Water is the basis of life, but is it the same everywhere? Probably not. There is a huge difference in water quality, especially when we talk about rural and urban areas. Urban areas have relatively better water systems, such as fluoridated tap water, regular water testing, and modern water purification systems. But there are still millions of people in rural India who are forced to drink water from domestic wells or borewells without any purification. Not only this, the environmental hazards around water sources in these areas are also ignored.
In this article, we will discuss how water quality problems are affecting the population, especially in rural areas. We will also learn how scientific data is being collected to measure fluoride availability, chemical pollution, and the impact of all these on health and how this can help in policy making.
Sources of water pollution in rural areas—a serious problem
According to a research study, about 34,212 water pollution emission sources have been identified in the rural areas of the country. These sources are sometimes in the rural areas themselves, but sometimes pollution spreads from urban areas, which reaches the rural areas through rivers or other water streams. These pollution sources include agricultural chemicals, industrial waste, sewage and other toxic elements.
The rural population mostly depends on private wells or domestic borewells. These water sources are not only fluoride-free, but there is also no regular testing or treatment. As a result, these water sources are not only responsible for dental diseases (such as cavities or tooth decay), but the chemicals present in them can cause cancer, skin diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and many other diseases in the long run.
Role of Fluoride—The ‘Good’ That Often Escapes Rural Areas
Fluoride is a mineral that is extremely beneficial for dental health if present in limited quantities in water. In many countries, including the US and India, public water systems are artificially fluoridated to protect the public from dental diseases.
However, such water supply systems are lacking in rural areas. Most people there drink water from domestic wells that have little or no fluoride. In some places, fluoride levels are even too high, leading to diseases such as fluorosis.
This study specifically seeks to examine the availability of fluoridated water in urban and rural areas of the country and the extent to which it affects dental health. For this, data on fluoride presence and dental health will be compared to understand which areas need more support.
Villages in the grip of chemical pollutants—bad and worse
While fluoride deficiency indicates the absence of a “good” element, chemical pollutants poison rural water sources. These chemicals include heavy metals, hazardous elements from industrial waste, pesticide residues, and minerals such as nitrates. These sources of pollution are not just local—sometimes they originate in urban areas and travel to rural areas via rivers or streams.
Based on data from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), this study will look at water pollution sources that flow into rural areas or from urban areas to rural areas. This will look at how much of the population in which areas depends on water sources that are directly or indirectly polluted.
The power of data—the connection between health and the environment
This study uses data from a variety of government and health agencies. For example:
- The EPA Permit Compliance System will provide information on how many registered water pollution sources there are in the country, where they are located, what type of waste they release, and their volume.
- The Safe Water Drinking Information System will tell what percentage of people in a district are using which type of water source—such as surface water, groundwater or fluoridated water.
- CDC’s “My Water’s Fluoride” database will provide information on which areas have fluoride availability and how many people are being served through which water source.
- Health data will be taken from CDC Mortality Files, SEER Cancer Incidence Data and BRFSS Survey Data to understand which types of diseases are more prevalent in areas with polluted water.
These data will be used for scientific and statistical analysis. Under this, special maps will be created that will show which rural areas are affected by which pollution sources and how it is affecting health.
Use in policymaking and health care—future directions
This study will not be limited to scientific research only. Its aim is to reach important policy suggestions that can improve water quality in rural areas. This includes:
- Strengthening public water supply systems in rural areas.
- Ensuring adequate availability of fluoride.
- Increasing monitoring of pollution sources and taking legal action.
- Training rural health service providers on environmental hazards To protect the health of the rural population.
One of the main aims of this research is to help doctors, nurses and community health workers involved in rural healthcare understand the extent to which water quality can affect the health of their patients and to provide better treatment and advice based on this information.
Conclusion: Water quality—an invisible but important battle
The right to clean water should be a fundamental right of every citizen, but even today this facility is limited to cities. Crores of people living in rural areas are not only deprived of clean water, but they are also dependent on water sources that can directly harm their health.
The aim of this research is not just to collect data, but to use this data to make policymakers aware of the dire need for clean water in rural India. We have to understand that water is not just a resource, but it is the basis of life and health. Now is the time to get serious about it—especially for those who cannot raise their voice but whose health is most affected by this silent crisis.
