photo credit: earthtimes.org
70-80% of India’s wastewater was ending up in its rivers and lakes. “We are drowning in our excreta,” said Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Most of India’s water pollution problems are caused by encroachments into water bodies such as lakes, rivers and ponds.
The lack of sewage treatment facilities in proximity to cities meant that India has to resort to carrying water to cities across great distances has resulted in leakages en route, causing untreated sewage and septage to seep into water bodies.
A survey of groundwater by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), had warned that untreated sewage flowing in open drains was causing serious deterioration of groundwater quality.
Groundwater is now depleting rapidly in many areas as citizens sink more bore wells to get to sources of clean groundwater. Authorities have yet to document the consumption of this resource. This is known as a tragedy of the commons as common resources are being depleted without regulation or control to benefit the individuals who deplete it.