Water quality of River Ganga with reference to physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics during Kanwar Mela 2017, at Haridwar, India: A case study

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to study the water quality of river Ganga during Kanwar Mela 2017 with reference to physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics at Haridwar city. Five sampling sites viz., Har ki Pauri (HKP), Vishnu Ghat (VG), Daksh Mandir (DM), Pul Jatwara (PJ) and Bhimgoda Barrage (BGB as control) were selected for collection of water samples. The reseult revealed that among the different sampling sites, the maximum values of EC (0.164 dS m^-1), TS (545 mg L^-1), TDS (320 mg L^-1), TSS (225 mg L^-1), pH (8.76), DO (10.04 mg L^-1), BOD (4.76 mg L^-1), COD (6.89 mg L^-1), Cl^– (124.50 mg L^-1), Hardness (232.54 mg L^-1), Alkalinity (158.36 mg L^-1), NO₃^2- (76.88 mg L^-1), SO₄^2- (228.34 mg L^-1), SPC (6.8×10⁶ SPC ml ^-1), MPN (4.6×10⁸  MPN 100 ml ^-1), Cd (BDL), Cu (0.171 mg L^-1), Cr (1.503 mg L^-1), Fe (3.642 mg L^-1), Ni (BDL) and Zn (2.456 mg L^-1) of Ganga River water were recorded higer at Har ki Pauri (HKP) in comparison to Vishnu Ghat (VG), Daksh Mandir (DM), Pul Jatwara (PJ) and Bhimgoda Barrage (BGB) sampling sites. Therefore, it was concluded from the present investigation that the mass bathing and relegious activities greatly influenced the water quality of River Ganga and significantly contributed to the water pollution of River Ganga during the Kanwar Mela 2017.