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QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SURFACE WATER OF PANCHGANGA RIVER (MS), INDIA

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  • Eknath Sitaram Divekar College, Varvand Savirtibai Phule Pune University

Abstract and Figures

Day by day aquatic ecosystems has put forth challenging environment for florishment of aquatic flora and fauna, due to huge deterioration of water quality. Contamination of water by natural and anthropogenic activities was continued, since beginning of human development. Now days, rendering water quality and pollution of aquatic ecosystems become global concern, which serious issue in front of scientific community. River Panchganga is among the important river in Maharashtra, India. Continuously deteriorating water quality of river Panchganga was monitored in the period of March 2011 to February 2012. During investigation, various physicochemical parameters at different monitoring sites were assessed and used for determination of water quality indexing (WQI) of the river. Average results of the physicochemical parameters and WQI at different monitoring sites indicated the poor water quality of river Panchganga and confirmed need of necessary efforts to overcome the problem of pollution for maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystems and its balance.
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974| Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
B I O L I F E
R E S E A R C H A R T I C L E
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SURFACE WATER OF PANCHGANGA
RIVER (MS), INDIA
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad1* and Nitin Anandrao Kamble2
.
1-2 Department of Zoology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur- 416 004, (MS) India
E-mail: sanindhargaikwad@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
Day by day aquatic ecosystems has put forth challenging environment for florishment of aquatic flora
and fauna, due to huge deterioration of water quality. Contamination of water by natural and
anthropogenic activities was continued, since beginning of human development. Now days, rendering
water quality and pollution of aquatic ecosystems become global concern, which serious issue in front
of scientific community. River Panchganga is among the important river in Maharashtra, India.
Continuously deteriorating water quality of river Panchganga was monitored in the period of March
2011 to February 2012. During investigation, various physicochemical parameters at different
monitoring sites were assessed and used for determination of water quality indexing (WQI) of the
river. Average results of the physicochemical parameters and WQI at different monitoring sites
indicated the poor water quality of river Panchganga and confirmed need of necessary efforts to
overcome the problem of pollution for maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystems and its balance.
Key words: Water quality index, Surface water, Panchganga river, Physicochemical factors.
INTRODUCTION
Surface water is considered as one of the most
vital freshwater source and used for domestic,
agricultural and industrial activities all over the
world. Amongst total freshwater resources,
surface water contributes to the tiny fraction
(Anon, 2006). Surface water in the form of
ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams etc.
provides valuable palatable water, which is used
for the well being of humanity (Gleick, 1998).
Amongst these surface water resources, rivers
are immensely important due to their tremendous
water holding capacity and large perforated
capillary network, which confirms the annual
freshwater availability (Jayalakshmi, 2011).
Since ancient time rivers plays major role in
concretion of biotic community along the river
banks, this forms the main basis of topography
of the area (Kar, 2008 and Gaikwad, 2014).
Along with key role in the hydrological cycle,
rivers also form the dwelling places for
florishment of aquatic flora and fauna. However,
these valued freshwater resources are facing the
global problem of deterioration of water quality
(Vanek et al., 2005, Vanderlinden et al., 2006
and Conesa et al., 2007). As per present
scenario, tremendously increased human
population has significantly contributed to the
addition of toxicant on large scale, which further
depletes the water quality. Diverse kind of
contaminants gets added in to these aquatic
resources which interfere with the
physicochemical properties of the water. Altered
physicochemical properties form the burden over
the aquatic ecosystem and cause damage to the
aquatic biota (Manish and Pavan, 1998 and
Samantray, 2009).
AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES
2(3):970-981
ISSN (online): 2320-4257
www.biolifejournal.com
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad and Nitin Anandrao Kamble ©Copyright@2014
975 | Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
In order to overcome the threat of deterioration,
periodic monitoring of aquatic resources must be
conducted, which helps to keep check on the
level of contaminants and to conduct necessary
curative measures for the wellbeing of aquatic
body (Bellingham, 2012). Water quality index is
performance measurement, which aggregates
information in to usable form and reflects the
composite influence of significant physical,
chemical and biological parameters of the water
(Landwehr, 1979 and Liou, 2004). House and
Newsome (1989), described Water Quality Index
as measure of good or bad water quality, which
reduces the large quantity data in to single
number with simple and reproducible manner.
Hence, by keeping in view the importance of
Water Quality Index for monitoring of water
quality, present investigation was carried out on
qualitative assessment of Panchganga river,
which helps in analyzing the water quality status
of the river.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Study region:
In order to assess the water quality, Panchganga
river, Maharashtra, India was selected as study
region. Five monitoring stations viz. Prayag-
Chikhali (S1), Shivaji Bridge (S2), Rukdi (S3),
Ichalkaranji (S4) and Narsobawadi (S5) were
selected for sampling along entire flow of river.
Their geographical localities were described in
the Fig. No. 1.
Sampling was conducted monthly during the
period of March 2011 to February 2012.
Samples were collected at early morning hours,
in acid leached polythene bottle. Physical
parameters like Temperature and pH were
measured in-situ at respective sampling sites.
Total Solids (TS) and Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS) were determined by Hach's gravimetric
method (2012). Whereas chemical parameters
like Dissolved Oxygen (DO), free Carbon
dioxide (CO2), Total Hardness (TH), Total
Alkalinity (TA), Total Chlorides (TC), Ip
(Inorganic phosphate), Nitrates were measured
in the laboratory by using standard methods of
APHA (2005), Trivedi and Goel (1984).
For assessment of Water Quality Index (WQI)
obtained values of physicochemical parameters
were compared with drinking water standards of
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards, 2012) as
mentioned in the Table No.1 and 2. Further
water quality indexing was assessed by the
method adopted by Chaterjee and Raziudin
(2002). Quality rating (qn) was evaluated by
using the mathematical expression;
qn = 100 (Vn- Vio) / (Sn- Vio)
(Let there be ‘n’ water quality parameters and
quality rating (qn) corresponding to nth parameter
is number reflecting the relative value of this
parameters in the polluted water with respect to
its standard permissible value).
Hence,
qn = Quality rating of respective
physicochemical parameters.
Vn = Value of respective physicochemical
parameters.
Vio= Ideal value of respective parameters in pure
water (i.e. 7 for pH and 14.6 mg/lit for DO. For
all other physicochemical parameters it is 0).
Sn = BIS permissible limit for respective
physicochemical parameter.
Unit weight (Wn) was estimated by applying
formula; Wn= K/ Sn
Here, K= Constant for proportionality.
Average water quality index was estimated by
using equation;
Average WQI= ∑ qn Wn/∑ Wn
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Water quality is measure of physical and
chemical properties of the water, which in turns
has its direct influence over the life of aquatic
biota. Water quality representing parameters like
pH, Temperature, Total Solids, Total Dissolved
Solids, Dissolved Oxygen, Free Carbon dioxide,
Total Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Total
Chlorides, Inorganic phosphate, Nitrates are
considered as vital measures for classification of
surface water monitoring (Yogendra, 2008).
Hence, these physicochemical parameters were
assessed during the period of March, 2011 to
February 2012, to denote the water quality index
of Panchganga river.
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad and Nitin Anandrao Kamble ©Copyright@2014
976 | Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
In the investigations monthly variations of
physicochemical variables were assessed along
with quality rating parameters. However, noted
average physicochemical parameters along with
water quality rating unit values.
The pH interferes with the chemical reactions of
water and hence considered valued factor for
representing water quality (Fakayode, 2005). For
sustenance of aquatic biota, pH must be within
the range of 6.5 to 8.2 (Wang, 2002). The pH of
the Panchganga river showed alkaline nature and
recorded in between 7 to 8.5.
