I

Comprehensive Water
Management in Rural Bengal
with Special Emphasis on
Arsenic Safe Drinking Water *
Dipankar Adhya
Environment Protection Engineers, Kolkata
Web: www.adhiacon.in Joo
Mail: dipankar.adhya@gmail.com
Introducdon:
Nearly three fourth (71 %) of the earth surface
is covered by water and only one fourth is available
as land surface. This provides a picture of abun-
dance of water on earth. But a critical analysis
reveals that of this 71 % of water resources, nearly
97.44 % is of saline water of Oceans, Seas & saline
ground watert, which canDot be used as potable
water and even for irrigation or for industrial
purposes in wiper terms. This leaves us the balance
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of 2.56% 'as fresh water. But a bulk of this water
body is available at Polar region as ice sheets,
iceberg and glaciers which amounts to 69.6%
(1. 782% of total resources) leaving only balance
30.4% of fresh water (0.778% of total resources)
which is available in fresh water lakes, river, pond
and as ground water. Alarmly only 0.85% of
available fresh water (0.0066% of total water
resources) is constitute of fresh water lakes &
surface water etc. gain global warming is accelera-
ting the melting of ice and increasing the volume
of saline water. Recent report by United Nations
estimates Saline water as 97.5%, and of balance
2.5% - I~e caps and Glaciars as 68.7% and ground
water as 30.1%.
This makes the fresh water the most scare &
precious resources on earth on which the entire
earth ever increasing populations' sustain ability
is critically dependent.
Sector wise Water Uses Pattern
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Understanding the criticality of water
availability, let us look at how this critical resource
is being utilized sector wise i.e aw-iculture, Industry
&Domestic, worldwide especially in India. We find
that when2 Low income group countries approxi-
mately uses 82%, 10%, 8%, High income group
countries uses 30%,59% & 11% with an world
averages at 66%,25% &9%respectively. The usage
pattern in India is estimated at 89%, 6% & 5%3
respectively. Even appreciating the fact that India
is agriculture based country, we need to explore and
strive to minimize water uses in agriculture and
recycle water in industry. .
Our area of discussion being rural wat1er
management, the dependability and withdrawal'of
ground water may be minimized through the
following methods and actions :-
1. Systemically laying down th.e inter plots
barrier ( AAL ) and intra plot ridges for better
distribution and retention of water drawn for
irrigation. Traditional surface irrigation can
be improved with minimization of water use.
2. In case of use of ehctric pumps ,operation
timings of the pump should be determined and
be fixed based on total area under irrigation,
season, type of crop ,character of land and
water retention capacity etc. Any excessive
operation will not only leads to wastage of
water as it will over flows to out of the field
water body or canal and finally to sea of saline
*Key note address presented in the National Seminar On "Environmental Issues: Protection, Conservation
& Management" held at Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan on 22- 23 Nov'2013.
Volume 2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014
20
Dipankar Adhya
water but also wastage of electricity ( higher carbon
foot print) and higher wear and tear of pump
& motor.
3. Building of Check dams in local identified
catchment area & canals for better irrigational
use and ~p.han-f:ing sub surface / ground water
level.
4. Finally to use modern techniques like Lift irri-
gation, surface irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation
and drip irrigation etc.
As the saying" a penny saved is a penny
earned" , consider:i,ng uses pattern in India,
even if we reduce 20% water uses in
agriculture we will increase 358% availability
of water for domestic use which means more
than 1790% hvailabilityof water for drinking
purposes.5
Effect of Over Exploitation of Ground Water:
Having critically examined the water resources
in this Blue Planet and specifically in India and
being agricultural based economy having major
bearing on rural India, let us look at what is the
effect of over exploitation of this" scarce resources
on water quality, health and social aspect.
Unchecked extraction of ground water and
contamination from agricultural field and pollution
from untreated or ill treated industrial effluent
straining this "less than 1%" resources. to a very
critical position.
Fluoride Contamination of Ground water
Geological presence of Fluoride and Arsenic
compound and its becoming soluble with aquifer has
reached an alarming level. Due to continual
installation of deep tube well without complying
due protocol more and more area are coming under
contamination.
When States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh having major Fluoride contamination
I 1
Volume 2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014
incidence, the districts like Birbhum and Purulia
have already been declared as Fluoride
contaminated by Public Health Engineering
Department. Fluoride is known to cause diseases
like dental fluorosis, Alzheimer's disease,
dementia, skeletal fluorosis, abnormal thyroid
function and other hormonal disturbances.
