CS(AR)-15/96-97 : Arsenic pollution in groundwater-a status report

Abstract

Increasing threat of pollution of surface water bodies due to the continuous and unabated discharge of wastewater originating from municipal , industries, and agricultural sectors is posing more pressure to the available ground water sources.

Over exploitation of ground water sources for various designated uses, such as; drinking, domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors are eventually inviting threat to the ground water sources both in terms of quantity and quality. Hazards of increasing public health related problems have made or are making people more aware about the quality of water irrespective. of whatever quantity is assured The need of the time is thus supply of right quality of water at the right time.

Waters - surface and under ground- usually get contaminated by the organic and inorganic substances and its threat towards pollution depends on the degree of concentration of polluting substances. There are many reasons of pollution of waters, however, most of the causes, if not all, are due to the consequences of man-made activities.

Arsenic pollution in ground water is not a new problem. Many Countries in the World had experienced menace of arsenic pollution in water and sacrificed many lives. Causes of arsenic pollution were different in different countries. However, the main source of arsenic occurrence in water had been thought to be due to the degradation of natural environment