KOCHI: Will Kerala becoming an Open Defecation Free (ODF) state do anything to improve our health parameters? The answer is a firm ‘no’. Reason: There is hardly any mechanism in place to dispose off sewage safely. Experts warn the lack of a proper sanitation system is posing serious health hazards.
Consider these facts: With a population of 3.33 crore, as per the 2011 census data, the state has a population density of 859 people per sq km. In cities, the density is much higher and around 60 percent of toilet pits are located close to open wells.
In cities and municipal areas, a majority of household toilets are not connected to the sewer system. These toilets open into streams or drainage system and the septage flows into water bodies. Even underground water resources are polluted due to a lack of awareness on constructing septic tanks. According to a survey by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, there are 67 lakh open wells in the state.
“We are yet to adopt the septic tank system. A majority of the houses have pit latrines and microorganisms from these pits reach open wells. All major rivers, where drinking water projects are located, are unsafe. There is a need for immediate government action to ensure safe disposal of sewage waste,” said Groundwater Department director Jose James.
As a case study of an expanding city, Kochi was the focus of a study by SCMS Water Institute director Sunny George. It revealed a high count of coliform bacteria in water drawn from borewells in 34 percent divisions of the state’s business hub. Normally, faecal matter doesn’t reach underground water resources. But in Kochi, rampant dumping of sewage in canals has led to contamination of underground water. The city is an estuary with a wide network of 18 canals. The survey covering 30,000 households found the average distance between open wells and pit latrines was less than 7 metres!
Meanwhile, a Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) survey put a huge question mark on the quality of water available from rivers. Karamana, Pampa and Kallayipuzha are the most polluted in the state. Water samples collected from Kallayipuzha near Kallai bridge contained 1,09,870 counts of coliform bacteria in 100 ml of water in the pre-monsoon period. River Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram district also had a very high level of coliform bacteria.
The sample collected from Moonnattumukku had 38,400 counts of coliform bacteria in the premonsoon period. The level of coliform bacteria in Pampa river had touched 2 lakh counts per 100 ml during the 2014 Sabarimala season. The count was 30,666 in December 2015.
Pollution levels in Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes were dangerously high. Many household toilets on the banks open into the lakes. The level of coliform bacteria in Ashtamudi lake was 1,400 while that in Vembanad lake stood at 1,600 in 100 ml of water. Sasthamkotta lake, the drinking water source of Kollam city, had 480 counts of coliform bacteria.
While the level of contamination is increasing at an alarming rate, inadequate and irregular disinfection of drinking water supplies, including chlorination under the KWA schemes, add to the woes.
Alarming level of pollution
If you thought water shortage was your biggest problem this summer, think again. The high levels of pollution have prompted government agencies to warn that water should be consumed only after disinfection. The latest Environmental Monitoring Programme on Water Quality reveals the following data on six river basins.
Ithikkara river basin (Kollam, T’Puram): E.coli contamination in 89 percent water samples during the pre-monsoon season, 67 percent during post-monsoon season and 78 pc in the monsoon season.
lPallikkal (Pathanamthitta, Kollam, T’Puram):
E.coli at 62.5 percent during pre-monsoon season, 75 percent in post-monsoon and 81.25 percent in monsoon season.
Uppala (Kasargod): E.coli in 44 percent samples in post-monsoon season and 100 per cent in monsoon. 66 percent samples showed marginal quality while 34 percent showed poor quality.
Ayiroor (Kollam, T’Puram): Pre-monsoon and post-monsoon samples revealed 20 percent E.coli presence. It was 50 percent during the monsoons.
Manjeswar (Kasargod): E.coli 50 percent of samples monsoon, 44 percent in post-monsoon and 100 percent in monsoon season.
Mamom (T’Puram, Kollam): E.coli contamination was 78 per cent, 67 percent and 56 per cent respectively
(Inputs from Tiki Rajwi)