Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

INTRODUCTION:

As far as North-eastern regions the problem of water pollution assumed a serious

environmental concern, among other states problems in this regions. Assam has also faces the
problem of water pollution due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and unregulated
infrastructural developments within the States, especially in case of industries among the North-
east urban population. Many of the sediments in our rivers, lakes and oceans have been
contaminated by pollutants. Some of these pollutants are directly discharged by industrial plants
and municipal sewage treatment plants, other come from polluted runoff in urban and
agricultural areas, and some are the result of historical contamination. The inorganic minerals
like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and heavy metals like iron, manganese, lead,
mercury, chromium, cadmium, nickel, cobalt , beryllium copper etc. when present above the
permissible limit are harmful. Agricultural water pollution is caused by fertilizers, insecticides,
pesticides, farm animal wastes and sediments. Research findings indicate that application and
heavy doses of fertilizers pollute ground water through leaching. The use of various types of
pesticides and insecticides in agriculture cause water pollution.

The Census 2011 report on water and sanitation says that in Assam out of 6,367,295
households only 10.5 percent has tap water, 18.9 percent has wells and majority 59.4 percent use
tube wells for drinking water followed by 11.3 percent having drinking water from other
sources. This is almost ten percent drop of use of wells and more than 10 percent increase of the
use of tube wells for drinking water in Assam. In rural sector, the statistics of drinking water
condition in Assam are- sources for drinking water (tap water) has only 6.8 percent, the wells
has 19 percent, from tube wells 61.5 percent, other sources likes ponds and rivers is 12.6
percent. On treated drinking water the percentage in rural Assam is 5.8 percent. On untreated
water it is only 1 percent. Only 1.1 percent rural households in Assam collect drinking water
from covered sources. Similarly on uncovered sources of drinking water, it is 18 percent. In the
urban sector, statistics are very unimpressive- 30.2 percent using tap water which is 1.02 percent
less than the last census, 17.8 percent using wells, 48 percent using tube wells and 4 percent
using from other sources. Similarly, on the use of treated water in the urban sector Assam’s
figure (29.4 percent) is far less than the national figures (62 percent). 4.5 percent of urban
households in Assam have covered drinking water sources while 13.5 percent do not have such.
All these above mentioned statistics clearly stated that the condition for pure and safe drinking
water in Assam is not very good. This statistics is more understand if we compare with the
national figures. Below table no. 1 mentioned comparison table shows the situation clearly.

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Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

Fig1: Comparative table on urban sector drinking water sources

Fig2: Comparative table on rural sector drinking water sources

Sources: All these table above accessed from census report 2011, GoI

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

WATER SOURCES:

When we think about the causes of water, we have to think about the two different
sources of water on our planet. First, there is surface water - that's the water that we see in
oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds. This water is home to many plant and animal species that rely
not only on the quantity but also the quality of that water to survive. No less important is
groundwater i.e. the water stored within the Earth's aquifers this water source feeds our rivers
and oceans and forms much of the world's supply of drinking water. Both of these water sources
are critical to life on Earth. And both can become polluted in different ways

SURFACE WATER POLLUTION CAUSES:

Bodies of water can become polluted in a number of ways. Point source pollution refers
to contaminants that enter a waterway via a single, identifiable source - show as a waste water
treatment pipe or a factory chimney. Non-point source pollution is when the contamination is
coming from many scattered locations. An example of non-point source pollution is the nitrogen
runoff that leaches into waterways via nearby agricultural fields.

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION CAUSES:

Groundwater can also be affected by point and non-point source pollution. A chemical
spill can seep directly into the ground, polluting the water below. But more often than not,
groundwater becomes polluted when non-point sources of contamination such as agricultural
runoff or prescription medications find their way into the water within the Earth.

HOW DOES WATER POLLUTION AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT?

