The UK and India have a fairly wide strategic partnership that sees them collaborating on various projects, the latest of which is to be a collaboration that will address the impact of rainwater harvesting in India on groundwater quality.

Dr Alison Parker, lecturer in international water and sanitation at Cranfield University and Dr Anupma Sharma from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, India, will head up the research project, which will be a combination of fieldwork, laboratory testing and modelling simulations.

Research findings will serve to engender recommendations as to how rainwater harvesting can be utilised to reduce fluoride contamination of India’s groundwater supplies.

Policymakers, water managers, business and local communities will be supported by the India-UK Water Quality programme in an attempt to improve India’s water quality.

“Groundwater is still the main source of fresh water in many parts of the world. This includes Rajasthan in Western India where rainwater harvesting is being used to replenish groundwater and provide a safe reliable water supply,” says Dr Alison Parker.

Indian Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Y S Chowdary, said: “India is exponentially growing its science capability and using science and technology to transform society. Our collaboration with the UK shows how partnerships of the highest quality can help both countries advance, as well as have a global positive impact for sustainable development.”

Dr Anupma Sharma added: “We hope our research and recommendations will lead to policymakers, water managers, business and local communities making informed evidence-based decisions that can generate a safer water supply for all.”

UK Science Minister Jo Johnson Y S Chowdary recently made an announcement a year after the vision for the India-UK Strategic Partnership was made by both the UK and Indian Prime Ministers, feting a number of UK-India joint research projects including the Cranfield University/National Institute of Hydrology project.

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