Pollution of the Cauvery River, India

Problems

• The Cauvery River is one of the major rivers in South India, originating from Talakaveri in Karnataka and flowing through Tamil Nadu before joining the Bay of Bengal. The river is a source of water for irrigation, drinking, power generation, and tourism for millions of people. However, the river is also facing severe threats from various sources of pollution that affect its water quality and ecosystem.

• Causes of water pollution in the Cauvery River

  
  According to a two-year study by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), the Cauvery River water is polluted by a range of emerging contaminants, including pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products, plastics, flame retardants, heavy metals, and pesticides, among many others. These contaminants are discharged into the river from untreated or partially treated sewage, industrial effluents, religious waste materials, and construction debris.
  
  The study found that the levels of pharmaceutical contaminants in the river water were extraordinarily high, posing a medium to high risk to aquatic lifeforms. 

• Consequences of water pollution for people and the ecosystem

  When released even in minuscule amounts into water bodies, these drug compounds can harm human beings and the ecosystem in the long run. The study also found significant contamination by metals such as arsenic, zinc, chromium, lead, and nickel, which can cause various health problems.
  
  Seasonal variations influenced the water quality and levels of contaminants in the Cauvery River. The post-monsoon period showed increased pollutants due to reduced riverine flow and continuous waste discharge from multiple sources. The study suggested a need to upgrade wastewater treatment systems and implement strict regulations to reduce the levels of contaminants in the river. Abnormal levels of sodium can lead to hypertension and reproductive toxicity in humans.