Home / Environment / Canals Choked: Faecal Levels Off the Charts!
Canals Choked: Faecal Levels Off the Charts!
28 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Faecal contamination in Kerala canals is alarmingly high, reaching 'too numerous to count' levels.
- NEERI study found severe pollution in Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals in Ernakulam.
- Untreated wastewater discharge threatens water quality, lacking adequate treatment facilities.
Faecal contamination levels in select Kerala canals, including Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally, are alarmingly high, with readings categorized as 'too numerous to count' (TNC) in a recent NEERI study. This severe pollution is attributed to the direct discharge of untreated domestic sewage and wastewater, exacerbated by a lack of adequate treatment facilities along the canal systems.
The study, commissioned by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board following a National Green Tribunal directive, found significant faecal coliform presence in water samples from Ernakulam and Kollam. In Thevara-Perandoor canal, TNC levels were detected at four locations, with others showing substantial colony-forming units per 100 ml. Edappally canal also exhibited high contamination, with one location at TNC and others showing significant levels.
Water quality in these canals is significantly impaired, turning them into conduits for pollutants. NEERI recommends the implementation of well-designed sewage treatment plants to adequately treat pollution loads before discharge. Addressing this widespread contamination is crucial to restoring the ecological health of these vital waterways.
