What is the dirty water disease in India and why it happens?
Water clean and healthy, which is the right of human beings for a long time, but still, lakhs of the population in India have been suffering from water-borne diseases such as ‘Dirty Water Disease’ that include many other diseases triggered by consuming impure liquor.
let us examine the meaning of dirty water disease, why it occurs in India, and the consequences of public health here. So, let's get going…
Commonly known as “dirty water disease,” this term refers to various waterborne illnesses resulting from consuming contaminated water containing pathogenic microorganisms. The main conditions are cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diarrhoeal diseases transmitted by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The symptoms of food borne disease are typically diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever, ranging in severity from mild to severe and even life-threatening.
What causes filthy water disease in India?
Lack of Access to Clean Water Sources:
The main reason behind dirty water disease being rampant in India is the inaccessibility of clean and safe drinking water sources, mostly in rural areas. Many millions of Indians, especially in rural areas, are dependent on poor water sources such as open wells, ponds and rivers for drinking, washing and cooking. Faecal matter, industrial pollution, and agricultural runoff often find their way into these freshwater sources.
Poor Sanitation Infrastructure:
Poor sanitation systems significantly pollute water sources. Open defecation, inadequate sewage treatment plants and poor waste management practices result in the emissions of human and animal excreta into the environment and pollute surface or underground water.
Population Density and Urbanization:
Overcrowded cities in India have resulted in poor infrastructure and an increased likelihood of water pollution. Due to this, cities with over-packed residents fail to furnish their residents with clean water supply and sanitation, resulting in disease spread.
Monsoon Season and Flooding:
India has a monsoon season with rainfall pouring down heavily, flooding places. During such a time, waterborne diseases are further exacerbated as floodwaters introduce pollutants like sewage into those same water sources.
Lack of Awareness and Education:
The disease of dirty water perseveres, mainly due to a lack of knowledge of clean water practices and poor education about hygiene and sanitation. Many people, especially in rural areas, might not even know the dangers of drinking polluted water.
Effects of Drinking Contaminated Water.
The dirty water disease has severe consequences for public health, as well as social and economic aspects of life in India:
Health Impacts:
India’s health system faces a heavy burden due to water-borne diseases. They cause sickness, hospitalisations, and even death, especially in more susceptible populations, such as children and the older population.
Economic Burden:
The financial cost of treating illnesses resulting from contaminated water consumption is considerable. Families can have difficulty paying for medical costs, which leads to a cycle of poverty and debt. Moreover, the loss of work hours because of health impacts production slows the economy.
Social Inequality:
Water-borne diseases are not shared evenly. This is more pronounced in marginalised and impoverished communities, further widening the social inequalities.
Conclusion
The contaminated water disease is still a critical public health issue in India because of poor access to clean water sources, weak sanitation infrastructure and low education. The solution to this is complex and needs multiple things like improving the water supply system, upscaling the sanitation facility, increasing education and promotion of hygiene and making people aware of the excellent practice of safe water. It’s not just about public health — it is about the social and economic progress of all the citizens of India.
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