Jammu adds about 100 million litres per day to the Tawi’s pollution
Tawi has poorest quality among J&K rivers, Neeru demonstrates best water quality
Rohit Goja
Srinagar July 10: The Jhelum, Chenab and Tawi rivers water in Jammu and Kashmir does not indicate any significant health risk for adults, but is unfit for children due to excessive lead exposure and arsenic as well as copper exposure, reveals a study.
The study reveals that the Water Quality Index (WQI) values presented in it shows that the river Tawi has the poorest quality among J&K rivers, while the Neeru demonstrates the best water quality. “The ganga river has a WQI above 100, making it unsuitable for drinking.”
The reference dose has been sourced from WHO and USEPA, revealing that Chenab river water does not indicate any significant health risk for adults, but is unfit for children due to excessive lead exposure.
“Water from the river Jhelum is safe for adults to drink; however, it also presents significant health risks for children due to arsenic and copper exposure,” it reads.
The study further states that the water from the river Tawi is deemed suitable for drinking according to HQ and HI, but bacteriological parameters must be considered before usage for such purposes. “For the river Neeru, the HI value for adults is below 1, thus suitable for drinking purposes; however, for children, the HI exceeds 1, suggesting potential health risks from prolonged exposure to the water.”
It also reveals that the river Tawi in Jammu city suffers from sewage discharge from about 17 channels originally designed for flood water but now serve as drains. Additional small drains carry domestic waste and agricultural runoff to the river’s middle and lower sections.
“Untreated wastewater from old Jammu city and surrounding areas seeps into these channels before reaching the Tawi river. Many homes lack sewer connections, there are no sewage treatment plants (STPS) midstream, and downstream STPS are nonfunctional,” reads the study.
Furthermore, the study states that Jammu adds about 100 million litres per day to the Tawi’s pollution (Slathia and Jamwal, 2022).
It said, “In the River Chenab, sewage introduces various pollutants, including organic waste and pathogens, raising BOD levels, which lowers the oxygen needed for aquatic life. Coliform bacteria presence indicates faecal contamination, posing health risks.”
“Jhelum River water quality declines due to rising population, agriculture, and waste from homes and floating markets, making it unsafe for human use. Contaminants include pathogens, heavy metals, and industrial waste,” the study reveals.
