Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu

Industrial disposal of effluents on land and the subsequent pollution of groundwater and soil of surrounding farmlands ? is a relatively new area of research. The environmental and socioeconomic aspects of industrial effluent irrigation have not been studied as extensively as domestic sewage based i...

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Main Authors: Mukherjee, S., Nelliyat, P.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39174
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author Mukherjee, S.
Nelliyat, P.
author_browse Mukherjee, S.
Nelliyat, P.
author_facet Mukherjee, S.
Nelliyat, P.
author_sort Mukherjee, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Industrial disposal of effluents on land and the subsequent pollution of groundwater and soil of surrounding farmlands ? is a relatively new area of research. The environmental and socioeconomic aspects of industrial effluent irrigation have not been studied as extensively as domestic sewage based irrigation practices, at least for a developing country like India. The disposal of effluents on land has become a regular practice for some industries. Industries located in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu, dispose their effluents on land, and the farmers of the adjacent farmlands have complained that their shallow open wells get polluted and also the salt content of the soil has started building up slowly. This study attempts to capture the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of industrial effluent irrigation in different industrial locations at Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu, through primary surveys and secondary information. This study found that the continuous disposal of industrial effluents on land, which has limited capacity to assimilate the pollution load, has led to groundwater pollution. The quality of groundwater in shallow open wells surrounding the industrial locations has deteriorated, and the application of polluted groundwater for irrigation has resulted in increased salt content of soils. In some locations drinking water wells (deep bore wells) also have a high concentration of salts. Since the farmers had already shifted their cropping pattern to salt-tolerant crops (like jasmine, curry leaf, tobacco, etc.) and substituted their irrigation source from shallow open wells to deep bore wells and/or river water, the impact of pollution on livelihoods was minimized. Since the local administration is supplying drinking water to households, the impact in the domestic sector has been minimized. It has also been noticed that in some locations industries are supplying drinking water to the affected households. However, if the pollution continues unabated it could pose serious problems in the future.
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spelling CGSpace391742025-11-17T05:07:49Z Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu Mukherjee, S. Nelliyat, P. groundwater water pollution income water quality irrigation water effluents wells drinking water domestic water households soil salinity crop management Industrial disposal of effluents on land and the subsequent pollution of groundwater and soil of surrounding farmlands ? is a relatively new area of research. The environmental and socioeconomic aspects of industrial effluent irrigation have not been studied as extensively as domestic sewage based irrigation practices, at least for a developing country like India. The disposal of effluents on land has become a regular practice for some industries. Industries located in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu, dispose their effluents on land, and the farmers of the adjacent farmlands have complained that their shallow open wells get polluted and also the salt content of the soil has started building up slowly. This study attempts to capture the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of industrial effluent irrigation in different industrial locations at Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu, through primary surveys and secondary information. This study found that the continuous disposal of industrial effluents on land, which has limited capacity to assimilate the pollution load, has led to groundwater pollution. The quality of groundwater in shallow open wells surrounding the industrial locations has deteriorated, and the application of polluted groundwater for irrigation has resulted in increased salt content of soils. In some locations drinking water wells (deep bore wells) also have a high concentration of salts. Since the farmers had already shifted their cropping pattern to salt-tolerant crops (like jasmine, curry leaf, tobacco, etc.) and substituted their irrigation source from shallow open wells to deep bore wells and/or river water, the impact of pollution on livelihoods was minimized. Since the local administration is supplying drinking water to households, the impact in the domestic sector has been minimized. It has also been noticed that in some locations industries are supplying drinking water to the affected households. However, if the pollution continues unabated it could pose serious problems in the future. 2007 2014-06-13T13:51:22Z 2014-06-13T13:51:22Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39174 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Comprehensive Assessment Secretariat Mukherjee, S.; Nelliyat, P. 2007. Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Comprehensive Assessment Secretariat. 45p. (Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture Discussion Paper 4)
spellingShingle groundwater
water pollution
income
water quality
irrigation water
effluents
wells
drinking water
domestic water
households
soil salinity
crop management
Mukherjee, S.
Nelliyat, P.
Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title_full Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title_fullStr Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title_full_unstemmed Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title_short Groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in Mettupalayam Taluk, Tamil Nadu
title_sort groundwater pollution and emerging environmental challenges of industrial effluent irrigation in mettupalayam taluk tamil nadu
topic groundwater
water pollution
income
water quality
irrigation water
effluents
wells
drinking water
domestic water
households
soil salinity
crop management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39174
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AT nelliyatp groundwaterpollutionandemergingenvironmentalchallengesofindustrialeffluentirrigationinmettupalayamtaluktamilnadu