ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 Volume VII: No. 1 2016 [26 – 35] [ISSN 0975 - 6272] [www.essence-journal.com] Physico-chemical Characterization of Indira Gandhi Canal, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) Midha, Rachna1; Dhingra, Abha1 and Malhotra, G.S. 2 Received: January 25, 2016 Accepted: March 16, 2016 Online: June 30, 2016 Abstract Introduction The present study was carried out on the Indira The Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGNP) was Gandhi Canal to evaluate the water quality with introduced for arid north-western part of special reference to physico-chemical parameters Rajasthan to meet the demand for food like pH, conductance, DO, BOD, COD, TA, production against the increasing population TDS, TSS, TS, Total Hardness, Chloride growth. Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Content, Sulphate Content, Nitrate Content and districts fall within the project, and form large Calcium Content for ten different sites of command area. These are the very productive selected canal stretch. Average estimated values areas of Rajasthan, which has been famous for are compared with BIS. The Comparison is high yields of wheat, rice and cotton after the showing that all water quality parameters that are inception of lndira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP). examined are above the BIS’s permissible limit. Along the irrigation the entire population of the It figures out that it is not suitable for drinking both districts is depended upon the IGNP for purpose and there is strong need forpreservation drinking water supply. and monitoring of Indira Gandhi Canal water. In the recent years it was observed that pollution Keywords: IGCW | Physico-chemical Characters level in Indira Gandhi Canal has been raised due to the freely discharge of industrial effluents and municipal sewage to IGNP. So, IGNP water has For correspondence: direct concern with the society and human health. 1 Department of Botany, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar 2Department of Environmental Science, MaharshiDayanand Method and Material College, Sri Ganganagar E-mail: [email protected] The grab samples were collected in thoroughly cleaned polythene bottles once a month from 26 Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 each sampling site in between the Jan 2014 – Sampling Site-1 (GPS Cordinate-29.450815, Dec. 2015. After taking the samples, they were 74.521113) analysed for specified parameters in the 2) Sampling Site-2 (GPS Cordinate-29.385735, laboratory and appropriate statistical test were 74.452418) performed. 3) Sampling Site-3 (GPS Cordinate-29.327498, 74.383554) All the samples were analysed according to the Standard Methods given by the APHA. The pH 4) Sampling Site-4 (GPS Cordinate-29.262598, 74.311702) and EC were measured on the spot at each sampling site with the digital pH and 5) Sampling Site-5 (GPS Cordinate-29.224826, 74.194451) Conductometer. 6) Sampling Site-6 (GPS Cordinate-29.205480, The area selected for the present study falls under 73.899846) theSri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of 7) Sampling Site-7 (GPS Cordinate-29.141824, Rajasthan. This study area is climatically the 73.761634) mixture of arid and semi-arid climates regimes 8) Sampling Site-8 (GPS Cordinate-29.107877, and local human population have high 73.637042) dependency on the IGNP. 9) Sampling Site-9 (GPS Cordinate-29.064322, A total 10 sampling stations were chosen and 10 73.567485) replicate samples were taken from each sampling 10) Sampling Site-10 (GPS Cordinate-29.008041, sites, overall a total 100 samples were analysed. 73.482458) The mean values of phyisco-chemical parameters All the statistical analysis and graphical work of each sampling sites were shown in the Table were done with the help of Microsoft Office 1.The sampling sites are marked in topological 2011 and PaSt 3.14 (Paleontological Statistics). map with their GPS coordinates. The GPS coordinates of all 10 sampling sites are given here and also marked in the map (Map 1). 