Arsenic Contamination of Ground water
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Now if we look towards arsenic
contamination of ground water in which more
than 137 million people worldwide are at risk of
various medical disorder including cancer, this may
be termed as the GreatestEnvironmental
Disaster in Twentieth Century.
The countries affected are Bangladesh,
India, Vietnam, Inner Mongolia, China,
Eastern Europe, Western USA, Mexico, Chile,
Argentina & covering new areas with course
of time.
In India, investigations by Central
Ground Water Board (CGWB) reveals that
.;
21
1
Dipankar Adhya
~--
arsenic contamination (>0.05 mg/L) is
affecting the states of West Bengal, Bihar, U.P.,
Assam, Chhattisgarh. The Bengal Delta Plain
(BDP) covering Bangladesh and West Bengal
is the sever~st of all areas.
111 blocks in 12 districts have beyond
permissible limit of 0.05mg/litre . Eastern side
of Bhagirathi River in the districts of MaIda,
Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and
South 24 Parganas. And western side of the
districts of Howrah, Hoogli and Bardhman are
mostly affected with arsenic contamination.
. Out of 19 districts in W.B., 14 districts are
affected out. of which 9 districts areseverally
affected with a population of 50.4 millions.
Long term effects of Arsenic Poisoning:
Increased risk of cancer of lung, bladder,
kidney, liver. Severe damage to Nervous
System and the skin.
When Maximum permissible limit stated
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Volume2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014
by Govt of India and Govt of West Bengalis 50.
ppb (0.05 mg/litre) and is considered for
estimation of population under risk, lifetime
risk of dyeing of cancer from drinking arsenic
contaminated water is 1 in 100 even at this
MPL compared to 1 in 500 in case of contami-
nation level of 10 ppb as stipulated by WHO.5
If 10 ppb of As level is considered as MCL, then
the population under risk will increase many
folds.
With patients diagnosed with arsenic
poisoning in July 1982 at School of Tropical
Medicine, Calcutta it was noted that the manifes-
tation was noticed as early as 1965 in the rural
Bengal. More than 30 years have passed since its
first diagnosed acceptance of arsenic poisoning from
drinking arsenic contaminated water, many
technologies, either indigenous or imported from
developed countries, have been introduced by the
Government or by the NGOs. But these seem to be
too slow to catch up with the new areas coming
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under contamination and increase in the magnitude
of contamination level. Even contamination level
upto 3003 ppb of As in Murshidabad dist., upto 3200
ppb of As contamination level in Nadia dist. And
up to 3700 ppb of As contamination level in South
24 Paraganas dist. wen found in many areas.6
And it is not surprising that researchers are
coming across with the victims in most shocking
state of living.
Most of the technologies proved efficient in
arsenic removal both in laboratories as well as in
situ on a trial basis. However these systems were
put under field trial mostly where contamination
levels are less than 150 ppb of As and in a few cases
in the ranges 200 to 300 ppb of arsenic
contamination level.
However with general effectiveness of most of
Dipankar Adhya
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agency. Hence a large population in the vast areas
in the state where surface treated water is yet to
reach are still subject to this slow poisoning even
after 12 years of initiating Governmental action.
Advanced Stlges ot Arsenic
PoisoninR
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the arsenic removal systems in a limited field trial _01 i'"",~"",~ ..~ ,.U'l"bm',
period, Community leve~ sustain ability ~fmost of' ~ ;;-~~,,~
the system could not satI~fy the expectatIOn of the ---"'" J G '}
affected population and that of the implementing .;"'" "'"
Different Technologies for Arsenic RemovaF
Volume2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014
23
Technology
Removal Removal
Institutional Experience andissues
Efficiency Efficiency
ForAsIII ForAsV
Coagulation with
.
++ +++
Wellprovenat centrallevel.Pilotedat communityandhouseholdlevels.
ironSalts
Phosphateandsilicatemay reducearsenicremovalrates.Generate
arsenicrichsludge.Relativelyinexpensive.
Coagulationwtthalum
.
+++
Provenatcentrallevel,pilotedat householdlevel.Phosphate andsilicate
mayreducearsenicremovalrates.Optimalovera relativelynarrowpH
range.Generatearsenicrichsludge.Relativelyinexpensive.