The value obtained at site V showed excess
alkaline pH concentration, which may be the
result of temperature fluctuation, organic
decomposition, higher photosynthetic activities
and dilution through surface runoff as stated by
Rajasegar (2003) and Swarnalatha (1993).
Similarly, temperature also has vital role in the
biochemical interactions of the river water
(Gangwar, 2012). Temperature of the river
varied between 22 to 27°C, which was
considered as desirable and favorable for the
florishment of aquatic flora and fauna. TS and
TDS also plays major role in the maintenance of
health of the aquatic ecosystem, as higher TS
Fig. 1: Geographical distribution of the sampling stations from river Panchganga
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad and Nitin Anandrao Kamble ©Copyright@2014
977 | Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
values denotes the alarming level of turbidity
and excess TDS values are the result of the
higher ionic deposition (Singh, 2010).
Concentration of TS and TDS ranged between
600 to 850 mg/lit. and 400 to 620 mg/lit.
respectively. TS values exceed the miscible
limits representing the higher turbidity of the
region. Lower values of the TDS denoted the
less ionic concentration, which may the result of
ample rainfall and surface runoff as previously
mentioned by Bhatt et al., (1999).
Table No. 1: BIS drinking water standards
along with unit weight
Table No. 2: Water Quality Index
representing water quality status.
Water Quality Index
0 25
26 50
51 75
76 100
>100
Increased temperature hampers the chemical
interactions and reduces the dissolved oxygen
concentration from water (Talling, 1957). Values
obtained for DO concentration denoted the very
little amount of DO as compared to the BIS
miscible limit, which may be the result of higher
organic activities along with excess biological
interaction in the study region. The results
obtained complied with the investigations made
by Sheikh (2004) on Tansa river. Free carbon
dioxide concentration showed exactly reversible
trend than that of DO. Though the values
obtained were below the BIS limits, CO2
concentration showed increasing trend from site-
I to site- V and reached up to the threshold level
of permissible limits, which should be the main
cause of worry in near future. Increased
concentration of the CO2 may be the result of
deoxygenated water column along with
continuously altered temperature range. Total
hardness ranged between 100 to 160 mg/lit. as
CaCO3, which represented favorable
concentration for growth of aquatic biota.
Concentration of Total Alkalinity reflected
deposition of minerals, carbonates and
bicarbonates in to the aquatic body. The value
fluctuated between the 210 to 410 mg/lit., which
were high above the permissible limits and
should be the effect of continuous, heavy
deposition of domestic sewage, agricultural
runoff along with industrial effluents (Sahni et
al., 2011). Total Chloride, Inorganic Phosphate
and Nitrates concentrations were ranges between
27 to 62 mg/lit., 0.3 to 1 mg/Ip/ml and 4 to 9
mg/lit. respectively. All these values were within
the desired limits confirming the average
contamination level of the region. These
observations were in conformity with the
investigations of Munawar (1970), Shastry
(1970) and Sinha (1995).
By considering all these physicochemical
parameters, water quality index were evaluated
on monthly basis and tabulated in the Table No.
3.
During the entire investigation period WQI
fluctuated in between 30 to 129. Site- I was
remarked with good water quality, whereas Site-
II was noted with poor water quality. Site-III and
V were found with very poor water quality,
while water quality at site- IV was noted as
completely unsuitable for usage (Fig. 2).
Parameters
Unit
BIS
Standards
(Sn)
Unit
Weight
(Wn)
pH
6.5-8.5
0.2190
Temp
Degree
Celcius
˂40
0.0465
TS
Mg/lit.
500
0.0037
TDS
Mg/lit.
2000
0.0009
DO
Mg/lit.
5-7
0.3723
CO2
Mg/lit.
22
0.0845
TH
Mg/lit. as
CaCo3
300
0.0062
TA
Mg/lit.
120
0.0155
TC
Mg/lit.
250
0.0074
Ip
Mg/Ip/ml
45
0.041
Nitrates
Mg/lit.
