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Fig 4.11 SOCIAL SERVICE
Quality Profile of Drinking Water in Kerala

Source: Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation,GoI,(FTK Test)

4.178 Among the districts, Alappuzha and Palakkad are fluoride affected regions; and
Thiruvananthapuram affected by bacteriological contamination of faecal e-coli. Many cases with

multiple contaminations were seen in Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha.

4.179 ‘Environmental Monitoring Programme on Water Quality’ is a project initiated by Kerala State
Council for Science, Technology and Environment in 2008, and implemented by Centre for Water
Resources Development and Management. Water quality monitoring is done on a river basin scale.
Both surface and ground water sources are tested and detailed analysis is done. It aims to create
a database on water quality and to use the derived information for practical applications in the
management of water resources and their effective utilisation. The objective is to cover all 44 river
basins in Kerala. Five reports have been brought out so far.

Table 4.8
Reports of Environmental Monitoring Programme on Water Quality

Report Number Year Basin covered

One 2009 Kabani, Periyar, Neyyar

Two 2010 Karamana, Meenachil, Kadalundy

Three 2011 Pamba, Chalakudy, Bharathapuzha, Anjarakandy, Thalas-
seri, Mahi

Four 2012 Kuttiyadi, Chaliyar, Kallai, Achencoil

Five 2013 Valapattanam,Kallada, Keecher-Puzhakkal, Chandragiri

4.180 The reports highlight physical, chemical and microbiological contamination in water which could
pose concerns for the population dependent on them. Many of the parameters in water analysed,
were found to be beyond the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) limits.

Water Quality Standards

4.181 Depending on the impact of concentration of various ions in water on human health, various
standards have been laid down by different agencies. These standards are useful for deciding the
suitability of water for drinking purpose. The drinking water standards laid down by Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been given below:

Economic Review 2014