Environmental and Applied Bioresearch Published Online July 15, 2015 (

Journal of Environmental and Applied Bioresearch Published online July 15, 2015 (http://www.scienceresearchlibrary.com)

ISSN: 2319 8745 Vol. 03, No. 03, pp. 137 - 141

Research Article Open Access

SUITABILITY OF GANGA CANAL WATER FOR DRINKING PURPOSE AT HARIDWAR

(UTTARAKHAND), INDIA

N. Kamboj, R.S. Aswal*

Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, India

Received: June 07, 2015 / Accepted : June 09, 2015 ⓒ Science Research Library

Abstract Introduction The lack of awareness and education among peoples The quality of water in an aquatic ecosystem is basically coupled with poor legislations has resulted into deterioration of water depends on physical, chemical and biological characteristics of its sources and subsequently, their health related aspect. Water quality surrounding atmosphere (Langmuir, 1997; Lester and Birkett, index (WQI) is an indicator of water quality, which reveals the 1999 and Choudhury et al., 2014). The Water Quality Index composite influence of a number of water quality parameters and is (WQI) is an index that reflects the composite influence of a variety useful in determining suitability of water for drinking purpose in easy of water quality parameters (Brown et al., 1970; Prati et al., 1971; and understandable way even by a common and non-scientific person. To assess the water quality of Ganga River at Goa Beach, Rishikesh as Singh and Anandh, 1996; Alexander et al., 1999; Swamee and reference site and Ganga Canal at Bhimgoda Barrage (Haridwar), Tyagi, 2000; Pesce and Wunderlin, 2000; Nair et al., 2005; Nair et Premnagar Ashram (Haridwar), Pathari Power Plant (Bahadrabad), al., 2006; Bordalo et al., 2006; Sanchez et al., 2007; Saha et al., Rail Bridge (Roorkee) and Uttam Sugar Mill Ltd., Narsan 2007 and Saha, 2010). There are several types of water quality (Uttarakhand), India as experimental sites for drinking purpose was indexes namely Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index carried out for a period of 6 months on monthly basis from Sep-2013 (WAWQI), National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index to Feb-2014 for 11 water quality parameters on average basis namely (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment turbidity, pH, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, total dissolved solids Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (TDS), calcium, magnesium, sulphate, nitrate and iron were (OWQI) etc. The WAWQI is commonly applied for the considered in calculation of WQI by Weighted Arithmetic method. assessment of water quality of relevant water body. So far several The calculated higher values of WQI indicated that water of Ganga studies on the water quality of various Himalayan Rivers have River and Ganga Canal at none of the study site was found suitable for been carried out by many researchers (Chakrapani, 2005; Semwal drinking purpose. These higher WQI values may be ascribed due to the and Akolkar, 2006; Okendro et al., 2007; Bhandari and Nayal, higher concentrations of turbidity and iron parameters as per specified 2008; Sati and Paliwal, 2008; Singh et al., 2008; Kaushik et al., water quality rating. 2009; Kumar and Bahadur, 2009 and Kansal et al., 2011).

However, none of these studies gives a comprehensive picture Keywords: WQI, Water Quality Parameters, Ganga Canal, Rishikesh, about suitability of water quality of Ganga River and Ganga Canal Haridwar for drinking need at different popular sites of Tehri and Haridwar districts.

Therefore, present study has been undertaken to provide knowledge and information about suitability of Ganga River and Ganga Canal water for drinking need to the water planning and management departments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:- Study Area

Water samples were collected from Ganga River and

Ganga Canal, which are flowing through Tehri and Haridwar

districts on monthly basis at 6 different sites for a period of 6 *Corresponding authors: [email protected] months from September-2013 to February-2014. The sampling

