WEL COME

INDIA WATER WEEK-2016 SESSION 4 : WATER AND HEALTH MANAGING WATER QUALITY

WATER QUALITY MONITORING OF RIVER GODAVARI DURING SIMHASTHA KUMBHMELA, 2015 MR. RAJENDRA PAWAR CHIEF ENGINEER, PLANNING & HYDROLOGY MR. SANJAY DOIPHODE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER MR. S.K.KSHIRSAGAR SECTIONAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GOVT.OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

INTRODUCTION Kumbh Mela Is A Mega Event, After Every 12 Years, Having Global Reputation Millions Of Devotes Across The Country Throng At Prayag, Ujjain, Haridwar And Nasik To Witness This Magnificent Festival. The Godavari River Is The Most Celebrated River For The Whole Peninsular India, Thus Also Known As South Ganga. Simhastha Kumbh Mela Was Held In Nashik And Trimbakeshwar In The Last Year, During August-september Shahi Snans ( Mass Bathing ) Were Held On Holy Parvani Days At The Two Places - Kushawartha In Trimbakeshwar And Ramkund In Nashik

Continued… At Kushawartha - Shahi Snans Were Scheduled On 29/08/2015, 13/09/2015 And 25/09/2015. At Ramkund - Shahi Snans Were Scheduled On 29/08/2015,13/09/2015 And 18/09/2015 To Maintain Water Quality On The Days Of Mass Bathing At Ramkund In Nashik, Water Had Been Released In To The River From The Gangapur Dam Water Quality Monitoring Was Done During This Period, By Taking No. Of Samples At Various Locations And Different Timings And Were Tested In Water Quality Laboratory For Various Parameters. Based On The Test Results, The Fluctuations In Various Parameters Were Co-related With The Release of Water Through The River During The Period. By Analysing The Data Obtained, Results Are Presented In Tabular And Graphical Form And The Conclusions Drawn.

STUDY AREA AROUND NASHIK

METHODOLOGY  The study was undertaken to assess the changes in water quality at the mass bathing locations i.e. Kushawartha at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund at Nashik  Samples were also collected from other ghats and important non-ghat locations in order to evaluate overall water quality along the river  The sampling locations were - Kushawartha at Trimbakeshwar, upstream of Gangapur dam, downstream of Gangapur dam, Someshwar, upstream of Ramkund, downstream of Ramkund, Tapovan, Takali, Dasak, upstream of Eklahare, downstream of Eklahare and Saikheda.

Continued… Out of these, 6 locations i.e. Kushawarta, upstream of Ramkund, downstream of Ramkund, Tapovan, Takali & Dasak are ghat locations and others are non-ghat locations. Period of sampling was from 25/08/2015 to 28/09/2015 The frequency of sampling was daily (morning) for each location on non parvani days and twice daily (morning and evening) on parvani days. 16 physio-chemical and microbiological parameters were tested i.e. pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), alkalinity, total hardness, carbonates, bicarbonates, fluoride, chloride, phosphate, ammonical nitrogen, total coliform and faecal coliform

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS THE SAMPLE-LOCATION WISE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM VALUES OBSERVED DURING COURSE OF STUDY. IMPORTANT CRITICAL PARAMETERS FROM MASS BATHING POINT OF VIEW ARE pH VALUE, DISSOLVED OXYGEN ( DO ), BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND ( BOD ), CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND ( COD ) AND TOTAL COLI FORMS.

THE VARIATIONS OBSERVED OF ABOVE CRITICAL PARAMETERS  pH value pH determines the appropriateness of water for a range of purposes. the pH value varies between 6.8 to 7.60 at Kushawarta, 6.8 and 8.0 at downstream of Ramkund. It is found that pH values are up to the mark for designated best use, as per the guide lines for water quality monitoring of central pollution control board New Delhi for outdoor bathing (organized) quality class B.  Dissolved Oxygen ( DO ) DO is the important parameter in the water quality analysis. its presence is essential to maintain a variety of forms of life in the water and the effects of waste discharges in a water body are largely determined by the oxygen balance of the system. The variation found in DO values is 1.0 mg/l to 7.0 mg/l at Kushwarta, And 2.0 mg/ to 6.00 at D/S of Ramkund. it is found that DO values are slightly above the permissible limits for designated best use for outdoor bathing (organized) quality class B.

