The Impact of Open Defecation to the Water Supply in India

The impact of open defecation to the water supply in India

By: Jordan Trace

University of Guelph

0850300

        The practice known as open or public defecation is the act of releasing one’s stool without a proper lavatory, usually done by digging a small hole into the earth’s surface. Though the thought of this seems quite irrational and unsanitary to those living in developed countries, this is actually a very common occurrence amongst poor components of developing and undeveloped countries. In fact, 18% of the world’s population, or 1.2 billion people, defecate in the open. Of those 1.2 billion people, approximately 778 million of them are from Southern Asia. (Pacific Institute, 2013)

        The following paper is a study on the impact open defecation has to the run-off water supply, that eventually leads to the coastal waters of India.

Introduction: Welcome to India

        India is the world’s largest democracy of approximately 1.2 billion people. There are more people living in India than the combined population of the whole western hemisphere. It is the home of the most polluted city in the world, New Delhi. Though, there are many reasons leading to this accumulated pollution, the fact that 80% of rural India openly defecates undeniably plays a significant role. (Amin, 2017)

        It is said that conventional technology does not work everywhere, or for all. India is rapidly modernizing and has come a long way in terms or battling their problematic pollution issues while steadily increasing in population. The technology seems not to be the issue, as there are more cellphones than working toilets in India. (Factslides, 2017) It is the low wage incentive of service jobs that make it difficult to maintain a working sewage system. The average income is so low that people would rather work in other sectors of work, than the plumbing profession. This seems completely reasonable to not want to work in the sewage pipes if you’re just bringing home enough money to buy a single BigMac meal from McDonald’s. India is known to be a very poor country. As of 2014, 58% of the total population were living on less than $3.10 per day. As well, with education rates equally as low as their average income, difficulties arise for Indians to retain the proper certifications to become a plumber. (Mehrotra, 2016)

Impact: Plunged in the Sewage Spiral

        India has plunged itself down the “sewage spiral” and it will be a timely and costly fix. The practice of open defecation and unmaintained sewage systems has a detrimental effect to the environment. Human feces contain high-levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. When consumed in any level, the likelihood of illness increases.        The “sewage spiral” is said to be this: India has been openly defecating for decades (before research has proven its health risks), and the likelihood of illness has increased. This increases the demand for doctors and other health care professions.