CPCB report flags contamination in Punjab groundwater

Chandigarh: Fresh concerns have emerged over the safety of drinking water in Punjab after an assessment by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found contamination in groundwater sources at identified locations across rural and semi-urban areas of the state.The CPCB's regional directorate in Chandigarh constituted three monitoring teams to conduct groundwater sampling at 34 identified contaminated locations. The report was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 2, which took suo motu cognisance of a report published in The Times of India highlighting groundwater pollution caused by agricultural run-off in Punjab, which has long been battling severe contamination of water due to unchecked dumping of untreated industrial waste, sewage, solid waste and excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.The assessment found that key parameters, including sulphate, phenolic compounds, boron, ammoniacal nitrogen, chloride, calcium and nitrates, were within acceptable as well as permissible limits prescribed under Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 10500:2012). However, deviations were observed at multiple sampling locations.Results of physico-chemical parameters at the department of water supply and sanitation (DWSS) locations showed that pH values exceeded the acceptable range prescribed for drinking water standards at sampling areas, including DWSS-07 (Shambukalan-Rajpura, Patiala) and DWSS-33 (Dipulana, Fazilka), with no relaxation prescribed under the standards.Sulphate concentration exceeded the acceptable limit of 200 mg/l at five sampling locations, though it remained within the permissible limit of 400 mg/l. Ammoniacal nitrogen and magnesium concentrations were found exceeding acceptable limits at one sampling location each.Total hardness exceeded the acceptable limit of 200 mg/l at three sampling locations, while total alkalinity exceeded the acceptable limit at 13 places. Total dissolved solids (TDS) exceeded the acceptable limit of 500 mg/l at 10 sampling locations. Fluoride concentration was found exceeding the acceptable limit of 1 mg/l at seven sites. At the same time, phenolic compounds, boron, chloride, calcium and nitrates, were within acceptable and permissible limits across all sampling locations.Analysis of heavy metals at DWSS spots showed that mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, zinc and cyanide were within acceptable as well as permissible limits. However, arsenic concentration exceeded the acceptable limit of 0.01 mg/l at three sampling locations, while iron concentration exceeded acceptable limits at four places.In samples collected from borewells under the department of local govt, mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, selenium, cyanide and zinc were within acceptable as well as permissible limits. Arsenic concentration exceeded the acceptable limit at two sampling locations, while iron concentration exceeded acceptable limits at four spots. Manganese concentration was also found exceeding the acceptable limit of 0.1 mg/l at one sampling location.