living in these polluted sites have been found to use contaminated water for
drinking purposes in the absence of any other viable drinking water source and are
facing severe health impacts.
Industries consume large quantities of freshwater resources and pollute it to a
large extent. The overall annual consumption of water and discharge of wastewater
in the industrial sector is 40.01 billion cubic meters and 30.72 billion cubic meters,
respectively.
13 The overall ratio of wastewater discharged to the freshwater consumption is 0.77. Industries in India are thus discharging 0.77 m
3 of wastewater for
every cubic meter of water being consumed.
14
There are many industrial units that are diluting the effluents in order to follow
the legal norms for discharge of effluents. The concentration-based standards for the
disposal of effluents are being followed in India.
15 Therefore, industrial units like
distilleries and pulp and paper mills discharging effluents with high BOD loadings
are able to meet the legal standards for the discharge of effluents by diluting it with
large quantities of water.
The pollution loading is the product of BOD and volume of the waste. The
dilution of wastes increases the volume of the waste and decreases the BOD by the
same amount, and hence, the pollution loadings remain the same.
16 Following the
concentration-based standards for effluent disposal does not provide any incentives
to a polluting industrial unit to reduce pollution loads or to reduce water consumption.
17 The industries are therefore not only putting pressure on the local water
resources, but also the wastewater being discharged by the industrial units is polluting environment and is posing a serious threat to the health of the people living in
the surrounding areas. The poor implementation of legislations and the failure of
regulatory authorities in checking water pollution and exploitation of water
resources by the industrial sectors have led to indiscriminate pollution of surface
water and groundwater by the industrial units. Table 1 presents a sample of the
different polluted industries and their impacts on drinking water quality and human
health.
The small-scale industries are more polluting as compared to the large-scale
industries as these industries lack infrastructure and treatment facilities. The
small-scale industries like textile mills, pulp and paper mills, tanneries and pharmaceutical industries have severely polluted environment and freshwater resources.
The total share of small-scale industries in the wastewater generation is 40%.
18
The direct disposal of effluents from industrial units of all sizes and capacities on
the land results in its leaching into the underground aquifers, thereby contaminating
groundwater sources. The impacts of industrial pollution on drinking water quality
13
CSE (2004).
14
CSE (2004).
15
CSE (2004).
16
Babu and Seth (2007).
17
CSE (2004).
18
CPCB (2001).
Tackling Water Quality Issues
75
drinking purposes in the absence of any other viable drinking water source and are
facing severe health impacts.
Industries consume large quantities of freshwater resources and pollute it to a
large extent. The overall annual consumption of water and discharge of wastewater
in the industrial sector is 40.01 billion cubic meters and 30.72 billion cubic meters,
respectively.
13 The overall ratio of wastewater discharged to the freshwater consumption is 0.77. Industries in India are thus discharging 0.77 m
3 of wastewater for
every cubic meter of water being consumed.
14
There are many industrial units that are diluting the effluents in order to follow
the legal norms for discharge of effluents. The concentration-based standards for the
disposal of effluents are being followed in India.
15 Therefore, industrial units like
distilleries and pulp and paper mills discharging effluents with high BOD loadings
are able to meet the legal standards for the discharge of effluents by diluting it with
large quantities of water.
The pollution loading is the product of BOD and volume of the waste. The
dilution of wastes increases the volume of the waste and decreases the BOD by the
same amount, and hence, the pollution loadings remain the same.
16 Following the
concentration-based standards for effluent disposal does not provide any incentives
to a polluting industrial unit to reduce pollution loads or to reduce water consumption.
17 The industries are therefore not only putting pressure on the local water
resources, but also the wastewater being discharged by the industrial units is polluting environment and is posing a serious threat to the health of the people living in
the surrounding areas. The poor implementation of legislations and the failure of
regulatory authorities in checking water pollution and exploitation of water
resources by the industrial sectors have led to indiscriminate pollution of surface
water and groundwater by the industrial units. Table 1 presents a sample of the
different polluted industries and their impacts on drinking water quality and human
health.
The small-scale industries are more polluting as compared to the large-scale
industries as these industries lack infrastructure and treatment facilities. The
small-scale industries like textile mills, pulp and paper mills, tanneries and pharmaceutical industries have severely polluted environment and freshwater resources.
The total share of small-scale industries in the wastewater generation is 40%.
18
The direct disposal of effluents from industrial units of all sizes and capacities on
the land results in its leaching into the underground aquifers, thereby contaminating
groundwater sources. The impacts of industrial pollution on drinking water quality
13
CSE (2004).
14
CSE (2004).
15
CSE (2004).
16
Babu and Seth (2007).
17
CSE (2004).
18
CPCB (2001).
Tackling Water Quality Issues
75