Hit by rapid depletion, Mansa groundwater now faces nitrate, fluoride contamination: Study

Time of India

28-04-2025

Chandigarh: With
groundwater depletion
worsening in Punjab, a study has raised serious concern over groundwater quality in Punjab's Mansa district. It has highlighted a growing threat from nitrate and
fluoride contamination
posing significant
public health risks
in one of the state's most water-stressed regions.
As groundwater depletion and contamination worsen in southwestern Punjab, primarily due to heavy reliance on underground water in the absence of adequate surface water, the study was undertaken to assess the extent of nitrate and fluoride pollution in Mansa. Researchers collected 246 randomly selected, grid-based groundwater samples and conducted a comprehensive analysis of key physicochemical parameters, including cations, anions, nitrate, and fluoride concentrations.
The findings were concerning: 23.2% of the samples showed nitrate levels exceeding the recommended limits, while 12.6% had fluoride concentrations above permissible levels. According to the Water Quality Index (WQI), 24.6% of groundwater samples were classified as unsuitable for drinking, 36.6% as very poor, 27.2% as poor, and only 11.8% were considered good.
The southern blocks of Budhlada, Jhunir, and Sardoolgarh emerged as the most severely affected, while Bhikhi block in the north was the least impacted. Although fluoride presented a relatively lower health risk across most areas—except Sardoolgarh, where children were particularly vulnerable—nitrate pollution was found to be a district-wide concern. Drinking water with nitrate levels above 45 mg/L is known to cause methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby syndrome", in infants.
Hydrogeochemical analysis identified sodium-chloride as the dominant groundwater type, followed by mixed and sodium-sulfate-bicarbonate compositions. Elevated electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids indicated high concentrations of total salts, suggesting intensified geochemical activity.
The study, titled 'Hydrogeochemical Characterisation and Geospatial Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Alluvial Aquifer of Southwestern Punjab in Association with Health Risk Assessment Due to Nitrate and Fluoride Pollution', was conducted by Jashandeep Singh Sidhu, Sumita Chandel, Sashikant Sahoo, Dhanwinder Singh, Kuldip Singh, Mohit Arora, and Harsimran Kaur. It was published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
Researchers strongly advocate for immediate and sustained intervention. Key recommendations include promoting integrated nutrient and water management to limit fertiliser overuse, encouraging a shift from high nitrogen-demanding crops to legumes, adopting more efficient irrigation techniques such as micro and furrow irrigation, and prioritising drought-tolerant, short-duration crop varieties to reduce nitrate leaching. The study also calls for regular groundwater quality monitoring to guide targeted management strategies.
Highlighting elevated health risks, especially for children, researchers stressed the need for investigation into sustainable, cost-effective solutions to mitigate groundwater pollution. The findings serve as a timely warning for policymakers, environmental authorities, and the agricultural community to prioritise water safety and public health before the situation worsened.