Despite the high quality of life indices, acclaimed sanitation facilities and public health consciousness, nearly 85 per cent of wells in the state is contaminated by E.coli bacteria.

The Pampa is the most polluted river in the state, according to studies by Centre for Water Resources Development and Management.

Senior scientist at CWRDM, Mr P.S. Harikumar, said that it was not just the open wells, but also other water sources like borewells and rivers which were polluted with human waste and industrial effluents.

“Most of our wells are in poor condition. Human waste can easily seep into the wells as these are often dug near the septic tanks,” he said.

During rainy season, sewage effluent discharged to the ground will pollute the water as most of the wells have no walls and concrete rings. There are over 60 lakh open wells in the state.

Water quality in the bore wells is equally bad as the the content of iron and heavy metals like mercury and zinc is very high. There were abnormal levels of chemicals like sulphate, nitrate and fluoride in the well waters of the state. The rising level of fluoride and mercury in the wells and water bodies in Alapuzha district was also a matter of great concern.

“Our septage management is very poor and unhygienic when compared to other states,” he said. Mr Harikumar was here in connection with the workshop on ‘Water pollution and public health’ organised by the district groundwater department here on Saturday.

Urbanisation, bacterial contamination and solid and liquid waste disposal into the rivers were hastening their quality deterioration.