Excessively high levels of iron may have entered the water sources in Kalady, an international pilgrim centre in the eastern parts of the district. A study conducted by the Department of Geography of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady, based on samples collected from different sources, points to such a possibility.
The finding — part of a study conducted by M. Phil student Brilla Bransomj — was arrived at based on the scientific analysis of water samples at various laboratories including the National Centre for Earth Science Studies in Thiruvananthapuram. Close proximity to septic tanks and the presence of industrial units such as rice mill and rock crusher units are being cited as the primary source of contamination.
The study carried out by drawing water samples in three different seasons — monsoon, before and after the rains — found the presence of iron in all the samples. Some samples also pointed to the presence of septage. Further, a sharp drop in water quality, regularly after the monsoon, has also been noted. Having mapped water sources, including from the Periyar river, drawn from all the 17 wards in the Kalady panchayat, it was observed that the stress on water was much higher in the area comprising the Kalady town. It also highlighted Manickamangalam Chira, a water body, as a key source for future water needs of the panchayat.
According to T.S. Lancelet, who guided the research, the project was aimed at formulating micro level strategies for ensuring long-term sustainability of these resources. “The take-home lesson is that water resources in the locality are faced with threats of depletion and contamination despite all our efforts to check the trend,” she said.
Stress on water much higher in the area comprising Kalady town.
