AMMONIA POLLUTION

AMMONIA POLLUTION

Subject: Environment

Context: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said water supply to parts of north, central and south Delhi would be disrupted on Wednesday following a spike in ammonia levels in the Yamuna.

Concept:

• DJB vice-chairman asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to look into the issue and sternly deal with the state’s irresponsible behaviour of releasing industrial effluents.
• The most recent spike was noted on Monday and Tuesday, when ammonia levels shot up to 7.3 parts per million (ppm) at the Wazirabad pond area — where DJB draws water from — against its acceptable limit of 0.5 ppm.

Impact on Water Supply

• The impact of increasing pollution in the Yamuna is being noted in frequent disruption to Delhi’s water supply.
• The most likely source is believed to be effluents from dye units, distilleries and other factories in Panipat and Sonepat districts in Haryana, and also sewage from some unsewered colonies in this stretch of the river
• When the concentration rises beyond the DJB’s treatment capacity of 0.9 ppm, water production at 3 out of 9 water treatment plants have to be stopped or reduced, which impacts supply to parts of the city.

Ammonia

• Ammonia is a colourless gas and is used as an industrial chemical in the production of fertilisers, plastics, synthetic fibres, dyes and other products.
• It consists of hydrogen and nitrogen. In its aqueous form, it is called ammonium hydroxide.
• This inorganic compound has a pungent smell.
• Occurrence: Ammonia occurs naturally in the environment from the breakdown of organic waste matter.
• It is lighter than air.

Uses of Ammonia

• About 80% of the ammonia produced by industry is used in agriculture as fertilizer.
• Ammonia is also used as a refrigerant gas, for purification of water supplies, and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals.
• It is found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions. Household ammonia cleaning solutions are manufactured by adding ammonia gas to water and can be between 5 and 10% ammonia.
• Ammonia solutions for industrial use may be concentrations of 25% or higher and are corrosive.