If you do not live near water, you may not think that you are affecting by pollution in the
world's waters. But water pollution affects every single living thing on this planet. From the
tiniest plant to the largest mammal and yes, even humans in between; we all rely on water to
survive. Fish that live in polluted waters become polluted themselves. Fishing is already
restricted or prohibited in many of the world's waterways due to contaminants. When a waterway
becomes polluted - either with trash or with toxins - it diminishes its capacity to support and
sustain life.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION:

All organisms need water for their metabolic activities. It is even used as a habitat by
many organisms. Besides direct consumption (washing, bathing, drinking) man uses water for a
multitude of purposes like irrigation, industry, navigation, recreation, construction work, power
generation and waste disposal. Different type of water uses require different levels of water
purity with the highest level of purity being required for drinking water. Pollutants bring about
many physical and chemical changes in water, for instance, suspended particles make water
turbid; dyes, chromium and iron compounds change the color of water; phenols, oils, detergents,
hydrocarbons, chlorine etc. impart an unpleasant taste to water. As it is a vital resource essential
for sustaining life, contamination of water has immediate as well as far reaching effects on the
health and environment of living organisms.

HEALTH HAZARDS OF WATER POLLUTION:

1. Phosphorus and Nitrates from fertilizers and detergents contaminate surface waters where
they act as nutrients and promote the growth of oxygen consuming algae which reduce
the D.O. level of water, killing fish and other aquatic organisms.

2. Industrial effluents result in the addition of poisonous chemicals such as Arsenic,

Mercury, Cadmium, Lead etc. which kill aquatic organisms and may reach human body
through contaminated food (i.e. fishes etc.)

3. Domestic, commercial and industrial effluents (petroleum refineries, paper mills,

distilleries, tanneries, slaughter houses) contaminate the water with organic pollut ants.
These provide nutrition for micro-organisms which decompose the organic matter and
consume oxygen and reduce the D.O. level of the aquatic system there by killing the
aquatic organisms.

4. Water borne infectious enteric diseases like typhoid, bacillary dysentery, cholera and
amoebic dysentery are the predominant health hazards arising from drinking
contaminated water.

5. Fluoride containing pollutants cause fluorosis i. e. neuromuscular, respiratory gastro

intestinal and dental problems

6. Thermal pollution of water reduces the D.O. level of the aquatic system making it
incapable of supporting life.

7. Oil pollutants have been known to be responsible for the death of many water birds and
fishes.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION IN ASSAM

Now, some of the important sources of water pollution in Assam which causes the pollution

(1) Over Population:

One does not need any combinations or complex reckonings to rely on a belief that the world
as a whole is under great pressure to keep the essentials of sustenance of all kinds of existence, in
a perfect balance, ecologically and environmentally. The root cause of all types of maladies and
malaise is the population blast in all over the world. The population of developing and
underdeveloped countries are bursting to its, seems now and hence their people are, facing all
types of pollution in their environments, which also do reflect on the domains of others.
According to Census 2011, the population of Guwahati city is 963,429 in comparison with the
last census 2001 (890,773). Guwahati (Metropolitan city) is the highest urban population in
Assam. The reason behind the rapid growth of population sparked by the large scale migration of
students and young people from other parts of Assam and from the north-east states, into the city
for higher studies and employment, it is expanding almost day in and day out, on the far-flung
south beyond khanapara, to the extreme west near the GNB international airport, and up to
Narengi-satgaon in the east from the edge of the Brahmaputra to the North. It is true that
providing drinking water to such a large population is an enormous challenge. On one hand the
pressures of development is changing the distribution of water in the country, access to adequate
water has been cited as the primary factor responsible for limiting development. The average
availability of water is reducing steadily with the growing population and it is estimated that by
2020 India will become a water stressed nation. Ground water is the major source of water in our
country with 85% of the population dependent on it.

(2) Industrial Wastes:

A large number of small, medium and large industries are located within the area of
Guwahati. According to 1991 census there were 669 industrial units of which 19.73% were
engaged in various metal products, 17.34% in chemicals, 15.40% in paper products and printing,
11.5% in repair and servicing, 9.72% in wood products and 6.58% in food products. Only 43
units were located inside the industrial estate, while all the others were scattered all over the city.
The growth of industries can be termed as environmentally unsafe. Some of the large and
medium
Scale industries in the city included
1. Thermal Power Station, Fertichem Ltd. and NTC’s Spun Mill at Chandrapur.
2. Statefed Vanaspati Plant, Kamrup Paper Mills, Assam Ispat Ltd., Chemical
3. Units and Assam Caffeine Industry at Amingaon.
4. Dye House and Nezone Tubes Ltd. at Pub-Boragaon.
5. Assam Carbon Products Ltd. at Birkuchi.
6.Indian Oxygen Ltd. Plant, Jalan Industrial Corporation, G.L.Industries, Jalan Iron and Steel
company and Guwahati Roller Flour Mill at G.S.Road.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

7. Brahmaputra Jute Mill at Kalapahar area.

8. Assam Asbestos Ltd. at Narengi.Besides these, a number of large printing presses, hospitals,
Nursing homes, big hotels, saw mills, soap factory, dairy industry etc. are located in various parts
of the city.

