• There are three approaches available to policy makers: a passive approach of
inaction, a proactive approach of prevention and a reactive approach that treats
contaminants.
Policy inaction is common in low-income countries or where there is uncertainty
about the effects of pollutants. Responses to perceived hazards are then left to
individuals, who may, for instance, relocate to a safer area or circumvent the effects
through private avoidance actions. Where regulatory capacities are higher, policy
makers can be proactive and seek to prevent or reduce pollution at the source.
Alternatively, they may be reactive and attempt to treat the toxic discharges, typically through investments in various types of water treatment facilities.
3 India’s Water Pollution Story
With 70% of its surface water resources and a growing percentage of its groundwater reserves contaminated by biological, toxic, organic and inorganic pollutants,
water pollution is a serious problem in India. As a result of the pollution, many
water sources have been rendered unsafe for human consumption and even for
irrigation and industrial needs.
2
The causes of water pollution in the country are either natural like inland and
coastal salinity; geogenic contamination due to the presence of arsenic, fluoride,
iron and nitrates; and anthropogenic, such as disposal of untreated industrial and
domestic effluents or runoff from agricultural fields.
3.1 Agricultural Pollution
Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural activities to enhance
productivity due to rapid population increase and development of technology
threatens the groundwater and surface water on a large scale. Agriculture is the
largest user of freshwater in India. Except for water lost through evapotranspiration,
agricultural water is recycled back to surface water and/or groundwater.
Unfortunately, agriculture is the cause and victim of water pollution. It is a cause
through its discharge of pollutants to surface and/or groundwater, and through
salinization and water logging of irrigated land. It is a victim through use of
wastewater and polluted surface and groundwater, for example, the use of raw
sewage and industrial effluent water.
2
Murty and Kumar (2011).
Tackling Water Quality Issues
71
inaction, a proactive approach of prevention and a reactive approach that treats
contaminants.
Policy inaction is common in low-income countries or where there is uncertainty
about the effects of pollutants. Responses to perceived hazards are then left to
individuals, who may, for instance, relocate to a safer area or circumvent the effects
through private avoidance actions. Where regulatory capacities are higher, policy
makers can be proactive and seek to prevent or reduce pollution at the source.
Alternatively, they may be reactive and attempt to treat the toxic discharges, typically through investments in various types of water treatment facilities.
3 India’s Water Pollution Story
With 70% of its surface water resources and a growing percentage of its groundwater reserves contaminated by biological, toxic, organic and inorganic pollutants,
water pollution is a serious problem in India. As a result of the pollution, many
water sources have been rendered unsafe for human consumption and even for
irrigation and industrial needs.
2
The causes of water pollution in the country are either natural like inland and
coastal salinity; geogenic contamination due to the presence of arsenic, fluoride,
iron and nitrates; and anthropogenic, such as disposal of untreated industrial and
domestic effluents or runoff from agricultural fields.
3.1 Agricultural Pollution
Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural activities to enhance
productivity due to rapid population increase and development of technology
threatens the groundwater and surface water on a large scale. Agriculture is the
largest user of freshwater in India. Except for water lost through evapotranspiration,
agricultural water is recycled back to surface water and/or groundwater.
Unfortunately, agriculture is the cause and victim of water pollution. It is a cause
through its discharge of pollutants to surface and/or groundwater, and through
salinization and water logging of irrigated land. It is a victim through use of
wastewater and polluted surface and groundwater, for example, the use of raw
sewage and industrial effluent water.
2
Murty and Kumar (2011).
Tackling Water Quality Issues
71