Drinking water quality problem in Haryana, India: prediction of human health risks, economic burden and assessment of possible intervention options

Abstract

The present study was carried out in Jhajjar district of Haryana state, India, to understand the burden of diseases due to consumption of contaminated drinking water. About 630 respondents in villages, namely Kablana, Talao, Shekhupur Jat, Hassanpur, Babra and Kheri Asra, were interviewed for the quality of water they consumed from different sources such as government supply stations, hand pumps, tube wells, tanks, etc., and its overall impact on their health was analysed. The study considered both geogenic and anthropogenic contamination in drinking water sources and found that nearly 15% of the sampled population suffered with water-related health issues, of which 6% faced frequent episodes of stomach infection, and 9% were detected with mild to moderate dental fluorosis. Several cases of stones, severe joint pain, and backbone pain were also observed. The average medical expenses incurred by the villagers are in the range of Rs. 1000–2000 per month (approximately $17–$34 per month) for treatment owing to drinking of polluted and contaminated groundwater. Overall finding of the study indicates that unavailability of treated water supply, usage of groundwater with high to very high concentration of geogenic contaminants in groundwater such as fluoride and salinity, and use of water from open surface water resources are causing health problems to people in Jhajjar district. Use of contaminated water is causing economic burden to the villagers in terms of expenditure on health or water treatment by various means, which can be addressed by implementing various in situ and ex situ water management and treatment techniques suggested as intervention options, suitable for the study area.