Ammonia Pollution in Yamuna

Context: The political debate and blameshifting has erupted between Haryana and Delhi state governments for persistent high Ammonia Pollution in Yamuna river.

Ammonia Pollution in Yamuna: 

• Ammonia is a nitrogen and hydrogen based inorganic compound with formula NH₃.
• According to the Bureau of Indian standards, the ammonia limit in drinking water is 0.5 parts per million (ppm). 
• While ammonia concentration in Yamuna was reported with a pollution of 2.3 ppm at the Wazirabad treatment plant.

Impacts of Ammonia Pollution

• Water supply disruptions: High ammonia concentration forces water treatment plants to reduce or halt operations. Eg; Ammonia pollution causes 40% reduction in water production at the Wazirabad treatment plant..
• Health risk: 
  • Toxicity in drinking water as ammonia when reacts with chlorine during treatment forms harmful byproducts.
  • Respiratory issues due to ammonia fumes.
  • Skin rashes, eye irritation.
  • Neurological effects in the long term like headache, dizziness and confusion. 
• Ecosystem degradation: 
  • Algae bloom due to ammonia leading to depletion in dissolved oxygen.
  • Reduced biodiversity as ammonia makes water bodies uninhabitable for sensitive aquatic species. 

Sources of Ammonia Pollution

• Industrial effluents: Factories release untreated or partially treated waste containing ammonia. Eg; Yamuna’s high ammonia levels can be credited to Haryana and Delhi industrial zones.
• Sewage and waste discharge: Untreated sewage contains organic matter that breaks down into ammonia. Eg; Delhi releases 58% of its untreated wastewater into the Yamuna.
• Agriculture run-off: Fertilizers containing nitrogen compound breakdown into ammonia. Eg; Punjab and Haryana excessive fertilizer use increases ammonia pollution in water sources.
• Decomposing organic waste: Dead plants and animals in stagnant water bodies lead to rise in ammonia levels. 
• Reduced river flow: Diminished water flow, especially during dry seasons leads to higher pollutant concentration exacerbating ammonia levels.
  • The report from National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee concluded that the current water withdrawals upstream significantly reduce Yamuna river’s flow through Delhi, exacerbating pollution levels and harming aquatic life. 
  • It recommended regulating water releases from upstream barrages, especially during lean seasons, to maintain a minimum environmental flow.

Constraints in controlling pollution in Yamuna:

• Upstream pollution from states like Haryana and Punjab. It is beyond the jurisdiction of the Delhi authorities to take action against them. 
• Limited sewage treatment: Delhi produces 3200 million liters per day of sewage but treatment plants have a capacity of only 2600 MLD. 
• Limited technology capacity: Delhi water treatment plants are not fully equipped to handle ammonia levels beyond 1 ppm leading to frequent shutdowns.
• Delay infrastructure development: There is a repeated delay in the upgradation of the infrastructures like interceptor drain projects to divert untreated sewage challenging pollution reduction targets.
• Ineffective regulations: Lax Industrial regulations, especially in small scale industries discharge and improper implementation, leaves scope for violation leading to pollution.
• Lack of coordination: Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) often have overlapping roles but lack proper coordination.

Way Forward

• Capacity building of treatment plants: Upgrading sewage treatment plants to effectively remove ammonia before discharge. The focus should be on completing the delayed infrastructure projects.
• Reducing fertilizer usage: Implementing controlled fertilizer application and promoting organic farming can reduce ammonia runoff to water bodies.
• Implementing real-time monitoring of ammonia levels and industrial effluents.
• Strengthening interstate cooperation between Delhi and Haryana for upstream pollution control.
  • Joint inspection of water released by Haryana, both in terms of quality and quantity.
  • Independent monitoring system, and retribution in case the water released is short of the agreed norm or contains pollutants that render it untreatable for drinking. 
• Revisiting the 1994 water-sharing agreement between the basin states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and UP to ensure more equitable distribution of water, and maintain a minimum environmental flow.

A multi-stakeholder approach involving both state governments, pollution control agencies, and the public is essential for a sustainable solution to the issue of Ammonia Pollution.