Some private industries recently set up in Guwahati are:

1. SKJ Coke Industries Ltd.

2. Dharampal Satyapal Ltd., Pan Masala Industry.
3. Unicorn Paints (India) Pvt. Ltd., Amingaon (Plastic Cement produce)
4. Guru Detergent & Chemical (p) Ltd., Amingaon (Synthetic detergent powder)
All the above mentioned industries in Guwahati indicated that the growth of
industrialization within Guwahati rapidly due to which the burden of environmental damage is
more on the people of this area. But besides the setup of new industries the government of
Assam in its Industrial Policy of Assam, 2008 in Annexure III, IV, V and VI have given list of
various industries categorized as non-polluting industrial activities- green, orange and red. List of
Industries under these category are given below table

Fig3: List of various industries

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

The green and non-polluting industries can straight away be set-up under advice to the
Pollution Control Board. The Orange category of industry specified in Annexure –V of the
Industrial Policy of Assam 2008 will be granted a simplified consent for a period of ten years.
Lastly, the red category of industries specified in Annexure-VI will be granted a consent for a
period of five years.

(3)Industrialization/Urbanization:
Another important source of water pollution which affected the Guwahati city water
conditions are industrialization. The glaring example of such situation is the Bharalu River which
is most polluted river in Assam. The degradation of the river started from late 1960’s when the
Guwahati Refinery started discharging its wastes into the river. This act of careless and
irresponsible attitude struck Bharalu like a calamity and soon destroyed every beautiful thing that
ever existed in these waters. Probably this inhuman crime was done by the refinery authority
without the onset of the State government. The refinery produces 650,000 metric tons of crude
oil every year. Assam produces about 15 percent of India’s onshore crude, with state-owned
exploration companies, Oil India Ltd. and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. and Indian Oil
Corporation’s refineries. “For more than 40 years, oil companies have been polluting the State
like anything”, said Jawahar Lal Dutta, Chairman of the Assam Pollution Control Board. The oil
industry had for over four decades been destroying resources-rich areas through deforestation,
pollution and preventing tree regeneration by not cleaning up spillages. The State Water Policy
of Assam, 2007 in paragraph “Pollution and Environment” reads “In project planning,
implementation and operation, the preservation of the quality of the environment and the
ecological balance would be a primary consideration. Adverse impact, if any, on the environment
would be minimized and off-set by adequate compensatory measures. Effluents will be treated to
acceptable levels and standards before discharging them in natural streams and other bodies.
“Still, the pollution of water resources by the powerful oil industries goes unabated and the
government silent on this matter. Water Quality Standards in Assam According to Human
Development Report, 2006 nearly 1.1 billion people in developing world lack in accessing fresh
and safe drinking water while as per 2001 population census almost 22 percent households in
India are deprived of availing such water in contrast to which scenario in Assam is most
discouraging. Not only rural areas but many urban areas still remained uncovered by urban water
supply scheme even at the far end of eleventh five year plan. Water for human consumption must
be free, from pathogenic micro-organisms and other substances which are hazardous to health. A
water sample is normally rejected for drinking purposes if it is highly turbid, highly colored or
has an objectionable taste, but he absence of these adverse sensory effects does not guarantee the
safety of water for drinking. The enormous pressures exerted by rapidly increasing population,
massive industrial activities, modern agricultural practices have resulted in discharge of a very
large amount of pollutants to the water bodies.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

Fig4: House hold with drinking water facility in Assam

The above map shows distribution of household drinking water facility in Assam which
is prepared by the Climate Cell and Environment Division Assam Science Technology and
Environment Council in 2011. To supply pure and safe drinking water to all the people was the
top priority for successive governments in our country since independence. But till today the
target has not been achieved. A large number of people in Assam suffer from water borne
diseases. For instance, hundreds of villages in Karbi Anglong district, including a few areas of
Kamrup district are being reported as prone to excess fluoride contaminated drinking water
borne diseases- commonly known as fluorosis. Although the iron in the drinking water in
Nalbari, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Dhubri, Lakhimpur and many
other districts of Assam. Waterborne diseases are mostly due to inadequate and incompetent
management of water resources. Various deadly diseases like skin cancer is caused by arsenic in
water. The Census 2011 report on Water and Sanitation present a very dismissal picture of
Assam in comparison with the rest of India Rural and Urban sector drinking water sources.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

Fig5: Comparison of rural and urban sector drinking

Taking all these into consideration it can be concluded that the water of Assam whether
used for domestic or industrial purposes, by and large, is contaminated with different chemicals
and the situation is too worse than we think.

