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<p>Water scarcity in semi-arid regions demands innovative groundwater (GW) recharge solutions. The Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley project in Karnataka, India, pioneers the use of treated wastewater (up-to tertiary) for indirect GW recharge. This study evaluates its impact on GW quality, public health, and community perceptions through a comparative analysis of pre- (2013–2018) and post-recharge (2019–2023) periods and impacted versus non-impacted areas. Data was collected via household surveys and health records from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Service, Kolar. Results revealed significant GW quality improvements, including reductions in electrical conductivity (83%) and hardness (83%), with heavy metals within safe limits. The Water Quality Index improved from “very poor” to “good” in impacted areas. Health assessments revealed that upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were the most prevalent illnesses across both study areas, with significantly lower prevalence of URTIs and waterborne diseases observed in the impacted areas. Additionally, 67% overall decline in waterborne diseases was observed in impacted areas during post-recharge, with substantial reductions in typhoid (85%), bacillary dysentery (70%) and diarrhea-gastroenteritis (68%). Multivariate logistic regression identified key risk factors, including low socio-economic status, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene practices. The knowledge, attitude, and practice survey indicated strong community awareness, satisfactions with increased water availability and quality, and demand for project continuation. Findings confirm that indirect GW recharge is safe and enhances public health, likely driven by improved sanitation, hygiene, and agricultural-linked nutritional gains under an effective risk management framework. The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to strengthen wastewater reuse initiatives through robust monitoring systems, integrated public health surveillance, community participation, and sustained infrastructure investments to ensure safety and scalability.</p>

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Assessing public health impact of indirect groundwater recharge with recycled water in semi-arid regions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月27日

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  • Manjari Manisha,
  • Kavita Verma,
  • Ramesh Narayanaswamy,
  • Santrupt Raju Marigoudar,
  • Sushma Krishna,
  • Krishna Munivenkatappa,
  • Chanakya Hoysall,
  • Lakshminarayana Rao

摘要

Water scarcity in semi-arid regions demands innovative groundwater (GW) recharge solutions. The Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley project in Karnataka, India, pioneers the use of treated wastewater (up-to tertiary) for indirect GW recharge. This study evaluates its impact on GW quality, public health, and community perceptions through a comparative analysis of pre- (2013–2018) and post-recharge (2019–2023) periods and impacted versus non-impacted areas. Data was collected via household surveys and health records from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Service, Kolar. Results revealed significant GW quality improvements, including reductions in electrical conductivity (83%) and hardness (83%), with heavy metals within safe limits. The Water Quality Index improved from “very poor” to “good” in impacted areas. Health assessments revealed that upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were the most prevalent illnesses across both study areas, with significantly lower prevalence of URTIs and waterborne diseases observed in the impacted areas. Additionally, 67% overall decline in waterborne diseases was observed in impacted areas during post-recharge, with substantial reductions in typhoid (85%), bacillary dysentery (70%) and diarrhea-gastroenteritis (68%). Multivariate logistic regression identified key risk factors, including low socio-economic status, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene practices. The knowledge, attitude, and practice survey indicated strong community awareness, satisfactions with increased water availability and quality, and demand for project continuation. Findings confirm that indirect GW recharge is safe and enhances public health, likely driven by improved sanitation, hygiene, and agricultural-linked nutritional gains under an effective risk management framework. The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to strengthen wastewater reuse initiatives through robust monitoring systems, integrated public health surveillance, community participation, and sustained infrastructure investments to ensure safety and scalability.