45
0.041
∑ Wn=
0.838
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad and Nitin Anandrao Kamble ©Copyright@2014
978 | Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
In the seasonal variations grossly deteriorated
WQI was noted during the months of winter
season, whereas moderate or better WQI was
observed during rainy season (Fig. 3).
Hence, site- I and II were observed as least
polluted zones, while site- III and V were noted
as rapidly polluting regions and site- IV was
remarked as grossly polluted station.
During the entire investigation period, overall
WQI of the Panchganga river ranged between 40
to 120. Average WQI was noted 73.66, which
confirmed the poor water quality of the river
Panchganga. Similar observations had been
made by Das and Acharya (2003) and Naik
(2012) while describing the water quality of lotic
resources of Cuttack city, India and Mahanadi
river Odisha, India respectively. The possible
reasons for which were rapidly increased
anthropogenic activities that contributed huge
dumping of the domestic sewage
Table No. 3: Monthly distribution of water quality index, during the study period
Water Quality Index
WQI= ∑qnWn/∑Wn
Site- I
Site-II
Site-III
Site-IV
Site-V
Mar
51.84
70.52
39.80
36.87
30.33
Apr
72.13
36.60
30.30
117.40
100.18
May
37.06
102.83
103.87
115.54
78.75
June
39.89
38.81
31.66
106.65
39.64
July
75
76.69
33
102.27
38.97
Aug
73.79
75.52
35.87
102.70
38.03
Sept
38.16
31.65
100.74
108.79
33.73
Oct
32.64
39.19
38.02
106.63
33.60
Nov
39.45
37.91
102.88
97.87
103.26
Dec
30.76
106.18
87.90
116.17
113.53
Jan
32.30
36.28
113.08
128.36
114.54
Feb
36.92
32.93
116.42
124.98
117.44
Mean
40.57
51.38
84.98
112.21
79.16
Average WQI of the river= 73.66
Fig. 2 Average WQI of the Panchganga river
Sanindhar Shreedhar Gaikwad and Nitin Anandrao Kamble ©Copyright@2014
979 | Biolife | 2014 | Vol 2 | Issue 3
agricultural pesticides, herbicides, weedicides,
fertilizers and industrial effluents containing
harmful chemicals and heavy metals as
previously described by number of researchers
while describing the water quality of various
aquatic bodies (Shardendu 1988, Ghosh 1989,
Venkatewarlu 1993 and Sinha 2014).
Dumping of those contaminants in turns affected
the overall health of the river Panchganga and
made it less favorable for wellbeing of human
and aquatic biota. So, there is need of periodical
monitoring to keep check on the level of
contaminants. To overcome the problem of poor
water quality, necessary measures must be taken
with large scale including human awareness
activities and prevention of dumping waste,
which helps to settle the better water quality and
enhances the life of river Panchganga, leading to
increase biological productivity and faunal
diversity in it.
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to Science and
Engineering Research Board New Delhi and
SAP for providing the financial support under
Young Scientist Fast track Major Research
Project. The authors are also thankful to Head
Department of Zoology, Shivaji University,
Kolhapur for providing infrastructural facilities
for the progress of work.
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The need for a simple, objective and reproducible numeric scale to represent water quality in terms that all types of user will accept has been apparent for the last twenty years. Subjective classifications of water quality have been made, but they are seldom reproducible and lack sensitivity. Now, a new family of water quality indices has been developed that can be used either independently or in combination which promise to overcome previous criticisms. They are currently being used by a UK water authority to assess their utility to personnel responsible for both the planning and day-to-day management of surface water quality.
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Chemical, Bacteriological and Biological characteristics were studied to judge the intensity of Pollution. It was found that the zones in and around the water intake points were the most polluted zones in the lake. Biological conditions in the lake were favorable for fish culturing. Performance studies of Water Treatment Plants indicated that they were able to cope up with the pollution in the raw water.
