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Urban waste polluting natural water sources

Staff Reporter

Study finds that 21 streams in Kochi are polluted

KOCHI: Kochi might be expanding fast but the natural water sources seem to be getting heavily polluted.

A study conducted by the School of Environmental Studies at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has found that 21 streams leading to major water sources in the Greater Kochi Region have been polluted thanks to the increasing human interference.

These are the findings of a study conducted to identify the freshwater sources and the salinity intrusion in major canals in the region. The study will be submitted to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) this week.

Principal investigator of the study V.N. Sivasankara Pillai said that a majority of the streams found polluted were leading to the Kadamprayar and the Chitrapuzha. The morphology of the rivers had changed drastically following reclamation of wetlands lying close to these natural sources.

Dr. Pillai said that going by the present rate of pollution, the Kadamprayar might turn into a wastewater source in 10 years.

Untreated sewage was found dumped in these canals. Rapid urbanisation had affected the natural ecology of these water sources.

Experts found that the canals' water-holding capacity had shrunk due to the pressure of land development. The freshwater parts of the canals were severely polluted by the indiscriminate raw sewage discharge.

The study recommended that a system should be developed to collect and compost waste from slaughterhouses and fish markets. Experts found that local water resources would have to be developed in tune with the upland development of the Greater Kochi Region.

They pointed out that guidelines and regulations be evolved for the conservation of freshwater marshes. The study suggested that land management and on-site waste disposal should be initiated to conserve canals in Kochi. It also pointed out that an enormous political will was required to restore the canals in its original form.

Dr. Pillai said that the topography of the city was in such a way that there were alternate sand bars with a swale in the middle. "If the greed for land eats into the natural drains, the city will have to drown in its own liquid waste, as natural gradient is not conducive to a swift and efficient discharge of the runoff."

He said that urbanisation and insufficient drainage facilities would affect the ecosystem of the city. Urban liquid and solid wastes naturally find their way to the nearest watercourses. The study suggested that local bodies should come together to evolve a management plan for conservation of freshwater sources in the region.

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