J. Exp. Zool. India Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 403-409, 2011 ISSN 0972-0030 STUDY OF THE COMPARATIVE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF POTABLE AND POLLUTED GANGA RIVER WATER AT KANPUR IN REFERENCE TO THE TANNERY EFFLUENTS DISCHARGED IN THE RIVER Reeta Johri, Manjusha Dey and P. K. Johri Department of Zoology, D.A.V. College, Kanpur - 208 001, India. e mail : [email protected] (Accepted 18 February 2011) ABSTRACT – In Kanpur, river Ganga takes entry at Bithoor and passing along several ghats and lakes it exist at Jajmau covering a distance about 22 Km. The fish fauna in different region of river Ganga at Kanpur is of different categories according to a degree of pollution at various ghats. Therefore, for a study purpose a stretch of about 24 Km. of river Ganga is selected for the upper stream near Bithoor, middle stream to the Permat region and to the down stream at Kanpur near Jajmau up to new Jajmau bridge. The physico-chemical analysis of the water samples collected from upper, middle, and down streams of river Ganga from tannery area to Jajmau automobile transport bridge revealed that almost all the major characteristics were little beyond permissible limits. The water as such could not be used both for drinking and bathing purposes. It could only be used for irrigation in fields but after treatment. The low values of dissolved oxygen (8.993±8.50, 6.2±2.0 and 3.40±0.360) affected potability of water and caused mortality of fish and other aquatic animals in Bithoor, Permat and Jajmau, respectively. The magnesium toxicity (19.760±0.055, 32.150±0.046 and 68.30±0.30) caused nausea, muscular weakness or even paralysis to the villagers, residing near by areas. The high percentage of cadmium (1.660±0.55, 1.850±0.045 and 3.20±0.30) caused vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, giddiness, bone deformation, hypertension, choking, coughing and bronchitis to resident of the people residing in that areas particularly in Jajmau. The high percentage of chromium (2.830±0.026, 4.90±0.854 and 11.20±1.0) also caused mortality and low longevity of the aquatic organisms particularly fishes. The high MPN values (42.0±2.0, 91.0±6.0 and 112.0±2.0) and BOD values (11.70±1.30, 23.50±3.0 and 30.0±5.0) also indicated the organic pollution in the Bithoor, Permat and Jajmau region. The result of turbidity (4.0±0.10, 7.20±0.20 and 9.80±0.40) showed that water was very dirty near Jajmau region because it is the entry point of the tannery effluents discharged in the river Ganga while the water of Permat and Bithoor zone is not so dirty because it is diluting during the course of its movement, but it could not be recommended for animals and human beings before treatment. The water in the Bithoor region could be used for bathing and agriculture as such but could also be used for drinking purpose after treatment. Key words : River Ganga, Ghat, Bithoor, Permat, Jajmau, organic pollution. INTRODUCTION bridge. The middle stream which is highly polluted due to It is well recognized that the tanning industries in India an entry of sewage and industrial effluents. is a potential polluting agent, which produces unpleasant The water samples were collected from three odor and causes nuisance, surface and ground water selected sites. A- Upper stream from Bithoor, B-Middle pollution. Main pollutants are the toxic chemicals used in stream (dense area of Kanpur city) and C- Down stream the tanneries besides the solid waste released as the liquid of river Ganga (from tannery area to Jajmau Automobile discharged of the factories. These chemicals alter the Transport Bridge), more or less at fixed early morning chemical composition of a natural aquatic environment hours. by the industrial effluents. Johri et al, (1991; 1993;1995), Collection of water samples : Johri (1998), Johri and Johri (2004). In Kanpur, river The water samples were collected in plastic Jerry Ganga takes entry at Bithoor and passing along several cans or in Polythene bags, from the selected zones of the ghats, takes it exit at Jajmau, covering a distance about river Ganga at Kanpur, below the surface of water, no 22 km. The fish fauna in different regions of river Ganga floating materials were allowed to enter the white plastic at Kanpur is of different categories according to the Jerry cans /Polythene bags, after collection they were degree of pollution at various ghats. Therefore, for the sealed on the mouth. The collected samples were study purpose stretch of 24 km of river Ganga is selected immediately transported to the laboratory for the analysis. from the upper stream near Bithoor to the down middle The maximum storage limit of water was 48 hr. The stream (dense area of Kanpur city that is Permat) to the water