Arsenic, Cadmium in Water
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New Delhi, June 2 - How important is the Yamuna for Delhi?
A major percentage (about 70 per cent) of the city's water supply comes from the Yamuna, supported by other canals and some groundwater sources. Most of the water comes through a regulated supply system managed by the DJB, which treats and supplies it to people. There are stretches of the river going through Delhi that are heavily polluted. We are doing a study on the vegetables grown on the riverbeds of the Yamuna and find these containing traces of metals and metalloids like arsenic. That's a cause for concern. These can get to your blood supply. Studies can shown that a high blood-lead level impacts childrens' thinking process and brain functions. A metal like cadmium can accumulate in the kidneys. There is strict quality control required. We are coming out with the suggestion that the water that is used for irrigation should be treated first and then used for irrigation.
How can conservation be done scientifically?
A person can have a background in forest biodiversity-like activity and get involved with afforestation activities at the waterfront to work on reducing soil erosion. Then, one can study environmental science, environmental engineering, look at water quality issues and devise strategies to conserve water quality. Hydrology teaches one about watershed management. You assess a river not only on terms of its water quality but also its watershed - the geographic boundaries of a particular waterbody, its ecosystem and the land that drains to it. These need to be protected and conserved too. One can be a hydrogeologist or do water engineering, too.
Tell us about your involvement with water conservation.
I have a B Sc and M Sc in chemistry. My first assignment was looking at pollution in the river Ganga and we were associated with the Ganga Action Plan at its inception. At that point I was working with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute as research fellow. We had to regularly monitor water quality every season, three seasons a year, at certain stretches and check levels of pollution and sources and health impact of various pollutants.
Author: Ayesha Banerjee (HT Horizons)
Date: 11th June, 2010
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