The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti recently unveiled the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024, prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). This report offers critical insights into groundwater quality across India, focusing on its suitability for drinking and agriculture.
Key Features of the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024
- Methodology
- Conducted by CGWB using a newly introduced Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
- Analyzed data from over 15,200 monitoring locations and 4,982 trend stations.
- Primary Objective
- Evaluating inorganic water quality parameters in groundwater used for drinking and agricultural purposes.
Major Findings
- Water Composition
- Most groundwater in India is of the calcium-bicarbonate type.
- Excellent Irrigation Quality in Northeast
- 100% of groundwater samples from Northeastern states are rated excellent for irrigation.
- Nitrate Contamination
- 20% of water samples exceeded the nitrate safety limit of 45 mg/l (set by WHO and BIS).
- High nitrate levels were detected in 440 districts, posing a risk of health issues like blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia).
- Fluoride Contamination
- 9.04% of samples had fluoride levels above the safe limit.
- States with excessive fluoride include Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
- Prolonged exposure can cause fluorosis, arthritis, and bone damage.
- Arsenic Pollution
- 3.55% of samples showed arsenic contamination, primarily in the Ganga and Brahmaputra floodplains.
- Long-term arsenic exposure can lead to cancer and skin lesions, as per WHO.
- Uranium Levels
- 42% of samples with uranium concentrations above 100 ppb came from Rajasthan, followed by 30% from Punjab.
Impact on Agriculture
- Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)
- High SAR levels, indicating unsuitability for irrigation, were found in:
- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- High SAR levels, indicating unsuitability for irrigation, were found in:
- Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC)
- 10.43% of samples had RSC values above 2.5, making them unsuitable for irrigation.
- High RSC levels can cause soil sodicity, degrading agricultural land quality.
Conclusion
The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 highlights critical concerns about groundwater contamination in India. Addressing issues like nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, and uranium pollution is essential to ensure safe drinking water and sustainable agriculture.
This report is a wake-up call for policymakers and communities to prioritize groundwater management and improve water quality standards nationwide.