samples were analyzed for various pollution down stream at Kanpur near Jajmau up to new Jajmau parameters like BOD, COD, pH, SS, and OS etc. and 404 Reeta Johri et al standard methods, procedures as described by Kudasia high and were almost at saturation level. The bacterial (1980) and APHA (1998) were followed. count (35.00±5.00) and presence of nitrogen(7.900±0.953) Potable water : indicated a trace of organic pollution but dilution was also very significant due to high flow of river water current. Any water can be called a potable water if it is free The water could be used for bathing and agriculture as from undesirable odors, flavors and contains no bacteria such but could also be used for drinking purposes after incapable of creating human diseases. treatment. Polluted water : Interpretation of the result of mid stream water The presence of phenols, industrial waste, hydrogen that is potable Water of riverine zone at Permat sulfides etc. cause a undesirable off-flavors to the water region : and contain bacteria capable of creating human diseases The analysis of water (Table 1) showed that almost is called polluted water. all major characteristics were little beyond permissible For testing the potability of water the following three limits. The water was though transparent but was having types of examination were done. slightly earthy smell. The high values of B.O.D Physical examination : (15.670±0.065) ,volatile solid residue (75.00±5.0) and total 1. Color nitrogen (20.800±0.600) were clear evidence of organic 2. Odor and taste pollution. The high value of MPN coliform also suggested 3. Turbidity organic pollution. Both the value of MPN coliform 4. Ph (45.00±5.00) and B.O.D (15.670±0.065) were much 5. Oil and Grease. beyond the permissible limit for water intended for drinking Chemical examination : purposes. The high values of bacterial count and nitrogen (20.80±0.600) also provided that evidence of organic 6. Total Hardness pollution of animal origin. Such type of water could be 7. Acidity used for agriculture. Bathing was not advisable as there 8. Alkalinity was risk of contacting some diseases. Washing of clothes 9. Total Solids could also not be recommended as clothes might contain 10. Dissolved solids germs which could cause diseases. The water could not 11. Dissolved oxygen be recommended for drinking for animals and human 12. Free carbon dioxide beings before treatment. 13. Phenols Interpretation of the result of mid stream water 14. Sulfides that is potable water of riverine zone of Jajmau 15. Chlorides region : 16. BOD The water analysis (Table 1) have shown the presence 17. COD of some toxic substances like lead (3.100±0.100), 18. Chromium chromium (0.900±0.100), cadmium (1.200±0.200), zinc 19. All heavy metals. (1.200±0.050), Magnesium (22.70±0.500), nickel Microbiological examination : (3.00±0.500) and cobalt (0.900±0.020) which were highly Total count and coliform MPN injurious to health and could not be removed by normal RESULTS AND DISCUSSION method of water treatment. The water was semitransparent and was having semi foul smell. The high The physico chemical analysis of potable and polluted MPN values (87.00±4.582) and B.O.D.(23.510±0.065) river water is depicted in Table (1) and Table (2). values also indicated the organic pollution. The result of The comparative physico-chemical analysis of potable turbidity (6.750±0.050) showed that water was very dirty. river water : There was too much solid pollution also exceedingly high Interpretation of the result of mid stream water that suggesting that the water had high degree of organic is potable water of riverine zone at Bithoor region: pollution and was not fit for drinking and bathing both. It could only be used for agriculture purposes but after the The analysis of water (Table 1) showed that almost treatment. all major characteristics were within permissible limits. The water was transparent, odorless and have a good The comparative physico-chemical analysis of taste. The dissolved oxygen values (15.50±0.458) were polluted river water : Physicochemical analysis of Ganga river 405 Table 1 : Comparative physico-chemical analysis of potable Ganga river water in Water is one of the prime Bithoor, Permat and Jajmau zone. necessities of life. Our civilization Physical, chemical Riverine zone (water analysis values of selected areas faces a unique crises in the form of and microbiological water pollution turning the major rivers characteristics Bithoor Permat Jajmau into sewer threatening the health of 1 Color Transparent Transparent Semi-transparent millions of urban and rural folk, at the 2 Odor Odorless Slightly earthy Semi-foul smell receiving end of the industrial effluents 160.00±5.00 165.00±5.00 176.666±5.773 and the city wastes.