Waterbody status of upper Ganga basin and its major tributaries using enviro‐assessment techniques

Abstract

AbstractIn the past two decades, freshwater bodies and their water quality have deteriorated rapidly due to several natural and anthropogenic causes, as well as rapid urbanization and industrialization. Using environmental assessment tools, eight sampling stations were used to assess the water quality of the upper Ganga and its major headstreams between January 2019 and December 2021 and to assess the impact of human‐led activities on the environment and the suitability of the catchment basin to perpetuate aquatic ecological diversity. During the current study period, water quality indices such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), and the Overall index of pollution (OIP) were employed to assess water quality. Twelve physicochemical parameters were examined using appropriate techniques and then compared to international standards. A small increase was observed in some physicochemical parameters, such as pH, Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, and Biological Oxygen Demand, at sampling stations 7 and 8. In the upper Ganga basin, all three indices (WQI, NPI, and OIP) accurately recorded numerous natural and human events at the selected sample sites. The water quality demonstrated that aquatic species were abundant. The water quality at some sample stations was also negatively affected by human activities, such as riverbed mining. However, these types of activities must be monitored and assessed.