10th plan, an estimated total of
Rs.1,105 billion spent on providing safe drinking water. One would argue that the expenditure is
huge but it is also true that despite such expenditure lack of safe and secure drinking water
continues to be a major hurdle and a national economic burden.
Introduction
Rural India has more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42 million habitations spread
over 15 diverse ecological regions. Meeting the drinking water needs of such a large population
can be a daunting task. The non-uniformity in level of awareness, socio-economic development,
education, poverty, practices and rituals and water availability add to the complexity of the task.
Despite an estimated total of Rs. 1,105 billion spent on providing safe drinking water since the
First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951, lack of safe and secure drinking water continues to be
a major hurdle and a national economic burden.
Around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually, 1.5 million children are
estimated to die of diarrhoea alone and 73 million working days are lost due to waterborne
disease each year. The resulting economic burden is estimated at $600 million a year.1.
Bacterial contamination
Bacterial contamination of water continues to be a widespread problem across the country and is
a major cause of illness and deaths with 37.7 million affected by waterborne diseases annually.
The major pathogenic organisms responsible for water borne diseases in India are bacteria (E Coli,
Shigella, V cholera), viruses (Hepatitis A, Polio Virus, Rota Virus) and parasites (E histolytica,
Giardia, Hook worm).
The Central Pollution Control Board monitoring results obtained during 2005 indicate that organic
pollution continues to be predominant in aquatic resources. Organic pollution measured in terms
of bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) and coliform count gives an indication of the extent of water
quality degradation in different parts of the country. It was observed that nearly 66 per cent of the
samples had BOD values less than acceptable limits while 44 per cent of the samples indicated
the presence of coliform while according to the BIS there should be no coliform in drinking water
samples.10
Service Providers
In India, the primary responsibility for providing drinking water and sanitation facilities lies with the
state governments. With the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, the states have the
authority to give the responsibility of local supply of water to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The role of the Centre is to allocate funds and guide investments, encourage research, develop
human resources through training and other capacity-building efforts, promote water quality
monitoring, provide guidelines for various programmes and ensure the implementation of the
water supply programmes.