Assessment of physico-chemical properties, some heavy metals and arsenic of river teesta in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India

Abstract

River Teesta, being the most significant river in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India, has been providing natural water to satisfy the requirements of this area. Other than irrigation related agriculture, fishing is one of the prime sources of income for a large number of rural people of this region. Bathing, washing clothes and utensils in river water is common practice in rural areas. Thus, the quality of water of the river Teesta is of prime importance as it can affect the livelihood of the residents of this area. Though this natural resource of water is continuously exploited due to ever increasing demand of people, no assessment regarding status of water quality has been made so far. So this study is attempted to observe physico-chemical properties, As and heavy metal contamination of the river Teesta. Various physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (air and water), pH, Conductivity, salinity, Total dissolved solid, DO, BOD, free CO2, Alkalinity, Total hardness, Ca-hardness, Mg-hardness, Phosphate are recorded season wise. The results furnished for these parameters are seasonally varied and are found to depend on environmental and other factors. Most of the parameters are within acceptable range compared to given by WHO. The study of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn) reveal that concentration level of all these metal are either below detection limit or well within the prescribed limit of reported optimum standard of water quality.