The present article deals with the extent of water resources, sources and causes of water pollution, impact of water pollution on human health, and challenges, development and future perspectives of food safety.

The present investigation deals with the analysis of physico-chemical characteristics, concentration of heavy metals and textural analysis of sediments in Poovar estuary of Kerala during the period 2004-2005. Three sampling stations were selected and sediments were collected for the study.

Water pollution is a serious problem as almost 70% of India

The ground water samples collected from different tehsils of Ujjain district were analysed in the laboratory for electrical conductivity (EC), pH, cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) and anions (CO32-, HCO3-, Cl- and SO42-). The ground water quality map of the district was generated using ERDAS-IMAGINE 8.7 software showing different categories.

The physico-chemical characteristics of Kohargaddi dam water were studied during July 06-June 07. Seasonal variations in water quality parameters in rainy, winter and summer seasons. The result revealed that there were significant seasonal variations in some physico-chemical parameters. The result indicated poor status of water during summer, rainy and winter season.

Groundwater quality data on physico-chemical, bacteriological and heavy metal concentrations in three cities (Faridabad, Allahabad and Varanasi) in Ganga-Yamuna basin was subjected to multivariate analysis using SPSS. The factors extracted showed high loading (>0.3) of various parameters, such Cl, conductivity, TDS, hardness, Na, Mg and SO4 indicating contamination due to leaching of pollutants.

Evaluation of different physico-chemical parameters of surface water samples, covering the entire industrial area of Hosur (Tamil Nadu), is carried out to assess the suitability of the water for irrigation purposes. Samples are collected during August 2005 to June 2006. Results of the present investigation are compared with the Wilcox standard value and Ayers and Westcott standard value.

The physico chemical analysis of the effluents of the amine manufacturing factory (Balaji Amines, Tamalwadi Dist, Osmanabad) and of groundwater form the (dug well and bore well) for pre and post monsoon seasons of 2006-2007 has been carried out.

Sasthamkotta Lake is Kerala's biggest fresh water lake. The lake is facing degradation due to anthropogenic activities such as directing human waste, soil erosion due to destruction of vegetation and dumping of waste from hotels and slaughterhouses. The water samples from different stations were analysed from a period March 2006 to August 2006 to investigate the water quality parameters.