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Suitability of ganga canal water for drinking purpose at Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India 138 sites, their GPS co-ordinates and elevation above mean sea level Categorization of Water Quality for Drinking Purpose are given below in Table 1: The categorization of water quality on the basis of Table 1: Location of sampling sites, GPS co-ordinates and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (as unit weight is used elevation above mean sea level (MSL) to calculate the WQI) has mentioned in following Table 2: S.N. Name of Sampling Latitude/ Elevation Location Sampling Sites Longitude above Sites Code MSL (m) Table 2: Categorization of Water Quality Rating as per WQI 1. Goa Beach SS 1 N 29º 60’ 285 Rishikesh values for Drinking Purpose 25.9”/ E S. No. Category Scale of Water Quality Water Quality Rating 078º 14’ Index (WQI) (WQR) 28.1” 1. A <25 Excellent 2. Bhimgoda SS 2 N 29º 60’ 275 Haridwar 2. B 26-50 Good Barrage 25.9”/ E 3. C 51-75 Poor 078º 14’ 4. D 76-100 Very Poor 28.1” 5. E >100 Unsuitable 3. Premnagar SS 3 N 29º 55’ 266 Haridwar Ashram 48.8”/ E 078º 08’ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10.3” The statistical analyzed data of 11 water quality 4. Pathari SS 4 N 29º 55’ 240 Bahadrabad Power 41.5”/ E parameters at Goa Beach, Rishikesh (reference site); Bhimgoda Plant 078º 02’ Barrage, Haridwar; Premnagar Ashram, Haridwar; Pathari Power 24.7” Plant, Bahadrabad, Rail Bridge, Roorkee and Uttam Sugar Mill 5. Rail Bridge SS 5 N 29º 50’ 244 Roorkee 59.4”/ E Ltd., Narsan (experimental sites) from Sep-2013 to Feb-2014 is 077º 52’ given in Table 3 as follows: 49.0” 6. Uttam SS 6 N 29º 242 Narsan The data of all six study sites have been used Sugar 44’ statistically. The values were calculated as minimum, maximum, Mill Ltd. 00.7”/ E mean and standard deviation. These mean values were used in 077º 51’ WQI to make it easy and understandable for drinking purpose. 30.9” During the study period WQI value was calculated 311.20 at Goa Beach, Rishikesh. Therefore, it was graded ‘E’ and found Collection of Water Samples unsuitable for drinking purpose. Similarly, Bhimgoda Barrage also had higher WQI value as 272.14. It was found above 100 and thus, The water sample collection was carried out through graded as ‘E’ (unsuitable for drinking purpose). Further, water grab sampling method. The collection of water samples, their quality rating of Ganga Canal was observed unsuitable at preservation and transportation to the laboratory followed by Premnagar Ashram due to being WQI as 285.60 and graded ‘E’. analysis were carried out as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): 10500 (2012) and American Public Health Association (APHA), The water quality rating of Ganga River, Tehri and Ganga Canal, 1998 methods. Haridwar on the Basis of Calculated WQI Values is described in Table 4 as given below: Analysis Procedure of Water Samples Physico-chemical parameters i.e. pH and turbidity were Study site of Pathari Power Plant at Bahadrabad was analyzed on-site. Whereas, TDS, alkalinity, chloride and total determined ‘E’ because of higher WQI value, which was hardness were analyzed in laboratory. Analysis of nitrate and calculated 399.90. It makes the water of Ganga Canal unsuitable sulfate were carried out by using UV-VIS Spectrophotometer for drinking at respective site. Furthermore, due to being 686.11 (Make: Hach; Model: DR 5000). While, Ca, Mg and Fe were (WQI value) the water of Ganga Canal at concerned site was also analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (Make: found unsuitable. Moreover, the water at Uttam Sugar Mill Ltd. Varian; Model: AA 240). (Narsan) was also graded as ‘E’, which cannot be used for drinking purpose. Water Quality Index (WQI) Water of all the above stated sites had higher values of The WQI of Ganga River and Ganga Canal is used to WQI, which may be ascribed due to higher values of turbidity and determine its suitability for drinking purpose, which is based on 11 iron. For turbidity parameter, these values were reported up to water quality characteristics was calculated by adopting the averagely thirteen times higher than its permissible limit as per procedures and equations (Kaur et al., 2001; Debels et al., 2005; BIS (2012). Similarly, for iron parameter, these values were Nair et al., 2006; Akoteyon et al., 2011; Bharti and Katyal, 2011 averagely seven times more than its prescribed limit of BIS, 2012. and Kankal et al., 2012). The possible cause for this contamination may be higher rainfall in The weighted arithmetic water quality index is the hilly areas, confluence of various polluted, seasonal small calculated on the basis of following formula: streams, rivers, etc. into Ganga River and thus, into Ganga Canal. WQI = ∑ WiQi Besides of these activities, mixing of untreated as well as partially Where, Wi = Unit Weight of ith water quality variable, treated domestic and municipal sewages also contributed up to Qi = Quality Rating of ith water quality variable large extent.

