Abstract
In the background of the ambitious ‘National Mission for Clean Ganga’ to clean, conserve and protect the River Ganga in a comprehensive manner, this study was undertaken to evaluate the status of Water Quality of Chandrabhaga river at Rishikesh, district Dehradun, India, between the Dhalwala bridge area and Mayakund area where it merges with the river Ganga, affecting adversely its water quality. The characteristics of Chandrabhaga river water were assessed during July to September 2017 by monitoring the water quality at most garbeged and contaminated five locations by determining physicochemical and biological parameters and metal ions. The observed values of dissolved oxygen (DO) varied from 0.4 to 1.29 mg/L, such a low DO, high biological oxygen demand (BOD, 21 ± 2.64 to 56 ±6.08 mg/L) and much high Coliform (1760 ±13.23 to3180 ±27.61 MPN/ 100 ml) at all the locations reflects the poor water quality of Chandrabhaga River. Recorded values of total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), alkalinity, phosphate, sodium, potassium and calcium exceeded the WHO standards. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed the highly positive correlations all the time between EC and TDS, TH and TDS, TH and EC, while during high flow period good correlations were recorded between alkalinity and pH, TDS, EC and TH. Irrigation water quality parameters such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) and Kelly’s Ratio was evaluated to test the suitability of river water for irrigation purpose.
Highlights
River water is a dynamic system and dissolves variety of substances from industrial waste and domestic waste water- sewage and the access of so many substances and microorganisms leads to severe contamination of river water.[1]
As water flows through the various geological environments, the variation in water quality is governed by soil, geology, climate and anthropogenic activities that modify the composition of dissolved materials.[10]
Under National Mission for Clean Ganga Project, the focus is to clean and protect the River Ganga in a comprehensive manner, with the priority to build sewage pumping stations (SPS) and sewage treatment plants (STP) as long term requirement along the Ganga route to block the pollutants going into the river
Summary
River water is a dynamic system and dissolves variety of substances from industrial waste and domestic waste water- sewage and the access of so many substances and microorganisms leads to severe contamination of river water.[1]. Which intern releases effluents containing wide varity of chemicals and toxic metals to nearby land fill that reaches to water bodies.[3] Presently, most of the water resources are being polluted mainly by ever increasing population, urbanization, industrialization and other anthropogenic activities.[4] Anthropogenic activities and inadequate wastewater treatment facilities affect greatly water quality in the downstream sections of the rivers that causes irreversible deterioration of the river water quality.[5] Huge water flux during heavy rain from country sides carry with it agricultural run-off, debris, mud and humus that join water bodies. The input of wastewater from mining cum metallurgical operations containing toxic metals on reaching to water bodies and soil may percolate to ground water sources.[6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