LimeSoftening
+ +++
Proveneffectiveinlaboratories andinpilotscale.Efficiencyofthisprocess
shouldbelargelydependent onscale.Chieflyseenincentralsystemsin
conjunctionwithwatersoftening.Disadvantages includeextremepHand
largevolumeof wastegenerated.RelativelyInexpensive,but more
expensivethancoagulation withironsaltsoralumbecauseof largerdoses
requiredandwastehandling.
Ionexchangeresins
.
+++
Pilotscalein centralandhouseholdsystems.Mostlyin industrialized
countries. Interference fromsulphateandTDS.Highadsorptioncapacity,
but longtermperformanceof regeneratedmedianeeddocumentation.
Waterrichin ironandmanganesemayrequirepretreatment to prevent
mediaclogging.Moderatelyexpensive.Regenerationproducesarsenic
richbrine.
Activatedalumina +/++ +++
Pilotscalein communityandhouseholdsystems,in industrializedand
developingcountries. Arsenicremoval ispoorlyunderstood, butcapacity
/efficiencyismuchlessthanfor arsenate. Regenerationrequirestrong
acidandbase,andproducesarsenicrichwaste.Longtermperformance
of regeneratedmedianeeddocumentation.Water rich in iron and
manganesemay require pretreatmentto prevent mediaclogging.
Moderatelyexpensive.
Dipankar Adhya
This situation calls for a comprehensiveand
multi prong approach to tackle the problem
instead of single mindedly approach of supplying
arsenic safe drinking water through state
machinery.
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Ifwe try to analyse the reasons of such failures
of arsenic removal systems at community level
the following factors are identified :-
1. Lack of creating initial awareness generation
towards self sustaining arsenic safe drinking
water project.
Lack of community participation.
Absence of regular monitoring of water quality.
High initial and lor un sustainable operation
2.
3.
'. 4.
5.
6.
and maintenance cost.
Lack of ownership and belongingness.
Lack of system design to ensure required value
addition.
Lack of value addition. 7.
To address the issue of Arsenic contamination
of Drinking water in Rural and Semi Urban area,
a Comprehensive Rural Water Management
Module have been developed to derive multi facet
benefits as follows :- '.,
1. Once it is confirmed that the Decentralised
Arsenic safe Drinking water Works is going to
be established in a locality, the awareness
camp should be organized to impart basic
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4.
6. ~"thcI~.~~ ~t
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Volume 2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014
24
MembraneMethod -1++ +++
Showneffectiveinlaboratorystudiesinindustrialized countries. Research
(ReverseOsmosis)
-
needed'onremovalof arsenite,andefficiencyat a highrecoveryrate
especiallywithlowpressuremembranes. Pretreatment usuallyrequired.
Relativelymuchexpensiveespeciallyif operatedinhighpressures.
Fe-MnOxidation ? +1++1+++
Smallscaleapplicationincentralsystems,limitedstudiesincommunity
andhouseholdlevels.Moreresearchneededon whichhydrochemical
conditionsareconducivefor goodarsenicremoval.Inexpensive.
Porousmediasorbents +1++ +1++1 +++
Showneffectivelaboratorystudiesinindustrializedanddeveloping
(ironoxidecoated
..
countries.Needto beevaluatedindifferentenvironmental conditions,
sandgreensandetc) andinfieldsettings.Simplemediaareinexpensive, advancesmediacan
berelativelyexpensive.
Insitumobilization ++ +++
Verylimitedexperience.Undergrounddispersalmechanismis still at
hypothesisstage.Longtermsustainabilityandothereffectsofchemical
injectionnotwelldocumented. Majoradvantageisnoarsenicrichwaste
aregenerated atthesuface. Major disadvantages arepossibility ofaquiferc
cloggingwitharsenicrichsludge.Shouldberelativelyinexpensive.
CatalyticPreci&itation
+++ +++
Limitedexperience. Presenceof dissolveoxygenandironisa required
(Primarymedia)and
--
factorforhighefficiency. EffectiveinpHrangeof 6to8. Idealfordrinking
adsorpsion insecondary waterfromgroundwater.Systemdesignarrestandadsorbescaped
media(TiI Zr ):system arsenate. Primarymediarequiresbackwashtorevitalize. Provedeffective
in communitybasedself sustainedarsenicremovalsystem.Relatively
inexpensive.
