Assessment of Water Quality Status of Chandrabhaga River at Rishikesh, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

In the background of the ambitious ‘National Mission for Clean Ganga’ to clean, conserve and protect the River Ganga in a comprehensive manner, this study was undertaken to evaluate the status of Water Quality of Chandrabhaga river at Rishikesh, district Dehradun, India, between the Dhalwala bridge area and Mayakund area where it merges with the river Ganga, affecting adversely its water quality. The characteristics of Chandrabhaga river water were assessed during July to September 2017 by monitoring the water quality at most garbeged and contaminated five locations by determining physicochemical and biological parameters and metal ions. The observed values of dissolved oxygen (DO) varied from 0.4 to 1.29 mg/L, such a low DO, high biological oxygen demand (BOD, 21 ± 2.64 to 56 ±6.08 mg/L) and much high Coliform (1760 ±13.23 to3180 ±27.61 MPN/ 100 ml) at all the locations reflects the poor water quality of Chandrabhaga River. Recorded values of total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), alkalinity, phosphate, sodium, potassium and calcium exceeded the WHO standards. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed the highly positive correlations all the time between EC and TDS, TH and TDS, TH and EC, while during high flow period good correlations were recorded between alkalinity and pH, TDS, EC and TH. Irrigation water quality parameters such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) and Kelly’s Ratio was evaluated to test the suitability of river water for irrigation purpose.