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Kathmandu valley is endowed with several lakes which are famous for their beauty, religious and cultural significance. Some of these are already on the verge of disappearance due to euthrophication whereas others are exposed to high vulnerability to degradation. Present study was undertaken to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics and phytoplankton composition of the Taudaha lake, Kathmandu. Physico-chemical analysis of lake water exhibited richness in nitrogen (nitrite and ammonia) and orthophosphate which favoured the growth of phytoplankton. Dominance of Cyanophyceae in summer and rainy seasons and Bacillariophyceae in winter revealed distinct seasonal variation in the distribution of phytoplankton. The lake was found to be moderately polluted and showed a trend of increasing eutrophication.
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The need for a simple, objective and reproducible numeric scale to represent water quality in terms that all types of user will accept has been apparent for the last twenty years. Subjective classifications of water quality have been made, but they are seldom reproducible and lack sensitivity. Now, a new family of water quality indices had been developed that can be used either independently or in combination which promise to overcome previous criticisms. They are currently being used by a UK water authority to assess their utility to personnel responsible for both the planning and day-to-day management of surface water quality.
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Alaro River is receiving industrial effluent as a point source. The water quality of the river upstream and downstream after the point of effluent discharge was assessed with the view of determining the effect of industrial effluent on the water quality of the river. The water samples were analyzed for dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, total solid (TS), chloride, sulphate, phosphate and heavy metals (Pb, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cr and Cu). The average levels of the parameters upstream were: pH (7.8 ± 0.5); DO (7.0 ± 1.3 mg/L); alkalinity (405 ± 103 mg CaCO3/L); TS (328.8 ± 106.7 mg/L); chloride (474.8 ± 154.1 mg/L); sulphate (2.3 ± 0.7 mg/L); phosphate (0.175 ± 0.026 mg/L); Pb (0.023 ± 0.001mg/L); Mn (0.169 ± 0.009 mg/L); Ni (0.011 ± 0.003 mg/L); Cd (0.004 ± 0.002 mg/L); Cr (0.003 ± 0.001 mg/L) and Cu (0.005 ± 0.001 mg/L). Much higher average levels of alkalinity (744 ± 80 mg CaCO3/L); total solids (1379 ± 389 mg/L); chloride (1126 ± 83 mg/L); sulphate (16.4 ± 13.9 mg/L); phosphate (4.62 ± 2.07 mg/L); Pb (0.14 ± 0.03 mg/L); Mn (0.456 ± 0.190 mg/L); Ni (0.03 ± 0.03 mg/L); Cd (0.01 ± 0.001 mg/L); Cr (0.021 ± 0.007 mg/L); Cu (0.0923 ± 0.035 mg/L) and lower average levels of pH (6.5 ± 0.5) and DO (0.63 ± 0.93 mg/L) were obtained downstream. The levels of most parameters in the effluent exceeded the effluent guideline for discharge into surface water. River's recovery capacities for the water quality parameters were fairly good and ranged between 36 and 90%.
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The physico-chemical parameters of water and waste waters in and around Vijayawada were studied in the months of January-December 2007 for a period of one year from seven different sites. Selected sites are Krishna river water (site-I), exit canal near Vijayawada thermal power plant (site-II), canal near agricultural fields (site-III), water present in agricultural fields (site-IV), drain water near SIRIS company (site-V), drain water near railway station (site-VI) and drain water near bus stand (site VII). Water samples were analyzed for various physical parameters like pH, temperature, turbidity, conductivity and total dissolved solids and chemical parameters like DO, BOD, COD, phosphates, sulphates, chlorides, hardness, alkalinity and nitrates. The results obtained were compared with standards of WHO. From the results it was found that the some of the water samples (sites I,II and III) are slightly polluted while waste waters of sites IV,V, VI and VII are highly polluted as a result of contamination with industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes. It is therefore recommended that more strict methods of waste effluent management should be adopted to reduce the inputs of pollutants into the river and surrounding waters.