PROBLEM OF ARSENIC IN ASSAM

As a matter of fact the high contamination of arsenic in water is a serious health threat.
Arsenic may come from natural sources such as arsenic bearing minerals like arsenopyrite,
realgar, orpiment, arsenolite, scorodite, clauditite etc. or from soil, pesticides, chemical manure
and sewerage sludge that are transported by surface as well as groundwater. For the limit of 10
mg/l (microgram per liter). In India, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) 1991 recommended up to
50 mg/l of arsenic in drinking water, but in view of the severe toxicity, reducing its limit to 10
mg/l or 0.01 mg/l (milligram per liter) is being actively considered. Arsenicosis is the effect of
arsenic poisoning, usually over a long period such as from 5 to 20 years. Drinking arsenic-rich
water over a long period results in various health effects including skin problems (such as color
changes on the skin, and hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet), skin cancer, cancers of
the bladder, kidney and lung, and diseases of the blood vessels of the legs and feet, and possibly
also diabetes, high blood pressure and reproductive disorders. Skin diseases are the common
effects of arsenic poisoning. Long-term exposure to excessive arsenic causes changes in skin
pigments and hyperkeratosis; promotes development of ulcerations of skin; and accelerates the
risk of cancer in liver, bladder, kidney and skin.
But in case of Assam, the ground water has up to 667 mg/l of arsenic, which is undoubtedly
far beyond the safe limit. Karbi Anglong, NC Hills and marigaon, all other districts of Assam more
or less contain arsenic in groundwater. Most of the districts and blocks of Assam were affected by
arsenic and it in affected districts24as shown in Chart.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

Fig6: Arsenic concentration in Districts of Assam

PROBLEM OF FLOURIDE IN ASSAM

As per Indian Standards acceptable limit of fluoride in consumable water is 1.0 mg/l
while 1.5 mg/l is the cause for rejection. However, in some cases fluoride content in water has
been found to be as high as 23 mg/l. The presence of excess fluoride and endemic of Fluorosis
was reported in the year 1999 in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, though the disease was
prevalent for last twenty years. Subsequently, because of intensified water quality testing and
health survey conducted, excess iron and fluoride is getting detected in more and more areas of
the region. Fluoride concentration in ground water is well above the BIS permissible limit of 1.5
mg L-1 in the districts of Karbi, Anglong, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Goalpara, Kamrup,
Cachar, Golaghat of Assam and Lower Subansiri, Dibang Valley29. Fluorosis is a crippling
disorder due to entry of Fluoride in the body, which affects every organ, tissue, cells in the body,
and results in health complaints having overlapping manifestations with several other diseases
like gouts and osteoporosis. In short, it causes Dental Fluorosis, Musculo-Skeletal Fluorosis.
Fluoride damages the Pineal Gland, which secretes melatonin hormone in the brain. It also
affects the reproductive systems and intelligence. Many symptoms of Fluorosis are somewhat
alike with other diseases such as Arthritis, osteoporosis etc. Evidence of extensive fluoride
contamination in ground water
and instances of fluorosis reported from several localities of Guwahati, has become a matter of
grave concern. As the endemic area is spreading day by day, a scientific intervention towards a
suitable and practicable solution to the problem has become imperative.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

CONSUMPTION

Consumption of water having excess fluoride has been causing in certain pockets of
Assam serious health problems like

Skeletal fluorosis

Dental fluorosis

Non-skeletal manifestation

All or in a combination of the above

Fig7: Dental fluorosis picture

PROBLEM OF IRON IN ASSAM

Most of the ground water sources in Assam are found to have excess iron content. Though
excess iron does not have major health problem, but it stains and has aesthetic problem.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

