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Arsenic Contamination in Bihar: A Review of Causes, Impact, and Mitigation through Civil Engineering Solutions

Rupesh Ranjan, Civil Engineer
Email: rupesh27may@gmail.com

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Abstract

Arsenic contamination in groundwater has emerged as a major public health and environmental issue in Bihar, affecting millions of people across several districts. The source is primarily geogenic, but human activities such as excessive groundwater extraction have intensified the crisis. This review explores the scale and severity of arsenic contamination in Bihar, health consequences, underlying hydrogeological factors, and the role of civil engineering in developing effective solutions. It also evaluates the progress of government initiatives and suggests a roadmap for sustainable water management and arsenic mitigation.

Keywords: Arsenic contamination, Bihar, groundwater pollution, civil engineering, public health, water treatment, safe drinking water, sustainable water infrastructure

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1. Introduction

Groundwater forms the backbone of drinking water supply in Bihar, especially in rural areas. However, in over 20 districts, groundwater has been found to contain arsenic levels far exceeding the WHO permissible limit of 10 μg/L and even India’s relaxed limit of 50 μg/L [1]. The worst-affected districts include Buxar, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Patna, Begusarai, and Khagaria.

Arsenic contamination is not just an environmental problem—it is a chronic health crisis. Civil engineers, hydrogeologists, and policymakers must collaborate to design infrastructure and public water systems that ensure safe, arsenic-free drinking water.

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2. Origin and Causes of Arsenic Contamination in Bihar

2.1 Geogenic Source

Arsenic occurs naturally in the alluvial sediments of the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra (GMB) basin. Under specific redox conditions in the shallow aquifers, arsenic is released into groundwater.

2.2 Anthropogenic Triggers

• Excessive extraction of shallow groundwater through handpumps
• Lack of recharge zones, leading to altered hydrogeology
• Unregulated tube wells that disturb aquifer equilibrium
• Use of arsenic-laden irrigation water that recontaminates the topsoil

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3. Affected Areas and Severity

District	Arsenic Level (μg/L)	Remarks
Bhojpur	500+	One of the worst-affected
Buxar	300–600	Chronic exposure in villages
Vaishali	100–500	Children showing symptoms
Patna (rural)	50–200	Groundwater heavily used
Begusarai	80–300	Widespread skin lesions

More than 1.6 crore people are estimated to be at risk in Bihar due to arsenic-contaminated water [2].

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4. Health Impact of Arsenic Exposure

Chronic consumption of arsenic-laden water leads to arsenicosis, which includes:

• Skin lesions (melanosis, keratosis)
• Cancers (skin, bladder, lung)
• Neurological disorders
• Reproductive and developmental effects
• Poor cognitive performance in children [3]

These health issues often go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and limited rural healthcare.

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5. Civil Engineering Interventions and Mitigation Strategies

5.1 Deep Aquifer Sourcing

• Drilling deep tube wells (150–200m) into arsenic-free aquifers
• Conducting aquifer mapping and hydrogeological zoning

5.2 Surface Water Utilization

• River-lift schemes using Ganga water with treatment plants
• Pond-based treatment units in arsenic zones

5.3 Arsenic Removal Units (ARUs)

• Installation of community-scale ARUs using adsorption, coagulation, and filtration
• Low-cost household filters with activated alumina, iron oxide, or nano-adsorbents [4]

5.4 Piped Water Supply Projects

• Under Har Ghar Nal Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission, switch to surface water sources
• Civil engineers design storage tanks, pipe networks, chlorination units, and pressure systems

5.5 Rainwater Harvesting and Recharge

• Use of percolation tanks, recharge shafts, and rooftop rainwater harvesting to reduce dependence on shallow aquifers

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6. Policy and Government Initiatives

• National Arsenic Mitigation Policy (2020) encourages shift to surface water
• PHED Bihar has identified priority arsenic zones and started piped water projects
• UNICEF and PHED have jointly funded water quality testing labs in key districts
• Awareness drives and water quality testing kits distributed in schools and panchayats [5]

Despite these efforts, implementation remains patchy, and civil engineers are crucial in bridging the gap between policy and ground reality.

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7. Challenges in Arsenic Mitigation

Challenge	Explanation
Technological Limitations	Filters often require frequent maintenance or replacement
Infrastructure Gaps	Lack of reliable piped water in remote areas
Public Awareness	Villagers unaware of long-term exposure effects
Financial Constraints	High cost of surface water systems and deep borewells
Monitoring Deficiencies	Lack of real-time arsenic detection systems

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8. Recommendations

• Zone-wise aquifer mapping to guide drilling of deep safe wells
• Establish arsenic testing labs at block level with trained technicians
• Universal piped water supply from surface sources in red-flag districts
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration among civil engineers, hydrogeologists, and public health officials
• Involve local communities in monitoring and maintenance of ARUs
• Use IoT-based sensors and smart pumps for arsenic-level tracking and alerts

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9. Conclusion

Arsenic contamination in Bihar is a silent emergency. While the contamination is largely natural, its escalation is linked to poor groundwater practices and lack of infrastructure. Civil engineering offers effective solutions—through deep aquifers, surface water treatment, ARUs, and piped distribution systems. A combination of technology, policy, and community participation is necessary to defeat this invisible threat and ensure “safe water for all” in Bihar.

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References

[1] Ministry of Jal Shakti, “National Compilation of Arsenic-affected Habitations,” Govt. of India, 2023.
[2] Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Bihar, “District-wise Arsenic Groundwater Survey Report,” 2024.
[3] World Health Organization (WHO), “Arsenic in Drinking Water: Fact Sheet,” 2022.
[4] WaterAid India, “Community Water Filters and Arsenic Mitigation Models in Rural Bihar,” 2023.
[5] UNICEF India, “Bihar: Tackling Arsenic Contamination through WASH Interventions,” 2024.

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