Kerala’s battle with water-borne diseases (opens original article in a new tab)

Kerala is experiencing increased water-borne disease outbreaks linked to groundwater contamination and inadequate sewage systems, despite its reputation for public health.

• Kerala faces recurring outbreaks of water-borne diseases like shigellosis and Hepatitis A due to groundwater contamination
• The state has less than 6% proper sewerage coverage, with 62% of population relying on groundwater from 7 million wells
• Poor sanitation infrastructure and inadequate water treatment contribute to high faecal contamination in wells