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Suitability of ganga canal water for drinking purpose at Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India 139

Table 3: Statistically analyzed data of 11 water quality parameters at all 6 Sites of Ganga Canal, Haridwar from Sep-2013 to Feb- 2014

Parameters Goa Beach, Bhimgoda Premnagar Pathari Power Rail Bridge, Uttam Sugar Mill BIS: 10500 (2012) Rishikesh Barrage, Ashram, Plant, Roorkee Ltd., Narsan Haridwar Haridwar Bahadrabad

Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD DL PL

Turbidity, 47.13 50.82 41.53 47. 56.83 66. 54.20 62.76 60.23 67.64 66.62 77.62 1 5 NTU 35 35

pH 7.72 0.13 7.76 0.1 7.71 0.2 7.66 0.16 7.69 0.19 7.66 0.20 6.5 - No Relax 3 2 8.5

TDS, mg/L 172.17 19.67 175 14. 189.67 18. 179 17.20 181.50 4.09 179.50 9.87 500 2000 95 52

Total 122.33 12.93 119 5.6 126 16. 133 23.96 123.83 16.20 117 7.40 200 600 Hardness, 2 86 mg/L

Alkalinity, 82.50 9.75 80.50 7.9 88.50 8.0 85.83 10.05 87.67 3.67 83 8.46 200 600 mg/L 4 9

Chloride, 2.13 0.98 2.35 1.1 2.83 0.3 2.18 0.72 2.13 0.53 2.28 1.00 250 1000 mg/L 2 8

Sulphate, 18.83 4.02 22.50 2.9 23.33 5.2 21 5.76 20.83 4.02 23.33 3.44 200 400 mg/L 5 4

Nitrate, mg/L 2.15 1.83 1.43 0.7 1.68 1.2 1.55 0.59 1.85 0.72 1.87 1.14 45 No Relax 9 9

Calcium, 28.37 4.25 28.61 3.5 31.19 4.7 29.38 3.74 28.43 1.62 29.32 2.89 75 200 mg/L 9 3

Magnesium, 7.84 2.62 8.74 1.4 9.32 1.7 8.21 0.79 9.10 0.68 8.09 1.11 30 100 mg/L 7 5

Iron, 0.86 1.22 0.75 1.0 0.74 0.9 1.13 1.63 2.06 2.96 1.92 1.86 0.30 No mg/L 0 6 Relax

SD = Standard Deviation, DL = Desirable Limit, PL = Permissible Limit

Table 4: Water Quality Rating of Ganga River, Tehri and Ganga Canal, Haridwar on the Basis of Calculated WQI Values

S.N Sampling Site Specifications Water Quality Index Water Quality Grading Water Quality Rating . Values

1. Goa Beach, Rishikesh Above 100 311.20 E Unsuitable for drinking

2. Bhimgoda Barrage, -Do- 272.14 E Unsuitable for drinking Haridwar

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Suitability of ganga canal water for drinking purpose at Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India 140

3. Premnagar Ashram, -Do- 285.60 E Unsuitable for drinking Haridwar

4. Pathari Power Plant, -Do- 399.90 E Unsuitable for drinking Bahadrabad

5. Rail Bridge, Roorkee -Do- 686.11 E Unsuitable for drinking

6. Uttam Sugar Mill Ltd., -Do- 650.87 E Unsuitable for drinking Narsan Bharti, N. and Katyal, D. (2011). Water quality indices used for Conclusion: surface water vulnerability assessment. Int. J. Environ. Sci., Present study assessed the water quality of Ganga River 2(1): 154–173. at Goa Beach, Rishikesh of Tehri (reference site) and Ganga Canal Bordalo, A.A., Teixeira, R. and Wiebe, W.J. (2006). A water quality at five sites of Haridwar Districts (experimental sites) for drinking index applied to an international shared river basin: The purpose through WAWQI values. However, the study pointed out case of the Douro River. Environ. Manage., 38(6): 910-920. that water quality of none of the site was found suitable for Brown, R.M., Mcclelland, N.I., Deinnings, R.A., Tagore, R.G. (1970). A water quality index, do we dare? 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The study also Area of Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India. Int. Res. J. of concluded that there is immense need of installation of treatment Environ. Sci., 3(9). plants and maintenance of those treatment plants, which are not Debels, P., Figueeroa, R., Urrutla, R., Barra, R. and Niel, X. (2005). working properly. Hence, this study can create a milestone to Evaluation of water quality in the Chillan river (Central reduce the increasing pressure on depleting ground water sources Chile) using physico-chemical parameters and modified of plain areas like Haridwar. This critical issue draws due attention water quality index. Environmental Monitoring and of various public water supply departments for the installation of Assessment, 110: 301-322. new, advanced and reproducible treatment plants and proper Kankal, N.C., Indurkar, M.M., Gudadhe, S.K. and Wate, S.R. (2012). maintenance of existing treatment plants. 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