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Analysts from Africa and India have drawn special attention to areas in both Africa and India where the population is suffering because of lack of care to avert water related crises. In Africa attention has been drawn to groundwater in particular and in India to the absence of sufficient daily water that is needed for drinking, cooking and also for sanitation.
Thokozani Dlamini, a SADC-GMI Communication Management Specialist has correctly observed from South Africa that groundwater pollution significantly affects the prevalence of waterborne diseases. As we all know, such pollution occurs when hazardous substances, such as pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals, seep into underground aquifers- the primary source of drinking water for approximately 70 per cent of the 250 million people living in the SADC region. Medical analysts in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, including Bangladesh, at different times have noted that consumption of polluted groundwater can lead to a host of health issues. Such a scenario can lead to gastrointestinal infections, cholera, dysentery, and other serious illnesses. As such, it has been reiterated that this issue has to be addressed because it is crucial for safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of ecosystems that depend on clean groundwater. Absence of combined and integrated effort in this regard affects socio-economic development and also casts a shadow on required healthcare. Another analyst Gerald Mundondwa, SADC-GMI Senior Groundwater Specialist has also pointed out that "the link between contaminated groundwater and waterborne diseases underscores the urgency of protecting these vital water resources. To mitigate these dangers, concerted efforts are required to prevent pollutant infiltration, monitor water quality, and enhanced water treatment facilities". It needs to be remembered at this point that this ongoing challenge is made worse by the fact that once groundwater is polluted, remediation is often a complex and costly process.
We have noted that many times in discussion as well as in directives by the relevant authorities this complex environmental pollution issue with significant health risks for humans and detrimental consequences for ecosystems have been noted. However, despite anxiety, rural areas in particular, and also densely populated urban areas face a scenario where the population is at the receiving end of the extensive application of pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture, which introduces harmful chemicals into the aquifers. This scenario is further worsened through the inadequate disposal of hazardous substances, leaks from subterranean tanks and pipelines, and landfill leachate that can introduce toxins into groundwater reserves.
This unwanted potential of the dire ecological and health repercussions associated with water contamination is now drawing clinical attention. European scientists in this regard have also particularly observed that groundwater contamination is indeed a persistent problem that can endure for a long time and that can only make remediation efforts challenging and also costly. This process of purifying contaminated groundwater is not only difficult but also requires considerable expenditures, partly due to the unreachability and vast spread of aquifers.
Today, throughout the world, particularly in countries suffering from climate variability and least developed countries, groundwater pollution has become a growing concern as it poses a significant threat to the region's ecosystem and the health of millions of people who rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Globally it is also estimated that groundwater sources provide 43 per cent of all water used for irrigation.
In view of this scenario, there is a general consensus that to confront groundwater pollution efficiently, a multifaceted approach is essential-one that brings together the concerted efforts of various stakeholders such as governments, industries, communities, and environmental organisations to develop and implement sustainable practices and vigorous guidelines. From this aspect, one needs to understand that preemptive measures are crucial, as they are typically more cost-effective and practical than attempting to restore already-polluted groundwater to a safe state. Consequently, analysts feel that partnership and inclusive planning are the keys to ensuring long-term protection and purity of our invaluable groundwater resources. By being mindful of the way we handle and dispose of waste, we can each help to protect this critical resource.
In this context, one may also has to refer to a recent phemonenon that has emerged in the media about India's Bengaluru city (formerly Bangalore), where thousands of people have been chasing water tankers, taking fewer showers and sometimes missing work to store enough water to get through the day. The water faced by Bengaluru's 15 million citizens emerges from their need to consume at least two billion liters of water every day.
Imran Qureshi from the BBC has in his latest report pointed out that the southern metropolis - once called a pensioners' paradise because of its cool weather and lush gardens - is now more famous as India's info-tech hub where companies like Infosys, Wipro and hundreds of start-ups have plush offices. However, years of rapid, often unplanned, expansion appear to have taken a toll, and the city now appears bursting at its seams.
For civil society activists in this city there are now two big problems- controlling traffic and water availability. It needs to be mentioned here that more than 70 per cent of Bengaluru's daily requirement of water comes from the Cauvery river. The remaining 600 million liters come from groundwater extracted by bore wells and is supplied via tankers, which are a lifeline for people in the peripheral areas of the city. However, a weak monsoon last year depleted groundwater levels. This scenario has led to the digging of many new bore wells which had to be dug deeper to find water-- an overexploitation of groundwater.
This has led to a daily shortfall of 200 million liters in water supply. To counter this, officials have announced measures ranging from regulating tanker prices to levying fines on people who use drinking water for gardening and washing vehicles. Some conservation experts have criticised such an order, asking how officials expect to "police every household".
Imran Qureshi has observed that while the shortage of water is being felt across the city, the brunt is being borne by people living in the outskirts of Bengaluru, especially in 110 villages that were merged with the city in 2007. People living in apartment buildings and gated communities also appear to have been forced to change their routines. Consequently, in some apartments, residents' welfare associations have asked people to wash their cars not more than twice a week, use just half a bucket of water to bathe and use half-flush in the toilet. Such a scenario is emerging especially at a time when temperatures are unusually high in what was once known as one of India's coolest cities. Some civil activists in that sub-region are now also calling for increased efforts to rejuvenate Bengaluru's dying lakes.
This crisis in Bengaluru and its adjacent region has now assumed political dimensions. It has turned into a political battle between the State's governing Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This evolving matrix has its own denotation as the Indian general election is just weeks away. While the BJP has held several protests blaming the government, the Congress has accused the BJP-ruled federal government of not providing financial assistance to drought-hit Karnataka.
This water shortage has slowed down production at factories and affected attendance among workers. This, in turn, is affecting Bengaluru's reputation as an investment destination. As a result of this emerging scenario Ms Ruchi Pancholi who works for a global tech company in the software hub Whitefield, is asking the question as to why unprecedented construction has been undertaken and permitted, particularly as this also led to more bore wells being installed and an overexploitation of groundwater. Such a similar scenario has also been created in urban areas like Dhaka and its adjoining areas.
In this regard, analysts have now framed some practical steps that individuals can take to minimise their impact on groundwater quality. These include-
(a) ensuring proper disposal of hazardous waste and remembering that chemicals should never be poured down the drain or onto the ground, as they can seep into groundwater. Hazardous waste should be disposed of at designated collection sites;
(b) regular inspection and maintenance of underground tanks, which should include testing for leaks in underground oil tanks as well. In this context, one will need to understand that replacing underground tanks with above-ground tanks to prevent leaks into the soil that could reach the groundwater is an important alternative;
(c) practising safe storage of hazardous materials like fuels and chemicals in secure containers and designated safe areas to avoid accidental spills;
(d) using chemicals responsibly, particularly pesticides and fertilizers;
(e) maintaining septic systems properly and having septic systems pumped and inspected at least every five years to prevent malfunctions that could lead to groundwater contamination;
(f) monitoring and inspecting private wells. Such inspection is important for the immediate surrounding area for potential contamination sources. Testing of such wells should also be carried out regularly, especially if there is a heightened risk of pollution;
It is believed that by adopting these practices, individuals can make substantial contributions to protecting groundwater from pollution, ultimately safeguarding health and the environment.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.