Water Quality Monitoring of National Aquatic Resources

The Central Pollution Control Board in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards has established a network comprising of 784 stations in 26 States and 5 Union Territories spread over the country for water quality monitoring of aquatic resources. The monitoring is done on monthly or quarterly basis in surface waters and on half yearly basis in case of groundwater. The monitoring network covers 168 Rivers, 53 Lakes, 5 Tanks, 2 Ponds, 3 Creeks, 3 Canals, 12 Drains and 181 groundwater Wells.

The monitoring results obtained during year 2003 indicate that organic pollution continues to be the predominant pollution of aquatic resources. The organic pollution measured in terms of bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) & coliform count gives the indication of extent of water quality degradation in different parts of our country. It is observed 67% of the observations, out of nearly 3000 observations are having BOD less than 3 mg/l, 18% between 3-6 mg/l & 15% above 6 mg/l. Similarly Total & Faecal coliform, which indicate presence of pathogens in water, are also of major concern. About 45% observations are having Total coliform and 58% observations are having Faecal Coliform less than 500 MPN /100 ml.

The trends of % of observations obtained during year 1994 to 2003 in different levels of pollution with respect to BOD & Total coliform and Faecal Coliform are presented ahead, indicating different ranges of BOD and Coliform organisms. It is clear from the data that there is a increasing trend in percentage of observations having BOD below 3 mg/l. This indicates that there is a gradual improvement in water quality with respect to organic pollution.

Water Quality Status & Trend from Year 1994 to 2003


BOD: Biochemical Oxygen Demand; TC: Total Coliform; FC: Faecal Coliform

Water Quality Status of River Yamuna in Delhi

River Yamuna is regularly being monitored by Central Pollution Control Board for assessment of water quality from its origin at Yamunotri to its confluence with Ganga River at Allahabad. It has been found that 22 km Delhi stretch of River Yamuna from downstream Wazirabad barrage to Okhla barrage is most polluted stretch of River Yamuna followed by Agra stretch. There is drastic change in Yamuna River water quality from Palla (upstream) to Nizamuddin old bridge and upstream Okhla barrage at Agra Canal as revealed by the water quality data. At Agra, the BOD ranged between 4 to 43 mg/l with annual average of 20 mg/l whereas Total coliform ranged between 2.1 x 106 to 17.1 x 107 Nos./100 ml. This indicate that the river water quality is not confirming the Total Coliform standard i.e. 5000 Nos./100 ml at most of the locations. The main reason of pollution in the river is the significant discharge of domestic and industrial waste from urban centers and over-extraction of river water for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Bio-monitoring of Surface Water Bodies

» Two rounds of bio-monitoring was conducted on perennial rivers in Assam State, such as Buridining, Disang, Jhanji, Dhasiri, Ellenga Beel, Subansiri, Borak, Brahmaputra, Malidor, Jia-Bhorali, Ranganadi, Bogi Nadi, Dikrang.
» Bio-mapping of rivers of Meghalaya State has been undertaken in Garo Hills District of Meghalaya State in collaboration with Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong, Meghalaya.
» Bio-monitoring of water quality was undertaken at wetlands in wildlife habitats of following States:

- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Meghalaya
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Tamilnadu

Water Quality Status of Hasdeo River

River Hasdeo, a tributory of Mahanadi flows in the stretch of 330 km from Hasdeo mountain North of Sonhat near Mindra village to Barra-Basantpur village, where it meets with the river Mahanadi. Its total catchment area is 9,803 sq.km.

The river is affected during its course by four urban/industrial centres i.e. Mahendragarh, Chirmiri, Korba and Champa. Among the four centres, Korba stands first based on the pollution contribution to the river Hasdeo, where four Thermal Power Plants generating 3650 MW power, Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd., producing aluminium and Indo-Burma Explosive plants are located. Treated partially or untreated wastewater generated from the industries/urban centres finds its way into the river or canals through three major nullahs/rivers i.e. Belgiri nullah, which carry wastewater from Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd., Dengur nullah carries wastewater from the ash-dykes/main plant of Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB, East) Thermal Power Plant, and Ahiran river carries wastewater from M/s.National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), CSEB (West) and M/s.BALCO Captive Power Plant located on the right bank of the river. The second contributor is Chirmiri town from which Koria nullah emerges out. Koria nullah carries wastewater from the coal mining areas (underground and open cast) as well as urban wastewater from the Chirmiri. Third contributor is Champa town where M/s.Madhya Bharat Paper Mill and Prakash Paper Ltd., are located on the either side of the river bank. Wastewater from the Manendragarh town also contributes pollution through Hasia nullah to river Hasdeo but to a lesser degree, due to distance from the river.

