International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 2 Issue 3, March - 2013 Control Of Major Pollutants In River By Bioremediation: A Case Study - River Mutha - Pune. G S Anaokar1and Dr. A P Kalgapurkar2 1 Department of Civil Engineering; Sinhgad College of Engineering; Pune – 411007 (M.S), India 2 Professor; Department of Civil Engineering; Sinhgad College of Engineering; Pune – 411007 (M.S), India IJERTIJERT www.ijert.org 1 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 2 Issue 3, March - 2013 Abstract 12Km, and is carrying large amount of untreated and contaminated water. River plays a very vital role in social, cultural and After detailed chemical characterization of river economical development of any region. The rivers water at selective points it has been observed that flowing through Pune are getting polluted due to Bioremediation is one of economic and feasible activities related to humans, industries. The BOD, method to control river pollution aerobically. DO, Ph, Turbidity, microbial count etc are so high Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, that it is not suitable for irrigation or domestic primarily microorganisms, to degrade the purpose despite treatment at various STPs. environmental contaminants into less toxic forms. Inadequate treatment of sewage, contaminate It uses naturally occurring bacteria and fungi or rivers downwards and water bodies, wells, plants to degrade or detoxify substances hazardous groundwater in the vicinity. to human health and/or the environment. The Control over river pollution can be achieved by microorganisms may be indigenous to a some definite strategies including surveys, contaminated area or they may be isolated from systematic study of river basins, and elsewhere and brought to the contaminated site. characterization of contaminants, analyzing water Contaminant compounds are transformed by living parameters and finalizing action plan. organisms through reactions that take place as a The present work is in accordance with chemical part of their metabolic processes. Biodegradation of characterization of river Mutha-Pune. This study a compound is often a result of the actions of includes water quality characterization, finding multiple organisms. When microorganisms are major pollutants submerging through point and imported to a contaminated site to enhance non point sources, GIS plotting of river stream for degradation we have a process known as bio digitization of river stream showing pollutant augmentation. concentration and their behavior for spread and Present work will deal with chemical finally a control strategy Bioremediation. characterization of river water, and control over The study also helps to understand the possible major pollutants - heavy metals (Mercury, Lead, scenario of river water quality in the absence of arsenic and Zinc), chlorides, phosphates and certain category. The above case study also nitrates by bioremediation. emphasizes that Indian cities needs to revive and sustain rivers. 2. Preliminary Observations. 1. Introduction The flowing rivers are getting polluted due to Mutha river has a prime importance in the economy human activities and effluents from industries. of area aside. River bank attracts developers forIJERT IJERTMutha River one of the prime water sources for residential, commercial and industrial Pune city is getting contaminated because of developments whereas it already has been enriched urbanization, industrialization and population along with agricultural lands. The tremendous bank. Presently no treatment is being adopted development along the riverside has resulted in before discharging the waste water into the river. polluting river water stream as it is very common to Hazardous effect on river ecosystem - River discharge waste water as well as garbage into the ecosystem is of prime importance in environmental river. ecosystems. There are around 170 different species The area under investigation has that exists in the river which maintain a very good Residential building along river bank - environmental balance through food chain and food discharges their septic tank effluent, storm water web. This ecosystem not only consists of aquatic and sewage. life but also ecosystems along river bank. Agricultural lands - discharges the pesticides and In case of Mutha River the temperature of river chemical fertilizers into the river. water is objectionable. Effluent stream carries Industries: Along the river most of the industries higher nitrates, sulfates and heavy metals to some are the manufacturing units. Some of them process extent. All this badly affects the river ecosystems cement, metal, silica sand and other are Small Scale and needs to be controlled. Industries dealing with electronic devices, chemical Health hazard to human being – Water is the life industries dealing with detergents, caustic, bottling for human being. Human beings always prefer not plants, battery works etc. The effluent from these only pure but clean and hygienic water source. At industries is let out in the river directly. the same time water is one of the prime reasons for Municipal sewer: The sewage from municipal many communicable diseases. The potable water sewer line is also directly connected to the river. should be as per WHO standard and free from any The common Nala collecting all storm water, kind of contaminants. domestic sewage, industrial water–treated/untreated In case of Mutha River the industrial effluent is directly discharged without any processing into stream is directly introduced into the Mutha River. the river. This Nala is having length of about 10- The stream water has been found with higher www.ijert.org 2 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 2 Issue 3, March - 2013 temperature, acidic, excess total solids and d. Pollution Control strategy: Bioremediation is contaminated with heavy metals like mercury, lead one of the effective methods to control the water & zinc. pollution aerobically. As this contaminated water is being utilized by Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, civilians it may harm the human health leading to primarily microorganisms, to degrade the skin diseases, cancer, eye irritation, allergies etc. environmental contaminants into less toxic Health hazard to livestock – It is also observed forms. It uses naturally occurring bacteria and that the same contaminated water is being utilized fungi or plants to degrade or detoxify substances by civilians for their cattle cleaning, sweeping, hazardous to human health and/or the drinking and bathing purpose. environment. The microorganisms may be As these cattle are used for dairy purpose the milk indigenous to a contaminated area or they may quality will definitely get affected because of be isolated from elsewhere and brought to the intake of polluted water. It has been observed that contaminated site. Contaminant compounds are the livestock are also falling sick due to polluted transformed by living organisms through water. reactions that take place as a part of their metabolic processes. Biodegradation of a 3. Methodology compound is often a result of the actions of multiple organisms. When microorganisms are Water quality parameters are means to describe the imported to a contaminated site to enhance chemical, physical and biological characteristics of degradation we have a process known as bio water usually in respect to its suitability for augmentation. particular purposes2. The qualitative parameters In case of river pollution control microorganisms derived from water samples were collected at which catalyze process of oxidation need to be various locations along the urban stretch of Mutha introduced. River (approx. about 11Km) (Fig. I). Fifteen (15) sampling stations were fixed starting from The parameters are total suspended solids (TSS), Khadakwasala dam downstream. Water samples total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, biochemical were collected from these stations. The water oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand samples were tested in the laboratory for different (COD). The above parameters revealed the overall physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. health condition of river. The aforesaid polluting Figure 1- Study area parameters are mainly present in the Mutha River (Kanase et al. 2005). So, much attention and emphasis has been laid towards the quantification IJERTof wastewater generation, its prevention from IJERTmixing directly to river and partial biological treatment. Above-mentioned parameters were derived for assessing the Mutha river urban watershed health assessment. The qualitative parameters deal with only with the nature / characteristics and not the volumes / quantities of the themes under consideration. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) represents the total a. Sampling of stream water: For systematic suspended solids / nondissolved in water (Kanase study of river water quality it is essential to et al. 2005). Total Suspended Solids (TSS) maps have proper sampling. were derived from random samples collected from b. Characterization of stream water: Chemical Mutha River. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) zones characterization of stream water is carried out to were derived from fifteen random samples determine contamination. Chemical collected from Mutha River. characterization also helps to design pollution Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) control mechanism. As this river is