Dipankar Adhya
2.
knowledge towards causes and effect of arsenic
poisoning which is found to be 'physically,
financially and socially disabling to the
individuals, families and also to the
community
Effective &simple Operation and maintenance
: Community/O & M group can maintain the
system without regular attention from the
man ufacturers/suppliers.
,..
3.
Generate income / profit for the O&M group:
This is very important not only to make the
system self sustaining and continued interest
of the O&Mgroup members but also to induce
sense of thriftiness towards water uses by the
consumers. This also develops the consumers'
sense of appreciating water as a valuable and
scarce commodity.
Generate direct and indirect employment for
rural youths.
Purification System design should develop a
sense of confidence of the consumers.
The value addition to the purified water thus
supplied should be distinct to the consumers
4.
5.
6.
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25 Volume 2014-15 . Number 1 . April 2014
..
so that paying a small amount towards supply
of purified water will be well accepted.
7. Each Decentralized Arsenic safe Drinking
Water Purification & Supply Works should
have Integrated Rain Water Harvesting and
Ground Water Recharge System not only as
an example for the consumers to develop sense
of appreciating water as an valuable
commodity but also to attain zero discharge to
the environment.
8. The treatment of arsenic rich sludge, if any,
should be complied with and be disposed off
suitably so that risk of future contamination
is eliminated.
9. The establishment, existence and operation
of such decentralized water works with the
above features will create necessary awareness
to the rural population which will contribute
positively towards savings of water towards
irrigation through the methods discussed
earlier.
10. The compliance to all the above will prompt
community participation & sense of
belongingness with the water works.
1"
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"
11. With reduction of water extraction towards
agriculture, co:q.struction of check dams and
effective design and implementation of rain
water harvesting and ground water recharge,
it is expected that magnitude of arsenic
contamination level will decline in each
implementation of each such decentra-
lized arsenic safe drinking water works.
Self Sustainability through Profit Generation
A. Cost of the Project: Rs.25,00,000
B. Capacity : 10,000 litres / day in
single shift operation
C. Self Sustain ability through Profit Gene-
ration:-
Dipankar Adhya
1. . Sales/day @30 paisa! litre for 10000 liters
Rs. 3,000
2. Pro rata 0 & M cost/ day for 10,000 liters:
Rs. 900
3. Monthly Surplus (2100 X 30 )
Rs.63,OOO
4. Yearly Profit: Rs.7,56,000
D. Employment Generation (Direct): 9 persons
E. Saving Lives: will save more than 5000 lives
of potential victims {)f Cancer & related disease
from Arsenic Poisoning.
~~mlning IIU'il' D~ntmllz~a
MBnlt Satt' DrfnktnR W..trr Pro]ect
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Conclusion:
In one hand the project generates enough
financial incentive for the 0 & M group to nurture
the project ~s an earning business model with a
sense of social service and contribution, on the
other hand the rural consumer get the value added
arsenic safe purified drinking water within their
reach at a fraction of market price being charged
for such supply.
As the members of 0 & M group, semi urban
& rural consumers and the visitors who visit the
project site get the glimpse of such project which
show-cases the complete water management which
develops a sense of water conservation for a better
tomorrow free from the fear of getting physically,
Self Sustaining Rural Detentrdfi7pd
AI'$~nlcSafe DrinkinltWater PrOJett
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financially and socially disable from drinking
arsenic contaminated drinking water.
And a final word, whatever we learn whatever
we contribute, let us add passion to it. Passion to
be proud as Indian, passion to serve India, passion
to serve community who need your support.
Reference:
1. What is the basic element oflife : W van Aken,
CSIRO
2. The World Bank - Data: Classification by
income .
3. 'India's Water Future to 2025 -2050: Business
as Usual Scenario and Deviations', Ernst &
Young Analysis, 2011
4. Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative
Council: Minimum standards in water supply,
sanitation and hygiene promotion. Chapter 2,
Page 64
5. Natural Resource Defense Council's RepoIit on
Arsenic & Old Laws, February 2000
6. Groundwater Arsenic contamination in West
Bengal-India (20 years study): Reported work
done by SOES, JU, Sept. 2006
7. Technologies for Arsenic Removal from
Drinking Water: BUET & CSME Reports
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Volume 2014-15. Number 1 . April 2014 26