This study offers a comprehensive analysis, covering various aspects of the water quality issue. It delves into the scale of the problem, its impact on public health, treatment and supply options, links to irrigation and livelihoods, experiences with behavior change communication, and considerations of emerging contaminants.
Fluorosis, resulting from high fluoride in water, is a growing health concern affecting millions of Indians, both rural and urban. Despite numerous mitigation efforts, it remains largely unnoticed and overshadowed by higher-priority issues. Traditionally, the focus has been on providing fluoride-free water through water supply or treatment. However, the health aspect has been neglected, with poor detection infrastructure among doctors in affected areas leading to reliance on painkillers rather than addressing the root cause. Despite significant investments in defluoridation programs, they often fail to gain traction. This cycle perpetuates a reliance on piped water supply schemes, which face their own challenges. Urgent action is needed to address fluorosis comprehensively.