Adopt a River

Manimala River - an important waterway of Central Travancore, which flows through the districts Kottayam, Idukki (in Kerala) and afterwards joins with Pampa, another major river of Kerala - is highly polluted due to the effluent discharge from nearby factories and other outlets. This has posed serious health risks to the river bank community.

The recent water quality studies of the Manimala River shows that the water quality in the river is above the permissible limits. A total of 10 samples were collected and that includes water samples as well as effluent samples. At these stations physical as well as biological parameters were tested. The pH of the samples showed a variation in many regions, as there are regions were pH level is below and above the permissible limit. Micropollutants, heavy metals, factory and toilet discharge, market wastes, etc. are the major source of pollutants in the river. These sources are directly releasing untreated sewage waste into the river. The samples collected showed very low level of TDS in the river, which inturn reduces the level of useful minerals to the people who is depending on the river as a source of drinking water. The water quality of is highly depleted which has made the water unusable by the community even to meet their basic water requirement. At every point there is the presence of faecal coliform bacteria's. During our study community responded that they are facing diarrhoea and other physical issues and the major reason behind this is due the infectious pathogens which they get exposed while drinking contaminated water. This may also lead to other diseases like helminth infections, cholera, etc.

Recognizing the importance of the public health threat of drinking contaminated water, TIES is striving through its awareness and research initiatives - to make people accessible to safe drinking water- to reach the Sustainable development goal. As a result of this water quality studies will be widening to more regions which will help in identifying sources of pollution. Manimala river is a source of recreational activities, water supply for irrigation, bathing, drinking, washing, etc. This will inturn increases the exposure to pathogens.

This polluted water is posing risk to the public health, food security and the economy. TIES is continuously undergoing studies that provide data which is critical in understanding the underlying causes and thereby improving the policies which include source control, waste treatment, ecosystem management and other forms of local governance. 

Unabated pollution again made the Manimala River in news. Suspected pollution from a nearby rubber factory created panic among the riverine community. TIES as part of its conservation efforts tested water samples from 5 (Irukudil- Chenapady; open well; Koyikkall Kadavu; Pazhayidam Checkdam; Poothakuzhy Checkdam; Kanjirappally – Parathodu) locations at Manimala River and the parameters such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solvents, salinity, acidity, alkalinity, chlorinity, total hardness, calcium ions, magnesium ions, total iron, sulphate, nitrate, chloride were found within the permissible limit in all the collected water samples. Fluoride content was found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples. It may be due to the leaching of fluoride ions from fluoride-containing rocks or soil into the river. But the Phosphate content was found above the permissible limit in the samples collected from Koyikkall Kadavu (Upstream of Karimpukayam Check Dam) and 26^th mile bridge, Kanjirapally. It may be due to natural decomposition or from industrial discharge to the river. A rubber factory is working at Irukudil Close to Karimpumkayam. Water samples were collected from both upstream as well as downstream to find out the extent of pollution and it is shocking that the oil content was found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples and may be due to waste oil disposal or leakage from oil sources.

The Dissolved oxygen level is below the permissible limit at Koyikkal Kadavu, Pazhayidam Check dam, Poothakuzhy check dam and in 26^th mile bridge. The decline is due to the overconsumption of oxygen than it is produced, which indicates that the pollution level is high and is highly life-threatening for the life underwater. BOD level was found to be very high in all the collected samples. BOD directly affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in rivers and streams. The greater the BOD, the more rapidly oxygen is depleted in the stream. This means less oxygen is available to higher forms of aquatic life. The consequences of the high BOD are the same as those for low dissolved oxygen: aquatic organisms become stressed, suffocate, and die. Sources of BOD include leaves and woody debris; dead plants and animals; animal manure; effluents from pulp and paper mills, wastewater treatment plants, feedlots, and food-processing plants; failing septic systems; and urban stormwater runoff.The organic carbon count is also high at Kanjirapally -Parathodu region and it may be due to the effluents from the nearby workshops. 

Rather than industrial and other anthropogenic reasons, faecal (human or animal excreta) contamination is also posing threat to river health. Total coliform count, faecal coliform count and E. coli were found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples. Even though India is declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) the situation is certainly not. The lack of safer toilet technologies and faecal sludge management is the main reason for this. Faecal matter is received from nearby houses and hotels (which is constructed on the KK Road (Kottayam-Kumly Highway) side). This has resulted in the blooming of aquatic weeds like Pistia (Water lettuce) and Eichhornia (Water hyacinth).

The residents are worried that the continued contamination of the river could expose them to communicable diseases.