WATER POLLUTION...

Indiscriminate use of water by increasing population and industrial expansion has led degradation of the quality of water considerably. Surface water available from rivers canals, lakes, etc. is never pure. It contains small quantities of suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances. When concentration of these substances increases, the water becomes polluted, and hence becomes unfit for use. In such a situation, the self-purifying capacity of water is unable to purify water.

Though water pollutants are also created by natural sources - erosion, landslides, decay and decomposition of plants and animals, etc. pollutants from human sources are the real causes of concern. Human beings pollute the water through industrial, agricultural and cultural activities. Amongst these activities, industry is the most significant contributor.

Industries produce several undesirable products including industrial wastes, polluted waste water, poisonous gases, chemical residuals, numerous heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc.

Most of industrial wastes are disposed off in running water or lakes. Eventually, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies, which destroy the bio-system of these waters. Major water polluting industries are leather, pulp and paper,etc.

Is Mineral Water Really Good?

Chemically the minerals in high-priced mineral waters whether domestic or imported, are not at all different than those which are found by elementary analysis of soil (dirt) samples. The mineral drinking water is mixed with copious amounts of dissolved dirt, stone and rocks and that's true!

 Yes, we require minerals to keep up a proper balance of electrolytes in our body fluids, but we actually need minerals which our body can easily metabolize. We should obtain calcium from natural sources such as milk, butter, cheese and other dairy products or should we try to obtain it from sucking on a piece of lime (equivalent as calcium bicarbonate in water).

The human body knows which minerals, liquids, foods or other materials is to be accepted and which is to be rejected when it recognizes some alien or foreign matter.

After drinking a normal glass of hard, mineral water the white blood cell count will level up until it often become more than doubles. And this is what inorganic chemistry says. This phenomenon is called Leucocytosis and is nothing but our body's defense mechanism responding to an invading organism, infection or foreign stuff. When pure water, fruits, vegetables and other naturally-grown materials are taken, the level of white blood cell isn’t affected.

The American Medical Journal has also stated that:

"The body's need for minerals is largely met through foods, not drinking water".

18 April – International Day for Monuments and Sites 2011: Cultural Heritage of Water

UNESCO had designated 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites in 1982 in which every year a theme is taken up. In current year i.e. 2011 the theme taken up is the ‘Cultural Heritage of Water’. As all know, water is one of the key resources required for the sustainability of life. How well we can obtain it, store it, harness its power and conserve it has motivated human endeavor in number of ways. It has also played a vital role in the development of various cultural practices, which have fostered cultural heritage values of intangible nature. It has been a source of inspiration for literature, poetry and various artistic endeavors such as dance, sculpture and paintings. It has played an inspirational source for the development of philosophies and religious practices. Therefore, the cultural heritage of water is not only related to technology and architecture that has been developed by humankind to manage, utilize and celebrate its life giving properties various precious values that have able to shape our belief and practices.

Water Expoted in a Bulk

As global freshwater resources are becoming scarcer, many options are available at our hands to reduce the demands and increase supplies. Conserving, desalinizing and pipeline diverging schemes are popular potential solutions, an upcoming possibility is water export in bulk: shipping water in 80-million-gallon tankers which are typically designed for oil shipping. This solution has been discussed for more than two decades but large-volume exports have never been completed. Logistics, worry over natural resources sovereignty and commodification as well as contemptible local sources have stood in the way of any proposed deals.

But interest in bulk water has seen new life, most importantly from sources in Alaska. Sitka, a very small town along the southeastern coast of Alaska, is apparently well on its way to sending millions of gallons of water to India that will then be mostly distributed in the Middle East. As the city and its stakeholders set to export water from the Blue Lake Reservoir in six to eight months, the global freshwater crisis is being redefined.

The Monsoon Showers

We all love the way raindrops touch us and our soul. But we don't know how these small drops of water, which seems like it is falling from the heaven, can penetrate us to reach our soul. What is in these which reach our heart and mind to make it changed for sometime and sometimes forever. These drops are not not merely drops of water but drops of feelings. Theses carry many meanings in our life. It sometimes seem that god has planned everything, including the seasons in very well manner.


Just after the dray and dusty summer the season of monsoon give us a big relief. The clouds start rolling in and commence the monsoon months.


These showers bring a glee in our mind. We all want to let rain overcome ourselves so that we all can drown in the happiness which is very special, which cannot be so easily defined.


Some poet has rightly said,


Happiness relies and joy indeed,
The rain showers shall bring to all;
People are waiting with baled breath,
For these showers of blessing to fall.


We all wait throughout the year for these showers. But this waiting though seems long and endless will be surely over some day...

Rain Water harvesting-A progressing method

INDIA has a long history of rain water harvesting systems. Traditional rain water harvesting systems were bawaries ,step wells, jhiries & lakes .In olden times people had learnt to prepare themselves for the future problems .That’s the reason why these systems were a success in those days . The world has made tremendous achievements in the fields of science and technology but is still unable to provide clean and pure waters to its citizens. Rain water harvesting assure an independent supply of water during water shortage or drought. It is one of the simplest and affordable ways of ensuring the supply of clean water to all the people. It is a method through which we can preserve this beautiful world for the next generation . It helps in reducing the burden of demand of appropriate water supply from the municipal water supply .It also helps in recharging ground water level and prevents water contamination. It helps us to make efficient use of this valuable natural resource.

Water- An Essential Source of Existence

With no doubt we all know that water is a very essential part of our life, it has played a role not only in the history of the countries, but in religion, mythology, art and in our daily life.Water has always been perceived as a gift from the gods as it rained from the heaven. Water provides the Earth with the capacity of supporting life.We can't say how important water is in our existance.The only organism that doesn’t understand the importance of water is the humans, especially in industrialized countries. Water is one of the weirdest compounds known to humans. Without water, organisms could not survive.

Water is a resource that should not be taken for granted. It needs to be conserved, just as we save other valuable resources. So,I urge every one to conserve water a little bit for their future generation.

And the Brahmaputra flows silently...!

Scarcity of drinking water in Guwahati is not often a news feature that most local media carry in their daily publications.

The studies made by NGO's and individuals showed that the ground level of potable drinking water has already reached an alarming level. This is mainly due to the unplanned development of the concrete jungle that the city is going through in this decade. Sprawling Apartments with huge human settlements have mushroomed in every bit of open space available in the city.

The cluster of human dwelling, concentrated at a particular area has been a reason for this crices. Drawing water through extended use of submersible pumps 24 X 7, without enough time to replenish ground water resulted in sulphur contains and traces of Arsenic in the outrskirts of greater Guwahati. Though the levels has not been blown up to the alarming level, however the danger is just round the corner.

It has become a common sight at any point of time to see small and big water tankers provided by the private concerns to distribute water on payments of high tariff. The quality of water supplied is far beyond questionable limits. It is a matter of concern that is haunts me often, when I pass through the river side of the mighty non toxic pollutant river The mighty Brahmaputra that passes through the city. The supply of water through properly managed and innovatively thought by our city developers to harness river water and supply the treated water to the Guwahatians is by far the only option that is left for the public and the Government.

It is high time Guwahatians start thinking of saving their future through planned and executed development measures and SAVE GUWAHATI....

Water Conservation

Rain water harvesting an old method but still not getting used.Eco-friendly, cheap and can preserve each single drop from rain. The method not only increases water availability but also improves ground water quality by dilution of contaminants like nitrates and fluoride and prevents soil erosion too.