Amit Sharma
The primary necessity for supporting life on this planet is water. Numerous aquatic organisms of all sizes, from microscopic plankton to enormous aquatic animals and plants, can be found in water. Due to the inclusion of numerous organic and inorganic ingredients, freshwater bodies like streams and rivers pose a significant hazard. Pollutants have a variety of direct and indirect effects on aquatic creatures, including fish. According to WHO and UNICEF (2017), 6,000 children die each day from illnesses related to the dearth of access to clean drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene.
The phrase “water quality” refers to how well-suited water is for different uses. Any particular use of water requires measurement against approved water quality standards for its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The properties of the ground through which the water flows determine its quality, and the geomorphology of the watershed also has an effect. Given the current situation, water quality has emerged as a very sensitive issue in many parts of the world, particularly in emerging nations where freshwater bodies are dealing with a variety of human-caused issues and improper use. Drinking water, in particular, must meet international criteria for the concentrations of certain components. To do this, water quality has been monitored and assessed, and the most significant efforts have been made to obtain the water quality indexes using various physical, chemical, and biological criteria. Therefore, to identify specific water quality issues, regular water quality assessments are required. It is also crucial to fully comprehend the quality of both groundwater and surface water.
In the UT of J&K, groundwater is a crucial resource for drinking, agriculture, and industrial uses, particularly in places where surface water is insufficient or nonexistent. In recognition of the significance of groundwater in everyday life, the Central Groundwater Board, North Western Himalayan Region (CGWB, NWHR) in Jammu every year observes the chemical quality of groundwater through committed Groundwater Observing Stations made up of dug wells, tube wells, or hand pumps of shallow depth. Water quality in J&K has been significantly impacted by changes to the regional land system, unplanned urbanization, deforestation and forest degradation, tourism-related activities, and careless use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
As per report published by CGWB, NWHR “Groundwater Year Book”, 2021-22 physical-chemical analysis of water sample has been done using various parameters like Electrical Conductivity, pH distribution, chloride, fluoride, nitrate distribution, sulphate, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, uranium etc. These parameters determine the quality of water for various purposes like drinking, irrigation etc. Let’s elaborate these parameters as per report.
Electrical Conductivity- The EC values determine the suitability of groundwater for drinking, irrigation and industrial purpose. In most part of Jammu & Kashmir UT the value is generally low. Majority of samples (66.8%) are found to have specific conductance less than 750 ?S/cm at 25oC suggesting that the groundwater is fresh and potable.
pH Distribution-In Jammu & Kashmir UT, groundwater is neutral to alkaline in nature. Most of the samples collected from shallow groundwater of Jammu & Kashmir are alkaline in nature. The pH values range between 6.15 to 9.04. 37.6% samples are dominated with carbonate type in nature.
Chloride- Chloride is present at mostly at low concentrations. The Chloride concentration varies from 5.4 to 216.8 mg/l. The concentrations in all the wells are within the maximum permissible limit 1000 mg/l as prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking water purpose.
Fluoride-The fluoride element is required in the small amount for the human body but it is dangerous in large amount. The concentration of fluoride ion in majority of the samples (93.2%) is within acceptable limit of 1.0 mg/l.
Nitrate Distribution- Nitrate concentration in 88.8% samples is low, but high values are also reported in some of the samples (11.2%). The overuse of fertilizers, bacterial nitrification of organic nitrogen, seepage from animal and human waste, and atmospheric inputs are the most likely causes of nitrate pollution of groundwater.
Sulphate- Sulphate concentration varies in all the sample varies from 2.8 to 181.5 mg/l, and in all locations are within the permissible limit (400 mg/l) prescribed by BIS for drinking water purpose.
Hardness- It can be caused on by the carbonates, bicarbonates, sulphate, and other calcium and magnesium minerals found in groundwater. According to the classification of hardness, Out of 200 samples analysed, 175 samples fall in the hard group (200-600 mg/l), while 3 samples are classified as very hard (more than 600 mg/l). 70 samples, or fewer than 200 mg/l of hardness, are found to be in the soft category. The BIS Standards, 200 and 600 mg/l is the acceptable and permissible limit respectively for total hardness in drinking water.
Calcium- In UT of J&K, the calcium concentration varies from 10.2 to 158 mg/l. The concentration in all the wells are within the maximum permissible limit up to 200 mg/l as prescribed by BIS for drinking water purpose. It is among the substances found in natural water most frequently. The neurological and muscular systems, the heart, and blood clotting all depend on calcium. Higher calcium content can result in kidney, bladder, and other stone formation as well as irritation of the urinary tract.
Magnesium- The Magnesium concentration varies from 4.9 to 105.5 mg/l. In 205 samples Magnesium concentration are less than 30 mg/l i.e. within desirable limits whereas 43 samples are with high values then the acceptable limits but are less than the 100 mg/l permissible limits prescribed by BIS. Only 2 samples have shown magnesium concentration >100 mg/l.
Uranium- All samples that were obtained have also had their uranium analysed. The World Health Organization’s permitted limit of 30 ppb was not met by any of the samples, showing that uranium contamination is not present at shallow water levels.
From the samples analysis collected from various part of UT of J&K by CGWB, it is concluded that Jammu & Kashmir’s groundwater is deemed to be of drinkable quality. The chloride concentrations are well within the BIS-recommended range, indicating that salinity is not a problem in J&K UT. Concerns about pollution include the presence of nitrate in groundwater. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater can rise as a result of septic tank and sewage discharge combining with other groundwater sources, among other things. The majority of the groundwater falls into the hard to very hard category, which might cause digestive issues. Groundwater pollution issues include those involving iron (Fe) (Pir Panjal and the Kashmir valley), swampy gases (in the shallow and deep aquifers of the Kashmir valley), and fluoride in certain locations including parts of the Doda district.
Some important steps need to be taken in collaborative efforts at societal level in order to improve the quality of water- (I) In order to prevent bacteriological contamination such coliform bacteria suitable well head protection measures must be adopted, (II) Proper sewage and sanitation should be done all over the UT, (III) Improper disposal of domestic and industrial solid wastes should be treated separately with specific arrangements. (IV) Research initiatives on groundwater contamination, particularly geo-genic contaminants such iron, gases, and fluoride, need to be launched right now. (V) A complete data base must be built and the already-existing quality data base with various organisations, including the CGWB, PHED, State pollution control board, academic institutions like Jammu University, and Kashmir University, needs to be connected.
Thus to achieve the SDG goal 6 -Safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene for all by 2030, the above mentioned steps need to be implemented with utmost sincerity and responsibility need to be taken by each and every individual.
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