Ground Water Pollution

Published on 05 Apr 2025

The presence of certain pollutants in ground water that exceed the limitations set for drinking water is referred to as ground water contamination.

Causes of Ground Water Pollution

• Agriculture: The frequent application of chemical fertilizers in farms causes residual nitrate leaching, resulting in high nitrate concentrations in groundwater.

• Example: Southwestern Punjab experience high levels of groundwater pollution, gravely affecting the people living in the region, a study by IIT Mandi

• Septic Systems and On-site Sanitation: Inadequate sanitation infrastructure and poorly managed septic systems can allow diseases and nutrients to seep into groundwater.

• Example: According to International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre, Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces

• Industrial Discharges: Groundwater can get contaminated by the improper disposal of industrial wastewater that contains contaminants such as chemicals, solvents, and heavy metals.

• Example: Industrial pollution from Humnabad Industrial Area is poisoning groundwater of Humnabad taluk in Karnataka

• Natural arsenic pollution: Natural arsenic pollution occurs when aquifer sediments include organic materials, which creates anaerobic conditions in the aquifer, allowing arsenic to be released.

• Example: According to CGWB, Arsenic was found in groundwater in 25 states, fluoride in 27 states and mostly are geogenic in origin.

• Over-Extraction of Groundwater: Excessive groundwater withdrawal from coastal aquifers has resulted in induced contamination in the form of seawater intrusion.

• Example: Based on a study, 75% of Kolkata’s groundwater is now brackish due to over-extraction

• Oil and Gas Activities: Groundwater pollution can occur from the extraction and exploration of oil and gas, which can release harmful chemicals and hydrocarbons.

• Example: Groundwater pollution in California due to fracking and drilling.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA): It was established with the goal of regulating and overseeing groundwater development and management throughout the country.

• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): It is responsible for assessment of ground water resources and implementation of policies for its sustainable management.

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A time-limited program to improve groundwater conditions in the water-stressed blocks of 256 Indian districts by a mission-mode approach.

Case study

Groundwater Conservation through Rainwater Harvesting in Rajasthan, India: The water stored in Naadi acts as a source of groundwater recharge through seepage and deep percolation.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Ground Water Pollution Pollution Water pollution Arsenic Chromium

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change