To study the water quality of river Hasdeo, total fourteen sampling stations were selected on the entire river stretch from origin to its confluence with river Mahanadi. The dissolved oxygen (DO) in river Hasdeo ranges from 4.9 mg/l (evening hours) to 8.00 mg/l (morning hours) at Amritdhara and at downstream to Chirmiri. In the tributaries/nullah, it varies from 3.8 mg/l to 6.6 mg/l at Dengur in different season. Depletion in the DO is observed due to the presence of organic/inorganic waste and lack of the aquatic life in the water bodies. BOD content in the river water ranges from less than 1 to 3.7 at Amritdhara and downstream to M/s.Madhya Bharat Paper Mill respectively. The COD content in the river varies from 1.5 mg/l to 16.8 mg/l at Bango dam and downstream to Madhya Bharat Paper Mill respectively. Increased BOD and COD at downstream to M/s.Madhya Bharat Paper Mill observed due to addition of the organic waste from paper mill to the water bodies in the tributaries/nullah. The heavy metal concentration except iron were found well within the limit in the entire river stretch. The iron content in the river water was exceeding the limit at most of the sampling locations including tributaries due to abundance of pyrite ore in the soil of the region. The pesticide content i.e. total BHC, total Endosulfan, Dieldrin & Total DDT were recorded in the river even at Amritdhara because of contribution from agriculture practices in the rural area. The run-off in the catchment area is the prime source of pesticides in the river.

River Hasdeo is having sufficient carrying/purification capacity. Its water quality get deteriorated to the maximum extent at Korba due to the wastewater discharges from various industrial activities such as aluminium plant, over-flow/seepage of red mud/black mud ponds, ash dyke. River get recovered in terms of its water quality after travelling upto Champa. At Champa after M/s.Madhya Bharat Paper Mills, river water quality get effected due to its wastewater discharges which, after travelling 30-40 km, recovered due to its self-purification capacity.

Water Quality Status of River Ganga

The water quality of River Ganga on monthly basis is being monitored from u/s Allahabad up to Tarighat i.e. Ganga a/c of River Gomti. With reference to designated best use (DBU) classification, the entire stretch of river Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad has been designated in category B of designated best use, which implies that water quality should be fit for uses like bathing, swimming, water contact sports etc. The status of water quality as observed in different phases of monitoring is as below:

· The values of DO has improved in year 2003 as compared to 2001 almost in all seasons and at all locations. B.O.D. values have reduced in year 2003 as compared to 2001, barring few locations in Varanasi, where the B.O.D. values have shown increase particularly in winter. Thus, it can be derived that water quality has shown improvement over past two years in general.

· The Coliforms does not confirm to designated best use class B.
· The water quality was observed poor in terms of BOD (4.5 mg/l) at Sangam in Allahabad and Dashashwamedh ghat (Varanasi).

Sampling at river Ganga was done from Rishikesh Laxmanjhula (Uttranchal) to Tarighat (Ghazipur) during the month of November, 2003, at 16 locations. The observed range of DO was 5.9-9.8 mg/l, BOD ranged from <1- 6.8 mg/l and the range of Total Coliform was 400-500000 MPN/100ml.

Pollutional Assessment of Mirik Lake, West Bengal

Mirik , the Block Head Quarter of the Darjeeling District in West Bengal is having about 780 sq km area. The importance of this area has increased vastly because of the seasonal agricultural products like Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Squashes etc. and the beautiful location commanding the view of Kanchenjungha. With the development of the Mirik Lake and its adjoining areas, the place has become more and more attractive to the tourists.

