Nashik: According to a report by SANDRP, groundwater in Ambad has been found to contain a high amount of a cancer-linked chemical called hexavalent chromium.
Ambad is an industrial area of Nashik in Maharashtra. The news of the contaminated water came at a crucial time because the Dhvajarohan ceremony for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela is scheduled for October 31, 2026, ahead of the Mela planned for 2027.
The contamination could also threaten the Godavari River if polluted groundwater or industrial effluents enter the river system through drains.
According to the reports, a sample of the Ambad groundwater contained 50.3 milligrams per litre of hexavalent chromium.
According to a statement by SANDRP released on October 8, the reported chemical amount is nearly 1,000 times higher than the 0.05 mg/L drinking-water limit cited under Indian standards.
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) is an informal network focused on rivers, communities, and large-scale water infrastructure like dams.
SANDRP conducted laboratory testing on groundwater in Ambad and found 50.3 mg per litre of hexavalent chromium in the sample, which is far above the 0.05mg/L drinking-water limit cited under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
SANDRP said that the contamination is probably linked to the industrial areas of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in Ambad.
SANDRP's report also stated that total chromium in the sample measured 50.5 mg/L, of which 50.3 mg/L was hexavalent chromium. The findings were based on a sample tested at an accredited laboratory, according to the organisation.
According to the study “Eco-toxicity of hexavalent chromium and its adverse impact on environment and human health,” if the hexavalent form of chromium is ingested in high amounts by the human body, it can have severe effects on health.
Environmental contamination from hexavalent chromium is a critical public health concern because it is a known carcinogen, unlike the element's far less toxic trivalent form.
Exposure to the chemical can lead to a weakening of the immune system by raising white blood cell counts and decreasing serum antibody levels.
Direct contact with hexavalent chromium can cause immediate irritation and can also cause inflammation in the eyes, lungs, and skin.
Prolonged exposure can lead to stomach pain, lesions, skin patches, and kidney problems.
Research has also shown that high exposure to the chemical can lead to lung cancer in humans.
Tumors were found in laboratory animals that were exposed to hexavalent chromium through drinking water.
The water sample that was collected from Ambad was yellow. The residents also reported that the borewell water in the area was usually yellow in color.
SANDRP has also asked for testing of the river and other water sources.
SANDRP reported that inconsistent and inadequate water supply from the Nashik Municipal Corporation has forced many Ambad residents to rely on contaminated water. Consequently, local community members, including women and children, have suffered from severe health issues such as chemical ulcers, skin rashes, and blisters.
According to SANDRP, the suspected contamination reaches the Godavari through a local drain and the Nandini river system. However, the extent of contamination in the river system needs to be established through published test results. SANDRP has called for testing the Nandini and the Godavari downstream of the suspected entry point.
The statement said, "Young women and children had painful, swollen lymph nodes and chronic illnesses. Two women in the affected settlement report suffering spontaneous miscarriages. The number can be higher. The link has to be assessed."
These health problems and reported miscarriages are accounts cited by SANDRP. A direct causal link between the reported health conditions and chromium exposure has not been established in the cited report.
According to WHO, boiling water is not the solution for removing hexavalent chromium. Specific treatment made for a particular chemical is necessary to treat the water.
The WHO identifies treatment methods for chromium-contaminated drinking water that include adsorption using iron oxides, ion exchange, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. Boiling alone is not a treatment method for removing dissolved chromium.
References:
1. South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). “Toxic Emergency in Nashik Ahead of Kumbh Mela: Groundwater Tests 1,000 Times Over Safe Chromium Limits.” October 8, 2026.
2. Bureau of Indian Standards. Indian Standard: Drinking Water Specification (IS 10500:2012). New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standards, 2012. https://www.bis.gov.in/other/DrinWatIS10500.pdf.
3. World Health Organization. “Chemical Fact Sheets: Chromium.” May 18, 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/chemical-fact-sheets--chromium
(Rh/ARC)