| PCRWR |

                    

                                                                 CHAPTER # 5

To Download print Friendly format click [Download]                  . pdf  (29 KB)

                                              

CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Conclusions

  1. About 77% water samples of Southern Punjab were found within safe limits prescribed by WHO of 10 ppb of arsenic contamination.

  2. More than 97% water samples are found to be fit if we follow PSQCA standard of 50 ppb for arsenic contamination.

  3. Arsenic contamination problem is comparatively more in Bahawalpur District considering the >50 ppb limit.

  4. Field testing kits can be used only for preliminary survey as these kits have shown un-acceptable levels of errors.

Recommendations

  1. Considerations should be given to rectify arsenic contamination as a public health emergency in the affected areas.

  2. Epidemiological studies should be conducted to assess the impacts of higher arsenic concentration on the health of local people.

  3. Low cost arsenic removal filters developed by PCRWR should be distributed among the people of the affected areas.

  4. Arsenic free alternate water supplies should be ensured to the people of the affected areas.

  5. All the tube wells, hand pumps and irrigation wells having higher arsenic content than 50 ppb should be sealed and those with less than 50 ppb should be monitored regularly atleast once in a year.

  6. Arsenic testing facilities for tube wells, hand pumps should be made available to the people of the affected areas at a reasonable cost.

  7. Sampling with extensive sampling density from locations in surroundings of the affected areas should be carried out.

  8. Anthropogenic sources survey should be conducted in arsenic contaminated areas to sort out the actual cause of arsenic contamination in groundwater.

  9. Mass awareness program must be launched at national level to make the people aware of the problem, health impacts and solution of the arsenic poisoning in the groundwater.

  10. Research should be carried out on risk of arsenic in food chains, impacts of arsenic contaminated water on soil and crop quality.

Top