Groundwater Pollution – Causes, Consequences & Way Forward – Explained Pointwise

Groundwater is the most imp source of water in India. Over 85% of rural drinking water & 65% of irrigation water is sourced from groundwater. However, the rapid & often unregulated extraction of this vital source has triggered a growing yet largely invisible crisis: groundwater pollution. A recent report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) revealed that a substantial portion of groundwater samples across the country contain pollutants in excess of permissible limits. The contamination is a complex issue, stemming from a combination of natural geological factors and human-induced activities.

Groundwater Pollution Level in India:

What are the main causes of groundwater pollution?

Geogenic (Natural) Sources:

1. Mineral Dissolution: Natural contaminants like arsenic and fluoride are released into groundwater when water interacts with specific rock and soil types in the aquifer. Over-extraction of groundwater can accelerate this process by changing the water chemistry and exposing new rock layers.
2. Uranium in Rocks: The presence of uranium is often due to natural uranium content in the aquifer rocks, which is released into the water under certain geochemical conditions.

Anthropogenic Sources:

1. Agricultural Runoff: The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in agriculture is a major cause of contamination. These chemicals leach into the soil and eventually reach the groundwater, leading to high nitrate levels. 
2. Over-exploitation of Groundwater: The aggressive and uncontrolled pumping of groundwater for agriculture and urban needs leads to a drop in the water table. This can not only increase the concentration of existing pollutants but also draw contaminants from deeper, previously unexposed layers – making aquifers more vulnerable to geogenic toxins & salinity intrusions. Arsenic & Uranium contamination of groundwater is mainly linked with over-exploitation of groundwater. 
3. Industrial Effluents: Untreated or poorly treated industrial wastewater often contains toxic chemicals, heavy metals like Cadmium, Lead, Chromium, Mercury, and other pollutants. These can seep into the ground from leaks in pipes, industrial dumpsites, or improper disposal practices, contaminating the water table. For e.g. In Budhpur, Baghpat (UP), 13 people dies this year due to kidney failure allegedly linked to toxic discharges from nearby sugar mills & paper industry contaminating the local borewells. 
4. Lack of sanitation infrastructure: Sanitation infra, especially in rural & peri-urban India, remains deficient or faulty – as a result – human waste can leach into the soil, introducing pathogens and nitrates into the groundwater. Contamination from leaking septic systems & sewage infiltration has triggered repeated outbreaks of cholera, dysentery & hepatitis A & E in several parts of the country. For e.g. in Paikarapur (Odisha) sewage seepage from a faulty treatment plant led to mass illness of hundreds of residents.
5. Institutional Fragmentation: Agencies such as the CGWB, CPCB, SPCBs & Ministry of Jal Shakti operate in silos, duplicating the efforts & lacking coordination for integrated, science-based interventions.
6. Weak Legal Enforcement: Though we do have Water Act to prevent & control the water pollution, but its enforcement especially for groundwater discharge is inadequate. Regulatory loopholes & lax compliance encourage the polluters to remain scot-free.
7. Lack of real time, publicly accessible data: Monitoring of groundwater quality has been infrequent, & poorly disseminated. Without early warning systems or integration with public health surveillance, contamination of groundwater often goes undetected until serious health outcomes emerge.

What have been various government initiatives to control the groundwater pollution?

1. Jal Shakti Abhiyan: This campaign focuses on water conservation and rainwater harvesting to improve groundwater levels and quality.
2. National Aquifer Mapping Project: The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has completed a national-level mapping project to understand the country’s aquifers, which is crucial for effective and sustainable groundwater management.
3. Atal Bhujal Yojana: This scheme is being implemented in water-stressed districts and focuses on a community-led approach to the sustainable management of groundwater resources.
4. Regulatory Framework: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted to regulate and control groundwater development and management across the country.

What can be the way forward?

1. Groundwater Legislation: A clear, nationwide legal framework is needed to regulate the extraction and use of groundwater. This should include a system of permits and fees to encourage responsible use and discourage over-exploitation.
2. Reduce agrochemical use: Encourage precision agriculture, integrated pest management, and organic farming to minimize fertilizer and pesticide runoff—the largest non-point source of groundwater contamination.
3. Enforce existing regulations: Ensure strict compliance with the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA) guidelines on groundwater extraction and pollution control, with regular monitoring and penalties for violators.
4. Industrial Waste Treatment: Industries must be mandated to install and operate effective effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The “zero liquid discharge” principle, where no industrial wastewater is released into the environment, should be a long-term goal for all polluting industries.
5. Expand sewage and effluent treatment: Invest in decentralized and centralized wastewater treatment plants in urban and peri-urban areas to curb infiltration of untreated waste into aquifers.
6. Empower local communities: Foster Water User Associations (WUAs) and participatory groundwater management models for localized planning, monitoring, and regulation. Ramp up public awareness campaigns about pollution sources, conservation practices, and the importance of safe waste disposal.
7. Research, Monitoring & Real-Time Data: Support continuous groundwater quality monitoring using advanced sensor networks and AI analytics to identify and target pollution hotspots. In areas affected by arsenic, fluoride, or nitrate, implement location-specific remediation like the installation of community purification systems.

Conclusion:
India’s groundwater crisis is no longer limited to just quantity – it is now about safety & survival as well. It calls for a bold, coordinated & multi-dimensional strategy that integrates regulation, technology, health & public participation.