Good Quality Subsurface Water in the Bengal Basin

Introduction

Arsenic pollution refers to the underground contamination due to high concentrations of arsenic precisely in deeper groundwater levels. It has been a significant issue during the past twenty years in most parts of the world. In the recent past, however, one of the most affected areas in the world by arsenic pollution is the Bengal Basin. Arsenic normally enters an individual’s body after ingestion as a beverage since it mixes with underground water. Taking arsenic is often associated with several adverse effects in humans, including both cancerous and non-cancerous health conditions. With such serious threats posed by arsenic, it is essential to design a strategy that can help residents around the Bengal Basin evade taking arsenic-contaminated water for the well-being of their health.

Main Body

Controlling Groundwater Flow

To begin with, it is important to monitor groundwater flow in the Bengal Basin. This can be achieved in various ways, but one of the most effective ways is by controlling the lithology and topography (Hoque et al., 2017, p. 2). According to an analysis of groundwater arsenic persistence in the aquifers, the concentration of arsenic at deeper levels is less likely to exceed low background concentrations. As such, it would be helpful if the topographic and lithological aspects of the Bengal Basin were controlled. With this strategy effectively deployed, it would mean less arsenic concentration in the Bengal Basin’s subsurface water, reflecting fewer arsenic effects on the people relying on the basin for different needs.

Microbial Treatment of Water

Even though bacteria have been known to be harmful to humans, they can also be useful if used for the right purpose and savvily. Some bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Neisseria meningitidis, and Helicobacter pylori are harmful to humans because they cause diseases. However, these and other types of bacteria can also play important roles as far as human health is concerned, precisely in water purification by biodegrading contaminants. This strategy can be used in the case of the Bengal Basin to ensure quality and pure subsurface water for people living around the basin. This is in accordance with an article proposing remedial measures in West Bengal in which the authors proclaim that “Inorganic Arsenic can go through microbially interceded biochemical change, i.e., the hydroxyl gathering of arsenic corrosive is supplanted by the CH – gathering to frame MMA, DMA, and TMA, accordingly get moved into moderately non- poisonous structure” (Bhat and Bhat, 2020 p. 4). Consequently, this would ensure safe water, better nutrition methods, and better general health for the residents of the Bengal Basin.

Restricting the Basin to Domestic Use

As a modeling-based strategy, this measure considers the chief cause of arsenic contamination at the Bengal Basin by no chance associated with human behaviors and activities. It follows modeling research by Shamsudduha and Burgess (2018), which suggests that the only way deep underground water can be free from arsenic invasion and contamination is by restricting it to domestic use. Most arsenic contaminations, including the Bengal Basin, are caused by natural and domestic-unrelated activities. Restricting the Bengal Basin domestic use can help reduce the contamination and avoid the hazardous effects associated with the same.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, the arsenic pollution at the Bengal Basin is now more than ever a serious threat to the health of its residents. Accordingly, measures have to be designed to mitigate the effects of the same. This can be achieved through monitoring, research, and modelling upon which sustainable extraction of good and quality subsurface water in the Bengal Basin can be predicted. To reduce arsenic pollution at the Bengal Basin and subsequent health effects on people, its groundwater flow should be controlled, frequent microbial treatment of the water observed, and the basin restricted to domestic use.

References

Bhat, A. and Bhat, S., 2020. ARSENIC POLLUTION AND REMEDIAL MEASURES IN WEST BENGAL: AN OVERVIEW. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347408861_ARSENIC_POLLUTION_AND_REMEDIAL_MEASURES_IN_WEST_BENGAL_AN_OVERVIEW> [Accessed 30 March 2022].

Hoque, M.A., Burgess, W.G. and Ahmed, K.M., 2017. Integration of aquifer geology, groundwater flow and arsenic distribution in deltaic aquifers–A unifying concept. Hydrological Processes, 31(11), pp.2095-2109.

Shamsudduha, M., Zahid, A. and Burgess, W.G., 2019. Security of deep groundwater against arsenic contamination in the Bengal Aquifer System: A numerical modeling study in southeast Bangladesh. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 5(3), pp.1073-1087.