Impact of socio-biological activities on Gomti River flowing through Lucknow

Abstract

Gomti River is the lifeline for Lucknow and is a major source of water for domestic use. Over the years extensive urbanization in Lucknow city has changed the characteristics of Gomti River due to disposal of untreated wastes, which mainly include sewage, solid sludge and hospital wastes. This has caused the degradation of Gomti River resulting in aquatic pollution. The river water is extensively used for washing, bathing, recreational and religious activities. In the present paper we are presenting the findings pertaining to different physico-chemical and microbiological parameters, which have been assessed to determine the impact of socio-biological activities on the quality of river water. For this sampling of water has been done from six different sites at three points of every site, in the month of June, 2006 from Gomti River. Hardness of water samples ranged from 315.00-643.00 mg/l. the pH values of water ranged from 8.60- 8.90. The total dissolved solids varied from 230.40-530.50 mg/l and the dissolved oxygen of water varied between 0.00-4.80 mg/l. The chloride concentration varied between 99.30- 224.30 mg/l and the alkalinity of water samples ranged between 307.70-480.00 mg/l, the nitrate of water samples varied from 11.8- 18.6 mg/l. The fluoride concentration water sample was 0.58- 1.15 mg/l. The bacteriological examination of water yielded the results that >1600/100 ml of coliform 1600-> 1600/ 100 ml of fecal coliform were present in the water samples. These results have been clearly shown that the water of Gomti River is severely affected by various socio-biological activities around sampling site.