Drinking water in eight districts has chemical,bacterial contamination,says study

Micro-biological contamination is a prime contributor for water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery.

The study conducted between March 2007 and December 2008,included Ahmedabad,Gandhinagar,Vadodara,Surat,Mehsana,Valsad,Dangs and Kutch districts. Water samples for the study were collected from different sources of drinking water like hand-pumps,Individual Water Supply Scheme (IWSS),Regional Water Supply Scheme (RWSS),and open wells.

The study had found more than permissible amounts of nitrate,fluorides and TDS (total dissolved solids) in many of the samples. The permissible limit of nitrate in potable water is 45 mg per litre (mg/l),but nitrate value of 150 mg/l was found in water samples of Valsad.

The study found presence of fluoride as high as 2 mg/l in all water sources in Vadodara. But in Gandhinagar,Ahmedabad and Surat,the levels were about 1.6 mg/l. The permissible limit of fluoride in potable water is 1.5 mg/l. The highest TDS values,3,800 ppm (part per million),were found in water samples of Gandhinagar,as against the permissible limit of 2,000 ppm.

In Ahmedabad district,about 15 per cent samples tested had high TDS values.

The study also evaluated sanitary risks near drinking water sources. “Sanitary conditions near (water) sources of Ahmedabad,Gandhinagar,Kutch and Surat is very poor and requires urgent attention,” the study observed.

Highest sanitary risk observed was 47 per cent for handpumps in Vadodara district,while open wells in Valsad had a risk of 38 per cent and RWSS in Gandhinagar district had a risk of 29 per cent. The study was conducted between March 2007 and December 2008.

However,maximum occurrence of samples having values higher than permissible limit of nitrate was found in handpumps of Vadodara (44 per cent of handpump samples). It was observed that 30 per cent of samples from water supply systems had nitrate value higher than 45mg/l.

Presence of small amounts of human and animal faeces,which is one of the important indicators for bacterial contamination,was found in many of the samples.

Based on various parameters like access to animal,distance from human bathing and washing place and toilets,and leakage in pipelines,near the source of drinking water,sanitary risk was calculated.

Highest sanitary risk observed was 47 per cent for hand-pumps is Vadodara district,while open well in Valsad had a risk of 38 per cent and RWSS in Gandhinagar district had risk of 29 per cent. “Immediate attention pertaining to sanitary condition near water sources is recommended for Gandhinagar district,” the study said.

M-DAWS study was conducted as per WHO (World Health Organisation) and UNICEF standards by WASMO,which is an autonomous body of the state government.