Bihar Water Crisis: Arsenic, Fluoride Contaminate 14 Districts

Bihar's groundwater is facing significant contamination, with arsenic detected in 14 districts, fluoride in 11, and iron in 12. These pollutants are linked to serious health conditions such as skin and bone diseases, anemia, and even cancer, particularly in areas like Seemanchal and along the Ganga. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) regularly tests water quality and has established toll-free and WhatsApp numbers for public complaints.

As of the current financial year, the CGRC system has processed over 111,000 complaints, resolving more than 108,000. While nitrate and lead levels are generally within permissible limits in installed water schemes, some hand pumps show elevated nitrate levels and have been marked for safety. The department is actively implementing 'Jalapurti Yojana' with water treatment plants and arsenic and iron purification equipment across thousands of wards.

To combat bacterial contamination, chlorination units are installed in all water supply units. State, district, and sub-divisional laboratories conduct rigorous water sample testing. Chemical pollution in groundwater is primarily attributed to subsurface rock composition and excessive groundwater extraction, prompting the construction of surface-based units for safer water utilization.