00:00Is this water really clean?
00:02An important question.
00:04Residents in the eastern Indian state of Bihar are exposed to a poison
00:08that has no taste, no smell and gives no warning.
00:12Over 10 million people face an invisible threat.
00:17For years, hand pumps have been the main source of drinking water
00:21for the residents of Simri village.
00:23Now increasingly, they're facing health problems.
00:41In the Ganga Basin, sediments washed down from the Himalayas are deposited across vast floodplains.
00:49These sediments naturally contain arsenic-bearing minerals like arsenopyrite.
00:54Under certain natural conditions, it can be released into the groundwater,
00:58contaminating drinking water supplies.
01:01High concentrations of arsenic are often found in shallow wells at a depth of less than 50 meters.
01:08More than 90% of people in the region rely on these wells as a source of drinking water.
01:14Dr. Arun Kumar is studying the situation in rural areas.
01:18A lot of areas of the river is in the wilderness as a source of drinking water.
01:26In the river, that is where one can affect arsenic-bearing along the river,
01:40in depth of the river.
01:40As of today, a health aspect of the river is very steady.
01:44In our lab also, we have confirmed that there is direct relationship between high arsenic and cancer also, particularly called
01:54cancer, skin cancer, so the United States.
01:58Piped water projects funded by the government are expanding access to safe drinking water.
02:05But in remote areas, switching to safer water sources is far from easy.
02:12This water ATM was installed in Simri in 2017, but due to a lack of funding and poor maintenance, it
02:21stopped operating after barely a year.
02:24Units to filter arsenic from the groundwater could help.
02:40Non-governmental organizations are now working to address some of these gaps.
02:44In the fourth pocket, the supply connection has been provided by the water supply chain.
02:50Many people have not been provided by the water.
02:51We try to get some of those who have not been provided by the water supply chain.
02:55So, let's go first to testing the stores, all the way to know about the Scorpio.
03:00We feel that we need to be aware of the water.
03:03We need to stop the water and take the water from the other side of the water.
03:07And whatever solution we can do is, we need to give the water from our side.
03:13Back at Umashankar's home, a filter is now helping to protect his family from contaminated groundwater.
03:41Across India, an estimated 70 million people are at risk from arsenic contaminated groundwater.
03:48Solutions exist, but maintaining infrastructure and raising awareness are essential to ensure safe drinking water reaches every household.
