A recent scientific study has raised significant concerns about the safety of drinking water in parts of South Goa. A report from the Central Ground Water Board's South Western Region in Bengaluru has identified alarmingly high concentrations of certain metals in the groundwater of Gaondongrim and Cotigao villages in Canacona taluka.
Key Findings of the Water Quality Report
The analysis, which assessed groundwater against the safety benchmarks set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), presented a mixed picture. On a positive note, the report confirmed that levels of several potentially harmful elements, including chromium, nickel, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, cadmium, barium, lead, and uranium, were all comfortably within the permissible limits. This indicates overall safety concerning these specific contaminants.
However, the board's investigation uncovered three major areas of concern. Copper concentrations were found to exceed the safe limit of 50 parts per billion (ppb) in some samples, with one reading as high as 189.14 ppb. The report cautions that prolonged exposure to such elevated copper levels could be harmful to health.
Iron and Manganese Levels Cause Major Alarm
The most severe contamination was detected in the levels of iron and manganese. The findings are particularly stark for these two metals. Iron was measured at a maximum concentration of 3,565 ppb, which is nearly 12 times higher than the BIS limit of 300 ppb. Similarly, manganese levels soared to 4,675.9 ppb, massively overshooting the safe threshold of 100 ppb by over 46 times. These extreme elevations pose a direct threat to the potability of the groundwater in the affected areas.
Health Risks and Recommended Actions
The Central Ground Water Board's report explicitly links the contaminated water to potential health issues. Consumption of water with such high levels of iron and manganese can lead to gastrointestinal problems and may even have neurological effects over time. In light of these risks, the report calls for urgent measures.
It strongly recommends the establishment of a continuous water quality monitoring system in the region to track the contamination. More critically, the board states that implementing appropriate water treatment measures is essential to make the groundwater safe for drinking again. The need for immediate attention to safeguard public health is the core conclusion of the study, urging local authorities and communities to act swiftly to address the contamination.