The development of Mirik is mainly oriented around the Lake at Mirik. The present population of Mirik is about 8000. The topography of the area is such that the whole area is sloping towards the Lake and as a result the wastewater and the surface run-off reaches to the Lake. The western bank of the Lake is having only outlet through a gap between the hillocks. For the residents, besides natural spring water, the water of the Lake is also the main source of water supply. The Mirik town is not having any sewerage systems, therefore, raw sewage along with agricultural runoffs are directly reaching the Mirik Lake and polluting it. The Central Pollution Control Board has initiated a study to assess the environmental status of Mirik Lake and its surrounding areas considering their direct impact on this lake, which is the main source of drinking water for the people residing in and around the Lake. The in-depth monitoring of Lake at different sides alongwith pollution assessment of major drains is being carried out. The pollution characteristics of Lake sediments, especially the heavy metals accumulation are being studied. The ambient air quality at four corners were also monitored. The monitoring had been planned to be taken up in three different seasons: Monsoon, Winter (the peak season area being a hilly area) and Pre-Monsoon/ Summer.

Analysis of the water samples reveals that the organic and inorganic load is very low during the monsoon season, whereas the inorganic load is comparatively much higher in the lean season. Bacterial contamination, especially the pathogenic type has also observed more in the lean season, than in the monsoon season. The reason for presence of high pathogenic bacteria may be primarily due to tourist influx in lean season. The concentration of mercury and zinc have been found high, may be due to application of weedicides and Rodenticides in the nearby agricultural fields. The chances of pollution contribution along with surface run-off from the adjacent agricultural/horticultural fields cannot be ruled out. The benthic masses characterisation of the Bio-monitoring also indicate 'C' class water quality of the lake. However, the air quality of Mirik is within acceptable limits.

Status of Municipal Bodies and Industries along the polluted river stretches in Orissa

In the Eastern region (West Bengal, Orissa, Sikkim and Jharkhand) eight polluted river stretches have been identified of which five lies in Orissa and one each in West Bengal, Sikkim and Jharkhand. These polluted river stretches are at Ib, Brahmani, Mahanadi, Kuakhai, Kathjodi, Damodar, Ranichu and Subarnarekha. The information/data regarding status of municipalities and industries located along the polluted river stretches in Orissa have been collated. The available information reveals that the industries were found to comply with the effluent discharge standards. The major cause of river water quality degradation is untreated municipal sewage from various municipal bodies/ULBs located along these stretches. Therefore, an Action Plan for development of Sewage Treatment facilities is envisaged, which may restore the natural condition in the river stretches.

River Godavari Monitoring during Kumbh Mela 2003 at Nasik

Nasik is well known as an important centre of pilgrimage in the country. The holy river Godavari, flows through Nasik from Trimbakeshwar and it is one of the four holiest places in India where the festival of Kumbh is organised. Kumbha Mela at Nasik is an important religious festival during which about two lakh Sadhus and about twent lakh pilgrims enjoyed sacred bath in the holy river Godavari during the year 2003.

Congregation of such a huge gathering for a short period of time imparts impact on the environment. The sustenance of water quality of the river during such congregation is an important aspect because everybody takes a dip in the river water. During Kumbh Mela at Nasik and Trimbakeshwar, the Central Pollution Control Board carried out monitoring of water quality at upstream and downstream of the bathing places and also at the place of bathing to assess the impact on the river water quality and also to assess the suitability of the river water for bathing purpose. The study revealed that river Godavari had advantage of good self-assimilation and self-cleaning capacity, due to heavy flow in the river during Kumbh Mela period. The local authorities also made extensive arrangements for discharge of sewage of the town in the extreme downstream of holy bathing place. The river water quality was found fit for bathing purpose during the Kumbh mela period.

Pesticides Residue Analysis in Packaged Drinking Water

Ten organo-chlorine and two organo-phosphorus pesticides were analysed in packaged drinking water samples of ten common brands randomly collected from various market places in Delhi. Among organo-chlorine pesticides, a-HCH (a-BHC) was detected in the samples of four brands in the range 4.358 ng/L to 9.950 ng/L. ?-HCH (?-BHC) was detected in two brands between 3.128 ng/L and 3.823 ng/L. p,p'DDE was detected only in one brand of bottled water (3.300 ng/L). None of the two organo-phosphorus pesticides were detected in ten brands of packaged drinking water samples.
The maximum admissible concentration for pesticides residue in drinking water intended for human consumption, as prescribed by the European Economy Community's (EEC) Directive 80/778/EEC, and adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are 100 ng/L for individual pesticide residue and 500 ng/L for total pesticide residue respectively.

Pesticides Residue Analysis in Carbonated Beverages