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Increase in population, urbanization and industrialization is causing an ever-increasing threat to the quality of waters in rivers, lakes and ponds in India. Each time water is used for some activity, its quality is degraded. Unfortunately, the sanctity attached to rivers in the country does not ensure that the rivers are clean.  

Class A: River water fit for drinking after proper disinfection with the addition of chlorine or bleaching powder.

Class B: This water is fit for bathing.

Class C: Water fit for drinking only after proper treatment (screening to remove physical matters or particulate such as paper, plastic, etc.

Class D: This is fit for fish and wildlife.

Class E: Suitable only for industrial cooling, irrigation, etc.

(Source : www.edugreen.teri.res.in)

 

Average Chemical Composition (ppm) of Some Indian Rivers

River

HCO3

Cl

S04

SiO2

Ca

Mg

Na

K

TDS

Brahmaputra

56

11

4

7

14

5

7

3

107

Cauvery

135

20

13

23

21

9

43

4

272

Ganga

128

10

11

18

25

8

11

3

241

Godavari

105

17

8

10

22

5

12

3

181

Gomti

274

9

15

15

30

19

27

5

394

Indus

64

5

23

5

54

12

10

0.3

173

Krishna

178

38

49

24

29

8

30

2

360

Mahanadi

122

23

3

17

24

13

14

8

224

Narmada

225

20

5

9

14

20

27

2

322

Tapi

150

65

1

16

19

22

48

3

322

 

Water pollution varies in severity from one region to the other, depending on the density of urban development, agricultural and industrial practices, and the systems for collecting and treating wastewater. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India, has identified some of the polluted river stretches and possible sources of pollution. Most of the polluted stretches exist in and around large urban areas.

 

Some Polluted River Stretches in India

River

Polluted stretch

Desired class

Existing class

Critical parameters

Possible source of pollution

Chambal

Downstream of Nagda and downstream of Kota

C

D/E

BOD, DO

Domestic and industrial waste from Nagda and Kota

Damodar

Downstream of Dhanbad

C

D/E

BOD, Toxicity

Industrial wastes from Dhanbad, Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia and Burnpur

Godavari

Downstream of Nasik and Nanded

C

D/E

BOD

Wastes from sugar industries, distilleries and food processing industries

Gomti

Lucknow to confluence with Ganga

C

D/E

DO, BOD, Coliform

Industrial wastes from distilleries and domestic wastes from Lucknow

Hindon

Saharanpur to confluence with Yamuna

C

D

DO, BOD, Toxicity

Industrial and domestic wastes from Saharanpur and Ghaziabad

Kali

Downstream of Modinagar to confluence with Ganga

C

D/E

BOD, Coliform

Industrial and domestic wastes from Modinagar

Krishna

Karad to Sangli

C

D/E

BOD

Wastes from sugar industries and distilleries

Sabarmati

Immediate upstream of Ahmedabad up to Sabarmati Ashram

B

 

E

DO, BOD, Coliform

Domestic and industrial waste from Ahmedabad

Sabarmati Ashram to Vautha

D

E

DO, BOD, Coliform

Domestic and industrial waste from Ahmedabad

Satluj

Downstream of Ludhiana to Harike

 

C

D/E

DO, BOD

Industrial wastes from hosieries, tanneries, electro-plating and engineering industries and domestic waste from Ludhiana and Jalandhar

Downstream of Nangal

C

D/E

Ammonia

Wastes from fertilizer and chloralkali mills from Nangal

Subarnarekha

Hatia dam to Bharagora

C

D/E

-do-

Domestic and industrial waste from Ranchi and Jamshedpur

Yamuna

Delhi to confluence with Chambal

C

D/E

DO, BOD, Coliform

Domestic and industrial wastes from Delhi, Mathura and Agra

In the city limits of Delhi, Mathura and Agra

B

D/E

DO, BOD, Coliform

Domestic and industrial wastes from Delhi, Mathura and Agra

a BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), DO (dissolved oxygen).                                                         Source: CPCB