Reclamation of eutrophicated water bodies through EM Technology

Pandey *

Manipur is dependent mostly on the rain water collected in the water reservoirs. The largest water reservoir in Loktak Lake of Manipur, which is highly eutrophicated (polluted) water body of the North East India. Besides in Manipur numerous small and mid sized ponds are also maintained by almost every farm. These water bodies serve fuel purpose of catching water during the dry season and fish farming.

Most of the water bodies in valley of Manipur are getting water from the rains and this water contains a lot of organic matter, most of the times domestic effluents also mixed in this water. A study revealed that 90% of the water bodies in Manipur is having eutrophication.

This is not only a threat to the aquatic life but also a potent health hazard for the humans due to the toxins released by the algae. There was an article in the The Sangai Express, 4th May, 2018, titled “Large number of fishes perish in Nungleng Pukhri at Kangla”, which states the probable reasons for this fish death is lack of oxygen, high content of carbon monoxide, etc.

Eutrophication is the enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or both. Runoff from agricultural fields, pollution from septic systems and sewers, and other human-related activities increase the flux of both inorganic nutrients and organic substances into terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal marine ecosystems. Consequences of eutrophication include excessive plant production, blooms of harmful algae, increased frequency of anoxic events, and mortality in fishes.

Economic losses attributed to eutrophication include costs of water purification for human use, losses of fish and wildlife production, and losses of recreational amenities. Eutrophication has become a global problem that is likely to intensify in coming decades because of increases in human population, excessive phosphorous from sewage, demand for food, land conversion, fertilizer use, and nitrogen deposition.

When these algae die, they start decomposing and the nutrients contained in the organic matter are converted into inorganic form by microorganisms. This decomposition process consumes oxygen, which reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen. The depleted oxygen levels in turn may lead to fish kills and a range of other effects reducing biodiversity.

Enhanced growth of aquatic vegetation or phytoplankton and algal blooms disrupts normal functioning of the ecosystem, causing a variety of problems such as a lack of oxygen needed for fish and shellfish to survive. The water becomes cloudy, typically coloured a shade of green, yellow, brown, or red. Eutrophication also decreases the value of rivers, lakes and aesthetic enjoyment. Health problems can occur where eutrophic conditions interfere with drinking water treatment.

To address this problem of eutrophication and its related adverse effects like decrease in oxygen, formation of toxic gases like methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, etc. EM Technology (Effective Microorganisms) from Japan is an innovative biological solution.

EM Technology is been used worldwide in more than 140 countries for the last 30 years. Maple Orgtech (India) Limited, having their Head office in Kolkata, is the authorized manufacturer of EM Technology in India.

Their product MAPLE EM.1 AQUAMAGIC is the only answer to all these problems without the use of any chemicals. It is a complete microbial product and safe for the aquatic environment. Maple Orgtech (India) Limited has worked with many state governments, NGOs and Municipalities with their EM Technology and successfully restored many lakes and ponds. One such example is the restoration of Ulsoor Lake in Karnataka.

Before Treatment After Treatment Maple EM.1 Aquamagic can be used in the Nungleng Pukhri at Kangla to reclaim the water body and maintain a healthy aquatic life through the use of EM Technology from Japan. This technology will help to increase the dissolved oxygen level which is cited as one of the key reasons for the fish deaths.