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WATER AND HEALTH
A Presentation by:
Sundaresan Subramanian (Subi)
at the 13th International Conference
Organized by:
India Development Coalition of America (IDCA), Chicago
at IIT Rice Campus, Wheaton, IL
On October 17, 2015
Incredible India!
An ancient country that traditionally worships the five elements
- severely impacted now by the abuse of the same elements!
Water and Health
A Snapshot of Current Water Scenario in India
 Groundwater  a major source of water in the country
 Water sources polluted by chemicals and microbes
 Waterborne infections cause majority of sicknesses
 Many critical issues related to water and health
Water Pollution in India
Some Media Reports
 An alarming 80% of Indias surface water is polluted
(WaterAid, an international organization working for water -TOI, June 28, 2015)
 Water pollution making Aravali villagers sick
(TOI, September 29, 2015)
 Water Leads to Ailments in Pallavaram
(New Indian Express, August 18, 2014)
 70% of Indias water supply is polluted with sewage effluents
(United Nations Childrens Fund Resource report - India Water Portal)
Water and Health
Water - Boon or Bane?
 Water pollution leads to life-
threatening diseases
 Major parameters of concern:
 Fluoride
 Arsenic
 Chrome, Salt
 Dyes and Chemicals
 Sewage
 Microbes
Water and Health - Key Issue # 1
1. High Fluoride
Health Impact
Solution
Fluoride Removal Unit
Water and Health  Key Issue # 2
2. Arsenic
Health Impact
 Highly carcinogenic
 Skin lesions,cancers in the
liver, lungs, kidney, bladder
Solution
Arsenic Removal Unit
Issues: Poor Maintenance, Clogging
Water and Health - Key Issue # 2
2. Arsenic  In-situ treatment
 Replaces conventional pump and treat systems
 Demo project thru a CSG grant initiative in WB
 Many companies implemented such projects
Water and Health - Key Issue # 3
3. Chromium
 Untreated Chromate industrial waste in TN
 Yellow-leachate percolates through ground
 Contaminates soil and ground water all around
 A critical issue for long - yet to be addressed!
Water Quality and Health - Key Issue # 3
3. Chromium in Tanneries
 Tanneries use chromium salts and tanning liquor
 Clusters have Common Effluent Treatment Plants
 Salt used for hide and skin preservation
 High salinity of effluents impact water quality
 Need innovative technologies for salt reduction
Water and Health - Key Issue # 4
4. Dyes and Chemicals
 Used widely in the textile and garment industries
 Polluted effluents flow into water-bodies; leads to
 Skin diseases, respiratory problems and gastritis
 Serious concern to farmers, livestock and residents
 Clusters have Common Effluent Treatment Plants
but problems persist
Water and Health - Key Issue # 5
5. Sewage
The Water & Sanitation Crisis in India
 Huge and Growing population;
 Poor hygiene practices
 302 Class I cities and 467 Class II towns with
no sewage treatment facilities
 Over three-fourths of the sewage flows
untreated into water sources, causing stink,
breeding insects impacting human health
Water and Health - Key Issue # 6
6. Bio-pollution
 Microbial contamination - a predominant form
of pollution in surface water bodies
 Leakage through aging water supply and
sanitation systems
 Contamination of water sources by leaching
of sewage
 Poor public hygiene practices
 Severe impact on human health
Water and Health
Challenges
 Multiple sources of pollution: rural, urban, and industrial
 Water pollution is predominantly manmade
 Poor management, lack of concern, unclear laws, corruption,
indifferent attitudes and aging systems contribute to the issues
 Pressing need to address critical issues innovatively
The Way Forward
 Shift focus to local management, control and distribution
 Relook how we manage our water resources
 Plan on Sustainable groundwater management
 Protect and prioritise local waterbodies like ponds and wells
 Reducing industrial water footprint
 Recycling and reuse of waste water
Some Local Solutions
Pudukkulam  a very old unpolluted drinking water
pond in Pudukottai still in existence!
Ram sagar, an old pond recently revived by
villagers, in Bapu Gaon, Rajasthan
More Local Solutions
This step-well near the Karnimata temple in the Aravalli region is among the
several water bodies revived by a civil engineer in Rajasthan
Water and Health
Recommendations
 Outreach through public/private partnerships; innovative
environmental campaigns; awareness & hygiene education
 Rehabilitate old wells with purification equipment
 Water harvesting, or capturing and storing pure rainwater
Surprisingly, sometimes the old ways are the best!
Water and Health
Thank You!