1) Map 1: Showing all sampling sites and their GPS coordinates 27 Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 Result and Discussion accurate and precise measurement of pH (APHA 2005). The pH of canal water is The scales of stipulated physico-chemical varying between 7.6-8.3 in observed sampling parameters werefound as per the observation sites. There was a sequential increase in pH Table-1, after the analysis of samples. with distance travelled by canal water was The pH measurement is the determination of observed due to the dilution and sedimentation the activity of hydrogen ions in aqueous effect. pH of canal water was found within the solution. In applications, ranging from acceptable range in almost all the sampling industrial operations to geological and sites. chemical processes, it is important to have an Parameter/Site BIS Site-1 Site-2 Site-3 Site-4 Site-5 Site-6 Site-7 Site-8 Site-9 Site-10 pH 6.5-8.5 7.6 7.6 7.8 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.3 EC 50 420 410 380 380 370 340 340 315 310 310 DO (mg/l) 4-8 4.4 4.8 4.8 5.1 5.6 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.0 6.0 BOD (mg/l) 200 2100 2100 2000 1850 1700 1650 1520 1500 1500 1400 COD (mg/l) 300 2650 2650 2500 2350 2250 2150 2020 2000 2000 1900 Total Alkalinity 200 295 290 282 273 260 255 242 238 229 221 (mg/l) TDS (mg/l) 500 2120 2090 2060 1990 1910 1800 1760 1720 1690 1650 TSS (mg/l) 200 1550 1440 1300 1210 1070 910 850 750 700 640 Chloride (mg/l) 250 530 615 690 720 750 805 845 850 850 860 Total Hardness 300 980 985 870 810 760 730 695 680 670 590 (mg/l) Calcium (mg/l) 12 16 16 15 15 15 14 13 13 13 13 Magnesium 18 22 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 (mg/l) Sulphate (mg/l) 200 253 245 244 236 231 225 226 218 217 217 Nitrate (mg/l) 45 62 62 62 61 61 60 59 59 59 59 Table-1: Showing the average magnitude of various physico-chemical parameters in all sampling sites Electronic Conductivity is the ability of a much higher from the BIS desirable limit. The material in the water where these are present in high value of EC is indicating the high the acidic forms, capable of conducting current availability of dissolved solids, which is due to and therefore, conductivity is a good and rapid the low quantum of water and the ions coming measure of the total dissolved solids. The through the drainage of sewage and industrial conductivity fluctuated between 420-310 that effluents. 28 Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 The dissolved oxygen (DO) content plays an important role in supporting aquatic life in running water and is susceptible to environmental changes. The DO is a sort of oxygen that present in the water as molecular form, it remain trapped in water molecules. This is an essential component of the water, which is being used by the aquatic organisms for respiration (Wetzel 2002; Gagan Matta et al. (2015a); Gagan Matta et al. (2015b) and Figure 2 Showing spatial variability in EC Gagan Matta (2015). The value of DO is among all sampling sites varying between 4.4-6.0, this is indicating the hypoxic condition of the canal water and showing less suitability for drinking purpose. The COD or Chemical Oxygen Demand is the total measurement of all chemicals (organics & in-organics) in the water and BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen that require for the bacteria to degrade the organic components present in water. It is a highly acceptable measure for the pollution measurement. The high values of both Figure 3 Showing spatial variability in DO parameters indicate the high pollution load among all sampling sites (Vanloon 2000). Figure-1 Showing spatial variability in pH among all sampling sites Figure-4 Showing spatial variability in BOD among all sampling sites 29 Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 Figure-5 Showing spatial variability in COD Figure-8 Showing spatial variability in TSS among all sampling sites among all sampling sites Figure-6 Showing spatial variability in Total Alkalinity among all sampling sites Figure-9 Showing spatial variability in Chloride among all sampling sites Figure-7 Showing spatial variability in TDS Figure-10 Showing spatial variability in Total among all sampling sites Hardness among all sampling sites 30 Midha et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/26 – 35 fundamentally a measure of how much an alkali is dissolved in the water. The natural water contains alkalinity due to the water carbonate system and it is essential for the survival of the living organisms. In general, this alkalinity reach upto the level of 8.5 pH but mixing of the industrial effluents neutralize the natural water and force to leach out the essential minerals from the natural water. The Figure-11 Showing spatial variability in Total Alkalinity of the all-sampling sites Calcium among all sampling sites ranging from the 295-221 mg/l (Carbonate Scale) as shown in figure 6. Which is higher than the BIS desirable limit. There was a sequential decrease in Total Alkalinity with distance travelled by canal water was observed due to the dilution and sedimentation effect. The Solids refer to matter suspended or dissolved in water. Solids may affect water or effluent quality adversely in a number of ways. Waters with high dissolved solids generally are Figure-12 Showing spatial variability in of inferior palatability and may induce an Sulphate among all sampling sites unfavorable physiological reaction in the transient consumer.