<p>Apart from several towns and villages in the Cauvery Basin, two major cities, Bangalore and Mysore are dependent on two major rivers of the basin for drinking and domestic use. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The rivers, Cauvery and Kabini, already parched due to a pervading drought and over exploitation is now witnessing an increase in microbial activity, due to an unregulated flow of untreated industrial and domestic waste.<br /><br />An ongoing study of Cauvery and Kabini, under National River Conservation Project, Ministry of Environment and Forests, has noted an exponential increase in Total Coliform (bacteria) in river water between 1999 to 2013. The increase in microbial contamination will adversely affect the drinking water quality of the region.<br /><br />This has been substantiated by BWSSB and VVWW officials who concede that microbial activity in the rivers has seen a rise in recent years. Apart from chlorination and amalgamation to treat waters, BWSSB authorities claim that they have shifted to treating water using ‘electronic methods’ to ensure safe drinking water.<br /><br />According to K S Lokesh, Principal Investigator of the study and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore, the study has shown ‘significant deterioration’ of two water bodies.<br /><br />As per the tolerance levels set by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, ‘Coliform organisms (microbes) should not be detectable in 100 ml of any two consecutive samples taken’, if the water is used for drinking purposes.<br /><br />Total Coliform per 100 ml of water, which fluctuated from 1,000-1,600 MPN (Most Probable Number) in 1999, now averages more than 6,000 MPN at 18 monitoring stations along the stretch of the rivers” he said.<br /><br />Observations were made on a monthly basis on 13 different parameters during the course of the study.<br /><br />Diseases<br /><br />The raise in the microbial load along the main stretches of the river will result in water-borne diseases (cholera, jaundice), water-based diseases (guinea worms), water related vector diseases (dengue, filariasis) and water sparse diseases (Leprosy, Tuberculosis).<br /><br />Villages that use untreated water from the river, will have to suffer, Lokesh said.<br />Venkatraj, Chief Engineer, Water Supply and Maintenance, BWSSB said that water is being treated as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering norms. Laboratories at pumping stations, check water samples five times a day, and treat it depending on the contaminants found.<br /><br />Subramanya H C, Executive Engineer, VVWW, said that chlorination limits are increased depending on the level of contamination of raw river water. He added that they were regularly in contact with the health department to keep a tab on the number of water borne diseases recorded in the region.<br /><br />R M N Sahai, former Director General, Environment Management and Policy Research Institute, reacting to the findings of the study, said that sewage flow into the river was occurring at a steady pace despite reduced flow of the river. “This will increase the contamination levels,” he said.<br /><br />However, a high pollutant load will require high chlorine and coagulant dosage to treat the water. This too will pose health problems in the long run for people depending on the river water, Lokesh said.<br /><br />Study<br /><br />The study was part of a nationwide river water quality monitoring project. Ten monitoring stations along river Cauvery near K R Nagar and Srirangapatna, while eight monitoring stations were marked along river Kabini near Nanjangud.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Apart from several towns and villages in the Cauvery Basin, two major cities, Bangalore and Mysore are dependent on two major rivers of the basin for drinking and domestic use. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The rivers, Cauvery and Kabini, already parched due to a pervading drought and over exploitation is now witnessing an increase in microbial activity, due to an unregulated flow of untreated industrial and domestic waste.<br /><br />An ongoing study of Cauvery and Kabini, under National River Conservation Project, Ministry of Environment and Forests, has noted an exponential increase in Total Coliform (bacteria) in river water between 1999 to 2013. The increase in microbial contamination will adversely affect the drinking water quality of the region.<br /><br />This has been substantiated by BWSSB and VVWW officials who concede that microbial activity in the rivers has seen a rise in recent years. Apart from chlorination and amalgamation to treat waters, BWSSB authorities claim that they have shifted to treating water using ‘electronic methods’ to ensure safe drinking water.<br /><br />According to K S Lokesh, Principal Investigator of the study and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore, the study has shown ‘significant deterioration’ of two water bodies.<br /><br />As per the tolerance levels set by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, ‘Coliform organisms (microbes) should not be detectable in 100 ml of any two consecutive samples taken’, if the water is used for drinking purposes.<br /><br />Total Coliform per 100 ml of water, which fluctuated from 1,000-1,600 MPN (Most Probable Number) in 1999, now averages more than 6,000 MPN at 18 monitoring stations along the stretch of the rivers” he said.<br /><br />Observations were made on a monthly basis on 13 different parameters during the course of the study.<br /><br />Diseases<br /><br />The raise in the microbial load along the main stretches of the river will result in water-borne diseases (cholera, jaundice), water-based diseases (guinea worms), water related vector diseases (dengue, filariasis) and water sparse diseases (Leprosy, Tuberculosis).<br /><br />Villages that use untreated water from the river, will have to suffer, Lokesh said.<br />Venkatraj, Chief Engineer, Water Supply and Maintenance, BWSSB said that water is being treated as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering norms. Laboratories at pumping stations, check water samples five times a day, and treat it depending on the contaminants found.<br /><br />Subramanya H C, Executive Engineer, VVWW, said that chlorination limits are increased depending on the level of contamination of raw river water. He added that they were regularly in contact with the health department to keep a tab on the number of water borne diseases recorded in the region.<br /><br />R M N Sahai, former Director General, Environment Management and Policy Research Institute, reacting to the findings of the study, said that sewage flow into the river was occurring at a steady pace despite reduced flow of the river. “This will increase the contamination levels,” he said.<br /><br />However, a high pollutant load will require high chlorine and coagulant dosage to treat the water. This too will pose health problems in the long run for people depending on the river water, Lokesh said.<br /><br />Study<br /><br />The study was part of a nationwide river water quality monitoring project. Ten monitoring stations along river Cauvery near K R Nagar and Srirangapatna, while eight monitoring stations were marked along river Kabini near Nanjangud.<br /><br /></p>