WATER POLUUTION SCENARIO IN THE CITY OF GUWAHATI

Consider the city of Guwahati; no doubt, it too, is well located with the river
Brahmaputra in its background. The capital of Assam and the only metropolitan city in the entire
North- eastern region is also the entry point for the North-east States. Guwahati city gradually
developing into a large, crowded city pointing to the extent to which its population has increased
over a period of time. With its mounting pressure on land, there is at present no vacant plot at all,
big or small, available for sale anything in and around the city. As a result of which, they are
facing some chronic civic problems. One such menacing issue in addition to the drinking water
crisis is contamination of water. The work of development of Guwahati has been mainly
entrusted upon the Guwahati Metropolitan Corporation (GMC), Guwahati Metropolitan
Development Authority (GMDA), PWD and Guwahati Development Department (GDD). But
unfortunately, none of the institutions have been able to solve any of the major civic problems of
the city. The river Bharalu which once enhanced the beauty of the Guwahati city today is highly
polluted both organically and inorganically. Bacteriological quality of the Bharalu is very poor
and is not at all suitable for any human use. A Host of factors are at play in polluting Bharalu.
Disposal of untreated municipal sewage and solid waste, untreated wastewater disposal from
domestic, commercial and other sectors, disposal of industrial effluents and other wastes,
disposal from automobile servicing centers, hospitals and nursing homes have contributed in
polluting Bharalu. Couple of years back the toxic water of the river was being diverted through a
newly dug up channel to Deepor beel. Continued discharge of the city’s untreated sewerage
through the Bhanini and Bharalu rivers besides the dumping of municipal solid wastes in its
close proximity at Boragaon by the GMC have pushed the wetland’s pollution to alarming levels.
The problem has got aggravated during the monsoons, with rainwater sweeping large amounts of
garbage from dumping site to the beel. Growing pollution was indeed a grave threat for long
term survival of the beel that shelter a wide range of avifauna including migratory birds
Bharalu like a calamity and soon destroyed every beautiful thing that ever existed in these
waters. Probably this inhuman crime was done by the refinery authority without the consent of
the state government. The government is still siting like a pigeon with closed eyes… the pigeon
blinds itself and is consoled thinking that including it, everyone is visionless now. The once
pristine Bharalu River flowing through the city today resembles a filthy drain- a fallout of having
to bear the brunt of our insensitive urbanization for years. Pollution has reached such alarming
levels that aquatic life can no longer survive in the Bharalu’s highly toxic waters. Large scale
encroachments on its banks with tacit support of the authorities has severly hindered the river’s
water-carrying capacity and its natural courses, shortening its life in the process. None of the
agencies entrusted with the task of maintain the city’s hygiene- be it the GMC< GMDA or the
PCBA- has bothered to make any intervention to check the ravages perpetrated on the river. This
is the one water bodies which is polluted in a very rapid manner. Similarly other rivers within the
city of Guwahati carries huge amount of polluted waters, which results adverse effect the health
hazards among peoples as well as animals and flora and fauna also. The Pollution Control Board
Assam identified sources of pollution of the Bharalu include disposal of untreated municipal
sewage and solid waste, untreated wastewater disposal from domestic, commercial and others
sectors, disposal of industrial effluents and other wastes including floor washing through the

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

storm water drain from Guwahati Refinery, disposals from loco-sheds and other engineering
servicing centers, including automobile servicing centers, leaching from non-septic kutcha
latrines located on the river banks, disposal of effluents and other wastes from hospitals, nursing
homes and other health-care units, wastes carried by surface run-offs from the entire basin during
the rainy season etc.
The turning point of the Bahini at Jonali, from where it has assumed the name Bharalu,
has not been properly taken care of. The drain, which carries the refinery discharge, has met the
Bahini here head-on. Both the channels were not provided adequate opening and this leads to
heading-up and subsequent inundation of the RG Baruah Road and the localities along both its
sides on almost every occasion of heavy shower. Polluted Bharalu is also damaging the
Brahmaputra. Finally, it is harming each one of us with its highly contaminated water. It needs
proper rehabilitation for the greater interest of Assam. It needs removal of all the encroachments
and restoration of the thorough service roads on both its banks for its proper maintenance. There
should be strict measures, accompanied by structural barriers, to prevent defilement of the river
as a garbage dump. Above all, the river needs restoration of its natural flow, or else its death is
certain.

