Surface Water Quality Variation Under the Inuence of COVID-19 Quarantine on the Example of the Yamuna River (Delhi) Nadeem A Khan Jamia Millia Islamia Central University: Jamia Millia Islamia Afzal Husain Khan Jazan University Mohd. Aamir Mazhar Jamia Millia Islamia Central University: Jamia Millia Islamia Mahmoud Abdelrahim Abdelgiom Jazan University Krishna Kumar Yadav (
[email protected] ) Madhyanchal Professional University Akanksha Yadav Banaras Hindu University Faculty of Science Marina M.S. Cabral-Pinto University of Aveiro: Universidade de Aveiro Shalini Yadav Ravindra College of Engineering for Women Research Article Keywords: River Yamuna, COVID-19, Lockdown, Dissolved Oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen Demand. Posted Date: July 8th, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-591594/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/18 Abstract During the current COVID-19 pandemic, various forms of lockdown have been adopted, globally. This study evaluated the contamination changes (pre, post and during the lockdown) in the Yamuna River following the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown from 25 March–30 May (India). Samples of the surface water were taken from 9 sampling points to determine the physico-chemical, and biological concentration changes in surface water. The investigation showed the uctuating results of the parameters. The peak saturation of physico-chemical parameters were observed prior to lockdown, followed by the post and during lockdown phases. The BOD and COD concentrations declined by 66% and 39.25%, respectively, compared to the pre-lockdown phase, while Faecal Coliform declined by over 40%. The improvement shown in this period indicates that it is possible for the Yamuna River to be cleaned up easily if people and the government come together.