Tainted groundwater a threat to Puneites

Groundwater within the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been contaminated in patches due to seeping of untreated sewage water into the ground. This fact was revealed by a study conducted by the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA), Pune.

A majority of the patches exist along the banks of the Mula and Mutha rivers. The survey was conducted over a span of three years, and the report submitted to the PMC by GSDA last year.

Suresh Kandhale, assistant director of GSDA, giving details about the report said, “Untreated industrial effluents and domestic sewage are the main causes of the contamination of groundwater along the river banks. Within the PMC limits, there are not enough sewage treatment plants (STPs) to treat the sewage generated within the city limits.’’

The main contaminants within the PMC limits are iron, heavy salts and nitrates, which are called total dissolved salts.

Past president of the Indian Medical Association, Pune, Dr Dilip Sarda said, “These contaminants are known as heavy metals and can lead to poisoning. This is a serious threat to human health and can also cause a host of other diseases like gastroenteritis, jaundice and typhoid.’’ However, he said, as of now the medical fraternity has not seen alarming trends in the city.

On the state of groundwater in neighboring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, he admitted that no such survey has been undertaken. “We were not asked by the corporation to undertake any such study,’’ he said.