CWDRM Study Cites Discharge Of Untreated Sewage As Main Reason The sixth phase of project development and management (CWRDM), has reaffirmed the fears that most downstream rivers are bacterially and chemically contaminated. “Bacteriological contamination is one of the major water quality problems of rivers in the state and it is more so in their lower reaches. Discharge of untreated municipal sewage into rivers results in faecal contamination of rivers. Upstream rivers have fair water quality, which means that they are occasionally threatened. Downstream rivers, mostly in south Kerala, showed marginal water quality, which indicate that they are frequently threatened,” said P S Harikumar, a CWRDM scientist who was part of the study. He said rivers near pilgrim stations, mainly Pampa, indicated bacte riological and organic contamination. The sixth phase of the project -water quality status of Kuppam, Karuvannur, Manimala, Kavvayi, Nileswar and Ramapuram river basins -was led by Harikumar, M Shiji and K Madhavan. All these rivers showed high chemical pollution, E.coli and faecal streptococcal bacteria in its surface and ground water. The water in these rivers cannot be used for drinking without conventional treatment and disinfection. The report will be submitted to the state government through the state council for science, technology and environment, which funds the project. Six more river basins including Kariangode, Vamanapuram, Moovattupuzha, Korapuzha and Peruvamba will be covered this year. As many as 28 rivers have been monitored in phases while 13 more rivers will be covered in the next three years. Action will be taken to rejuvenate the rivers on the basis of the report. The action plans for Pampa, Periyar, Chaliyar and Karamana are on the anvil, the scientists said. The river basins of Kabini, Periyar and Neyyar were monitored in the first phase; Karamana, Meenachil and Kadalundy in the second phase and Pamba, and Chalakkudy Bharatapuzha, Ancharakandy-Thalassery–Mahi in the third phase. Chaliyar, Kallai, Achencoil and Kuttiyadi river basins came in the fourth phase and Valapattanam, Kallada, Keecheri-Puzhakkal and Chandragiri basins in the fifth phase.