Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 17: Not a single river in Karnataka contains water that is drinkable without conventional treatment, reveals river classification data of December 2018 released by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
Of the 94 samples collected from 19 rivers, not one was classified Class A which indicates potable water. Around 15 samples were classified as Class D and two river samples that is Tungabhadra at Davangere and water from Hebbala river collected from Hebbala Valley near Mandya were classified Class E. River Cauvery is classified under Class C.
The report states that release of domestic and industrial waste in the Storm Water Drains (SWD) is the main reason for the deterioration of reserved water bodies.
The monitoring of 19 rivers is done on a monthly basis under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). This programme is executed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in collaboration with KSPCB. Water samples are analysed for 28 parameters, which include 9 core parameters, 19 physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters along with field observations. Besides this, eight trace metals and 15 pesticides are analysed once a year to assess the water quality.
The water quality monitoring network is operated under two programmes — Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS- 5 locations) and Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources System (MINARS- 58 locations). Hence, there are 63 stations across the state for the purpose.