MAJOR DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH GROUNDWATER POLLUTION A CASE STUDY OF MATHURA DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate major diseases associated with the groundwater pollution. It is one of the major issues in the developing world like India and the ratio of such diseases are increasing in urban as well as rural areas of India. This study based on GIS techniques to examine the spatial variation in water quality index in the study area. The data for the study was collected with the help of questionnaire interviews from 2500 households as well as 50 groundwater samples were collected from all 10 blocks of Mathura district, and analyzed in the laboratory under the guidelines of WHO and BIS 10500.  The secondary data of reported cases regarding major diseases associated with groundwater were collected from local public health units which people mostly visit.  The results show that most of the diseases are caused by the poor uncovered sanitary system, contaminated groundwater and lack of awareness.  Continued neglect and underestimation of these factors may increase health risks in the study area in the future. It was found that the groundwater in Mathura District is non-potable due to the presence of iron, Total harness (TH), Fluoride, chloride and total dissolved solids (TDS). Most of the chemical parameters in the groundwaters of study area above the WHO recommendations for drinking water guidelines, and study reported the occurrence of major diseases associated with groundwater pollution like Fluorosis, Kidney stone formation, Typhoid, cholera, Blue Baby Syndrome, Hepatitis A, and cases related to the any other problems (Dysentery, Diarrhea, stomach, hair and skins problems and Polio (Infantile Paralysis)). The study points to the need of creating awareness among the people.