An environmental monitoring programme carried out by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE) in five river basins across the State has revealed sewage contamination as the primary cause for the deterioration of water quality. The study covering the Kuppam, Karuvannur, and Kavvayi river basins and the Neeleswaram and Ramapuram basin in North Kerala and the Manimala river in central Kerala is part of a State-level programme aimed at creating a database for management of water resources. Governor Sheila Dikshit released the report at a function here on Thursday to mark World Environment Day.

Unsafe water The study team analysed surface water, groundwater, and sediment samples collected from different stations in the river basins. A majority of the surface water samples from Kuppam were found to be unsafe for human consumption. Both surface and groundwater samples showed very high presence of E.coli and fecal streptococci. All the surface water samples from the Karuvannur river basin were contaminated with total coliforms and fecal coliforms during the monsoon season, with the highest percentage of E.coli reported during the post-monsoon period. The survey found that 69.23 per cent of water samples had marginal water quality and 30.77 per cent, poor quality.

Click Here To Read More