Maanav Chittireddy

High School Finalist, Grade 11
Edison, New Jersey

The Double-Edged Drop: Water’s Power to Sustain and Destroy India

A resource that humans rely on the most for survival also has the potential for mass destruction. This is a testament to the duality of water.

Having lived in India for a portion of my childhood, the days when there would be more water than floor in our house are scarred into my brain. My mom, dad, brother, and I would use buckets to remove water from our house for several hours on end. Just as the flooding subsided, we thought our problems did too. However, three days later, my brother lay in a hospital bed with a fatal brain infection–all because of bacteria that he was exposed to during the flooding.

Challenges and Impacts Posed by The Issue. Waterborne pathogens have been the secret culprit facilitating the spread of some of the most lethal diseases India has ever seen, making it the most pressing developmental issue.

Typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A, diarrhea: Thirty-seven to thirty-eight million Indians like my brother contract these waterborne illnesses, and 1.32 million of these people die annually (Goyanka). The impact of waterborne pathogens transcends mortality: economically, a study from BMC Public Health finds that 73 million workdays are lost annually, resulting in 321.2 crores of lost revenue and economic activity for these workers (Kumar et. al). Additionally, waterborne illnesses cost India $600 million per year, with two-thirds of hospital beds occupied by patients with waterborne diseases (Misra and Paunikar). Water-borne diseases are only becoming more and more prevalent, with Ahmedabad recording about 1000 waterborne illness cases in May 2025 alone, and Pune reporting spikes in typhoid and hepatitis cases compared to the previous year (ET Online; Thevar)

However, the most concerning dimension of this issue is its disproportionate impact on India’s youth: The World Bank estimates that 20 million children experience stunted growth annually due to unsafe water and poor sanitation (Waterlife). This health threat posed to India’s youth can inhibit their educational journeys, preventing them from gaining the necessary skills to empower India technologically, socially, and economically.

Solutions:

What makes this epidemiological threat particularly dangerous is its ubiquity. Water is something that humans, rich or poor, male or female, cannot live without. Any place where this water is an opportunity for waterborne pathogens to plague the Indian population. 

Therefore, when designing solutions for the spread of waterborne pathogens, being comprehensive is key:

1. Metagenomics:

Metagenomics, or the study of genetic material directly from environmental samples, is a transformative tool for identifying pathogens in water. By collecting water samples, extracting DNA, and using next-generation sequencing, scientists can rapidly detect the presence and types of harmful microorganisms. This genetic data can then be integrated into a disease mapping system, which incorporates real-time information from multiple geographic regions. From my COVID-19 disease mapping research at Columbia University, I learned how such analysis reveals crucial patterns and risk factors—insights that can inform targeted public health interventions.

In India, this approach could be strengthened by integrating with national programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which targets poor sanitation infrastructure, open defecation, and key sources of water contamination. Metagenomic data can guide where to build or upgrade facilities and what type of disinfection—UV, chlorination, or ozonation—is best suited to each area.

Pairing this with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) would enable a predictive disease mapping system, allowing for targeted responses like mobile purification units or regional health campaigns based on real-time pathogen data.

2. Infastcuture Development:

To address the ongoing proliferation of waterborne pathogens, the Indian government can continue strengthening infrastructure by expanding access to safe drinking water, modernizing sewage systems, and improving waste management in both urban slums and rural villages.

Scaling up initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure 24/7 piped water supply, especially in high-risk regions, is essential. Additionally, investments in real-time water quality monitoring systems and the construction of decentralized wastewater treatment plants can prevent the contamination of local water sources. Upgrading drainage networks to prevent sewage overflow is also essential.

How can we help as individuals?
As individuals, we can contribute to the fight against waterborne pathogens through simple, daily actions. At home, we should use certified water purifiers, boil tap water when quality is uncertain, and clean water storage tanks at least once every three months to prevent biofilm buildup. Practicing hand hygiene with soap and clean water—especially before meals and after using the toilet—helps prevent fecal-oral transmission of diseases like cholera and typhoid. In rural or underdeveloped areas, building or advocating for the use of low-cost latrines helps reduce open defecation, a major source of water contamination. We can also volunteer with local Swachh Bharat Abhiyan efforts, join clean-up drives around lakes and rivers, and report any sewage leakage or water pipeline issues to municipal authorities via apps like Swachhata or Jal Jeevan Mission Grievance Portal Water is emblematic of purity, and we must defend its integrity just as vigorously as it has sustained the human race. This is a challenge that we must tackle in the coming years to secure a healthier India.