Fig8: Polluted Bharalu River

In Greater Guwahati rapid industrialization and population growth has taken place during
the last two three decades. This is likely to become manifold in near future with increasing
industrialization and urbanization in the region. Guwahati saw its first burst of its expansion
during the period 1960-1965 with the setting of Oil refinery, the New Guwahati Yards, the Army
Cantonment and the Oil India Campus. The second burst of explosion witnessed the city was the

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

1972, when the State capital was shifted to Dispur, on the south-eastern tip of the city. Within a
very short time, population of the city was incremented by lakh, creating a tremendous pressure
on infrastructural facilities. At present the population of the city is about ten lakh. The municipal
water supply serve only the capital complex of about 15000 peoples while the rest of the city
depend on ground water resources like dug wells and tube wells

The most serious problem due to indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in Guwahati is
ground water contamination. Rapid growth of population, changing lifestyles of human beings,
the increasing use of disposable materials and excessive packaging are all contributing to an
increase in the amount of municipal solid waste. Based on primary survey it may be said that the
people of the city dispose their solid waste without any processing. Some people throw their
waste into the municipality waste bins, some dispose it on roadsides, open drains, within their
campus etc. Of course some of the people dispose their waste through private party by paying an
amount of money.

Fig9: Types of Household Waste Disposal

In rural areas of Guwahati are also affected by the water pollution. The glaring examples
of water pollution in rural areas are Narengi, Birkhuchi, Bonda, Panikhaiti, Amgaon and other
areas. In Bonda, most of the villagers used well water for drinking and other works. But the wells
which they used are not clean and safe for drinking. The situation is so worst that even villagers

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

did not used their well for animal caring. The only safe source for their drinking water is public
well which is safe and clean and used by almost fifty families in that area. The other alternate
source is water supply Department which is situated in the middle of the area.

Fig10: Impure drinking water used in Panikhaiti

Fig11: Black polluted water at Birkuchi

Fig12: Polluted area at Bonda area

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

WATER POLLUTIONS: WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?

By its very nature, water is a very fluid thing. It flows throughout the world without regard for borders or
boundaries. It crosses state lines and ebbs and flows between countries. That means that pollution caused in one part
of the world could affect a community in another. This makes it difficult to impose any one set standard on the ways
we use and protect the world's water.

CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION:

The following measures can be taken to control water pollution:

i. Thermal Pollution: For minimizing thermal pollution, hot water should be cooled before
release from factories, and removal of forest canopies and irrigation return flows should be
prohibited.

ii. Prohibition: Besides reserving separate water supplies for livestock, the following prohibition
should be enforced to avoid contamination of the main sources of drinking water.
(a) Bathing and washing of clothes in rivers and streams.
(b) Discharging untreated or treated domestic, commercial and industrial sewage in water bodies.

iii. Judicious Use: Pesticides (preferably less stable) and fertilizers should be very judiciously
used to avoid chemical pollution of water through agricultural farm run-offs.

iv. Reuse of Water:

The treated waste water can be reused for several purposes, for instance:
(a) Treated water can be reused for recreation purposes like fishing and boating.
(b) Treated water can be reused as industrial water supply.
(c) Reclaimed waste water can be used for irrigation or municipal purposes.
(d) Treated water can be reused for cooling processes in thermal plants.

v. Legislation:

For effective control of water pollution, legal provisions regarding water pollution should
be enforced by special administrative machinery comprising of highly qualified and experienced
personnel.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

CONCLUSION:

In Conclusion we observed that water quality in Assam in recent times deteriorated

tremendously due to various factor. As the city continues to expand at a frenetic pace, so does
the demand for water. Many cities of the country are facing water shortage but the situation is
uncalled- for in Guwahati because we have a huge reservoir of surface water in the form of the
Brahmaputra. An environment friendly city is one that minimizes waste and economizes to the
maximum. Guidelines would be set out progressively to reduce waste in all its forms, to avoid
the accumulation of problems and to make full use of existing structures. The Government needs
to take up new water supply schemes in the arsenic affected districts and the contaminated
groundwater sources should be discarded. The authorities with the help of experts should evolve
low cost technologies to minimize the presence of arsenic in potable water in the affected areas.

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 Environmental and Social impact of Water pollution in Assam and greater Guwahati

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Indira Khurana & Romit Sen, Article on Drinking Water Quality in Rural India: Issues
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5. Report and Opinion, 2009, accessed from http://www.sciencepub.net

6. Ground Water Quality in Shallow Aquifers of India, Central Ground Water Board,
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