Studies on Sediment Physico-Chemical Properties of the Ulhas River Flowing along Dombivli City near Mumbai

Abstract

Ulhas River which is one of the most polluted rivers of Mumbai receives heavy pollution load from the nearby Dombivali industrial belt. Previous studies reported along the Dombivali industrial belt has indicated that the pollution level is so much alarming that it has created threat to nearby residential areas and also to the Ulhas River flowing in the outskirts of the Dombivali City. It is feared that the toxic chemicals present in the industrial waste might affect the sediment ecosystem of the river. Hence this has provoked us to carry the systematic and detailed study of physico chemical properties of the sediment samples collected along the Ulhas River. The study was done during the year 2012 and 2013, at the sites where the industrial discharge from Dombivli industrial belt Phase I and Phase II joins the Ulhas River. The study was performed to understand the physico chemical properties such as pH, alkalinity, chloride and phosphates. Results of the study reveal that there is an urgent requirement for systematic and regular monitoring of pollution level along the Ulhas River which will further help in improving the industrial waste treatment procedure adopted, along the Dombivli industrial belt. It is expected that such scientific studies will be useful to determine the extent of pollution control measures required in order to avoid long term irreparable damage to the Ulhas River ecosystem.