E-mail: subi@consultsubi.com
Web: www.consultsubi.com

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  • 1. WATER AND HEALTH A Presentation by: Sundaresan Subramanian (Subi) at the 13th International Conference Organized by: India Development Coalition of America (IDCA), Chicago at IIT Rice Campus, Wheaton, IL On October 17, 2015
  • 2. Incredible India! An ancient country that traditionally worships the five elements - severely impacted now by the abuse of the same elements!
  • 3. Water and Health A Snapshot of Current Water Scenario in India Groundwater a major source of water in the country Water sources polluted by chemicals and microbes Waterborne infections cause majority of sicknesses Many critical issues related to water and health
  • 4. Water Pollution in India Some Media Reports An alarming 80% of Indias surface water is polluted (WaterAid, an international organization working for water -TOI, June 28, 2015) Water pollution making Aravali villagers sick (TOI, September 29, 2015) Water Leads to Ailments in Pallavaram (New Indian Express, August 18, 2014) 70% of Indias water supply is polluted with sewage effluents (United Nations Childrens Fund Resource report - India Water Portal)
  • 5. Water and Health Water - Boon or Bane? Water pollution leads to life- threatening diseases Major parameters of concern: Fluoride Arsenic Chrome, Salt Dyes and Chemicals Sewage Microbes
  • 6. Water and Health - Key Issue # 1 1. High Fluoride Health Impact Solution Fluoride Removal Unit
  • 7. Water and Health Key Issue # 2 2. Arsenic Health Impact Highly carcinogenic Skin lesions,cancers in the liver, lungs, kidney, bladder Solution Arsenic Removal Unit Issues: Poor Maintenance, Clogging
  • 8. Water and Health - Key Issue # 2 2. Arsenic In-situ treatment Replaces conventional pump and treat systems Demo project thru a CSG grant initiative in WB Many companies implemented such projects
  • 9. Water and Health - Key Issue # 3 3. Chromium Untreated Chromate industrial waste in TN Yellow-leachate percolates through ground Contaminates soil and ground water all around A critical issue for long - yet to be addressed!
  • 10. Water Quality and Health - Key Issue # 3 3. Chromium in Tanneries Tanneries use chromium salts and tanning liquor Clusters have Common Effluent Treatment Plants Salt used for hide and skin preservation High salinity of effluents impact water quality Need innovative technologies for salt reduction
  • 11. Water and Health - Key Issue # 4 4. Dyes and Chemicals Used widely in the textile and garment industries Polluted effluents flow into water-bodies; leads to Skin diseases, respiratory problems and gastritis Serious concern to farmers, livestock and residents Clusters have Common Effluent Treatment Plants but problems persist
  • 12. Water and Health - Key Issue # 5 5. Sewage The Water & Sanitation Crisis in India Huge and Growing population; Poor hygiene practices 302 Class I cities and 467 Class II towns with no sewage treatment facilities Over three-fourths of the sewage flows untreated into water sources, causing stink, breeding insects impacting human health
  • 13. Water and Health - Key Issue # 6 6. Bio-pollution Microbial contamination - a predominant form of pollution in surface water bodies Leakage through aging water supply and sanitation systems Contamination of water sources by leaching of sewage Poor public hygiene practices Severe impact on human health
  • 14. Water and Health Challenges Multiple sources of pollution: rural, urban, and industrial Water pollution is predominantly manmade Poor management, lack of concern, unclear laws, corruption, indifferent attitudes and aging systems contribute to the issues Pressing need to address critical issues innovatively
  • 15. The Way Forward Shift focus to local management, control and distribution Relook how we manage our water resources Plan on Sustainable groundwater management Protect and prioritise local waterbodies like ponds and wells Reducing industrial water footprint Recycling and reuse of waste water
  • 16. Some Local Solutions Pudukkulam a very old unpolluted drinking water pond in Pudukottai still in existence! Ram sagar, an old pond recently revived by villagers, in Bapu Gaon, Rajasthan
  • 17. More Local Solutions This step-well near the Karnimata temple in the Aravalli region is among the several water bodies revived by a civil engineer in Rajasthan
  • 18. Water and Health Recommendations Outreach through public/private partnerships; innovative environmental campaigns; awareness & hygiene education Rehabilitate old wells with purification equipment Water harvesting, or capturing and storing pure rainwater Surprisingly, sometimes the old ways are the best!
  • 19. Water and Health Thank You! E-mail: subi@consultsubi.com Web: www.consultsubi.com