What could be the possible changes to drinking water quality caused by extreme storm events and monsoon season that can cause flash floods. How can these effects be best managed to maintian the quality of drinking water supplied?
an increase in total solids (TDS and TSS) are the first outcome of flash floods to the receiving water bodies. Decreasing the filter's pore size at the potable water collection points will remove TSS. To remove the organics washed down by the flood, spiking the disinfection is necessary.
Drinking water can be from surface water or ground water. Post Mansoon, aquifer become enriched in ground water. Improve ment in water table means water level going up. The process of water rock interaction become more and more. Contamination of mud, clay and sediments can not be ruled out. Changes of bactereriological pollution may increase. Total dissolved solids, total suspended solids may also be comparatively increases. However all these parameters are not uniform may depend upon various factors mainly geological strata, geo hydrological and geomorphological conditions of the area. As to protect drinking water, the care should be taken in view of above. It is noted water born disease usually more in post Manson.
Effect of monsoon on drinking water quality depends upon source of water supply.
If source is surface water body, following can be observed:
- increase in TSS
- increase in bacteriological contamination
-increase in presence of pesticides, fertilizers due to surface runoff, if source is surrounded by agricultural field.
- change in TDS will depend upon the characteristics of top soil and landuse in the catchment area.
- water treatment plants need more energy & resources for treatment with normally negative change in efficiency.
If source is groundwater:
- significant changes in bacteriological contamination does not take place unless groundwater table is very high.
- since high TDS in groundwater is already a problem in many areas, monsoon is mostly helpful in slight reduction in TDS.
- change in presence of pesticides and fertilizers would be not as significant as in the case of surface water.
In case of deep water table, there would be hardly any change in the treatment efficiency of the plant except some relief to the membrane if RO is used.
But, bacteriological contamination has always been a major issue as increase in water borne diseases are reported every year by various parts of the country during monsoon.
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