public health engineering department - Assam Online Portal

As-Is and e-Readiness Study report on Public Health EngineeringDepartment, Govt. of Assam➢➢➢Problem of fluorideProblem of ArsenicBacteriological problemTwenty three District Level Laboratories (DLL) in each of the districts of Assam have beenestablished to facilitate Water Quality Analysis. The laboratories are equipped with differentsophisticated instruments and facilities for testing different water quality parameters and staffof the laboratories are well trained in and outside the state of Assam.Each of the laboratories are to perform at least 150 Nos. of physical and chemicalanalysis and 60 Nos. of bacteriological analysis of water samples each month. To maintain theseasonal changes of the water quality different sources have been analyzed at the interval of aweak. After analyzing the water sample, if any water quality parameter is found beyond thepermissible limit necessary steps have been taken to maintain the quality. The activeperformance of the laboratories has has made the APHED capable of detecting various waterquality problems. The APHED is equipped with five Nos. of lon-meter distributed by UNICEF.These Ion-meters are being used by the department for accurate determination of variouswater quality parameters particularly content of fluoride in water samples.Problem of Iron:Most of the ground water sources in Assam are found to have excess iron content. Thoughexcess iron does not have major health problem, but it stains and has aesthetic problem. Totackle the problem of excess iron generally Piped Water Supply Schemes with the provision ofaeration and filtration are proposed. With 75:25 Central and State Governments share 160Nos. of Schemes amounting to 23.75 crore have been technically cleared under the head Sub-Mission under ARWSP to tackle the problem of iron more effectively.Problem of Fluoride:Assam Public Health Engineering Department officials were the first to detect fluoride inexcess of Karbi Anglong though the diseases were prevalent for the last twenty years. Prior tothat it was believed to exist no problem of fluoride in the North Eastern States through sixteenother states of the country were identified as having excess fluoride and fluorosis endemic.Intensified water quality testing and monitoring and health survey have detected more andmore areas to be fluoride and fluorosis endemic which include some parts Nagaon andKamrup districts besides Karbi Anglong.As per Indian Standards acceptable limit of fluoride in consumable water is 1.0 mg/1 while 1.5mg/1 is the cause for rejection. However, in some cases fluoride content in water has beenfound to be as high as 23 mg/1.consumption of water having excess fluoride has been causingin certain pockets of Assam serious health problems like• Skeletal fluorosis• Dental fluorosis• Non-skeletal manifestation• All or in a combination of the aboveRef.: AEDC/AOP/EOI/2009/10 Copyright : AEDC Ltd. 78