NGT seeks govt reply on bacteria in water supply
NEW DELHI: Citing substantial issues relating to non-compliance with environmental norms, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu action following a news report that exposed contamination in a society’s water supply, revealing traces of the dangerous E. coli bacteria and bleaching powder. The tribunal, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, alongside judicial member […]
Death by contamination: on Indian cities and unsafe drinking water
As policymakers prioritise universal access to potable water, the death of three persons last week in Chennai due to suspected consumption of contaminated piped water is a reminder that coverage is not the only problem: even urban centres with a long history of piped supply are still not assured of potable water that is free […]
How Does Noise Pollution Harm Marine Species?
Over the last few decades, noise pollution in the ocean has increased dramatically. As most marine species are highly dependent on sound for their survival, this type of pollution is extremely damaging to marine wildlife. Not only does it interfere with the key life functions of these animals but in some cases, it even causes […]
People, nature and the economy all need water and water is many things and groundwater are under pressure from pollution, eutrophication, over-exploitation and climate change.
From melting glaciers, lakes, and rivers to ground water and seas, water is an interconnected and vital resource. Pollution, over-exploitation, physical alterations to water habitats and climate change continue to impact Europe’s water bodies and life dependent on them. Freshwater resources are finite. Europeans use billions of cubic metres of water every year for drinking, […]
Water pollution: how to protect our source of life
The planet keeps nudging us with increasingly extreme droughts, reminding us that water is life. It is an essential resource upon which all living beings depend and it is crucial to all social and economic development, as well as energy production and adaptation to climate change. Nevertheless, we are now facing a gigantic challenge. How […]
‘Invisible’ crisis of water quality threatens human and environmental well-being: World Bank report
In some regions, rivers and lakes are so polluted that they are literally catching fire. Prime examples include the Bellandur Lake in Bangalore, India, which has carried ash onto buildings up to six miles away. Many other bodies of water, however, are polluting less dramatically, but just as dangerously, with a toxic cocktail of bacteria, […]
Odisha State Pollution Control Board closure order for Jindal’s Angul power plant stayed
The Orissa High Court has called for balancing environmental considerations with the practical realities faced by industries. The observation was made while issuing a stay order on State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)’s order for closure of the thermal power plant of Jindal India Thermal Power (JITP) at Angul on March 23. “Indeed, an overly rigid […]
Innovation in wastewater treatment: sustainable solutions for a resilient future
Densely populated cities face enormous challenges in managing wastewater due to increasing water demand and climate change. The need for solutions that are more innovative than conventional methods has become urgent. In this context, companies like Tedagua are leading the way towards sustainability and efficiency with advanced technologies such as AnMBR, methanation, and electrodialysis. Densely […]
Learning toxic algae lessons for Lough Neagh from across the pond
“Half of the lake will be covered by an algae bloom in a bad year.” These are the words of one of the world’s leading experts on blue-green algae – a type of bacteria that can grow in lakes and rivers. You would be forgiven for assuming he was referring to Lough Neagh, given how […]
Waterborne diseases flare up in Maharashtra, nearly 15 districts affected
There was a huge increase in the number of outbreaks involving waterborne illnesses in the state this year, going up from 19 in 2023 to a worrisome 72.These outbreaks were triggered by cholera, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and jaundice. Between Jan 1 and Nov 24 this year, there were 15 deaths caused by these diseases compared to […]