Continued…  Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) BOD range found between 5.0 mg/l and mg/l. at Kushawarta, 5.0 mg/l and mg/l. at downstream of Ramkund. BOD values are slightly above the permissible limits for designated best use for outdoor bathing (organized) quality class B.  Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) The variation found in COD values is 16.0 mg/l to 58.0 mg/l at Kushawarta, and 16.0mg/l to mg/l at downstream of Ramkund. COD values are slightly above the permissible limits for designated best use for outdoor bathing (organized) quality class B.  Total Coliforms This ranged between 1700 mpn/100 ml to mpn/100 ml at Kushawarta, and 1400 mpn/100 ml to mpn/100 ml at d/s of Ramkund. It is found that these values are not up to the mark, moreover those are more than the permissible limits making the water totally unsafe for drinking purpose. this is a matter of serious concern.

THE GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF VARIOUS CRITICAL PARAMETERS ALONG WITH THE RELEASED DISCHARGES THROUGH RIVER. ( PARWANI DAYS - 29/08/2015, 13/09/2015 AND 18/09/2015) pH VALUE AT D/S OF RAMKUND LIMIT – 6.5 TO 8.5 DO VALUE AT D/S OF RAMKUND BOD VALUE AT D/S OF RAMKUND COD VALUE AT D/S OF RAMKUND LIMIT – > 5 MG/LIT) LIMIT – UP TO 30 MG/LIT)LIMIT – UP TO 10 MG/LIT)

THE GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF VARIOUS CRITICAL PARAMETERS ALONG WITH THE RELEASED DISCHARGES THROUGH RIVER. ( PARWANI DAYS - 29/08/2015, 13/09/2015 AND 18/09/2015) Variation of Total Coliforms value at D/s of RAMKUND (Limit – 500 MPN/100ml)

OBSERVATIONS Following trends have been observed for various parameters according to water releases. To control DO, BOD, COD & pH, the release of water through river found more helpful to reduce the effect of these parameters on water quality. From the graph it is seen that, the above parameters vary according to the quantity of water released in the river. Hence, a continuous minimum flow of water may be very useful to get better control over these parameters. Acceptable limits of total coliforms for bathing is 500 mpn/100ml. But for drinking purpose, it is found that actual level was much higher reaching to alarming limit to the tune of 12 lakh mpn/100ml. This is a matter of serious concern, directly affecting the health of pilgrims.

CONCLUSIONS & RECOMENDATIONS Except pH values, all other critical parameters were slightly above the permissible limits for designated best use. The water released from the Gangapur dam in the Godavari river during parvani days helped to maintain the water quality to some extent, but found insufficient to improve the water parameters up to the mark. All sewage water & underground drainage lines shall be diverted, without allowing them to meet with the river water at any place. The garbage and aquatic weeds like jalparni in the river shall continuously be removed by special machine. This reduces the effect on water pollution and also useful to increase the dissolved oxygen in the river water by aeration. Offering flowers, ghee, curd, panchamrut and offering lamps with flowers shall be avoided to reduce the water pollution. Immediately removing flowers and lamps flowing in the river manually, by employees of municipal corporation was found useful to maintain clean water flow.

Continued… Though the parameters are crossing the limits for rest of the year, by releasing some discharge in the river during parwani period found successful to control the pollution, except total coliforms. It is suggested that, to maintain the water quality of the ghat locations during kumbhmela - instead of releasing water everytime directly from Gangapur dam, the water released can be stored en route in two bandharas - one at Someshwar and other at the upstream of Ramkund, by providing gates to the existing bandhara structures. This water can then be released as and when required, to maintain continuous flow of water to control the water pollution. This arrangement shall also help in reducing the transit losses from Gangapur dam upto Ramkund. The minimum flow can also be maintained throughout the year, by releasing water through above two bandharas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THE AUTHORS ARE GREATLY INDEBTED TO THE WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA FOR ACCORDING PERMISSION TO UNDERTAKE THE STUDY AND PROVIDING FUNDS. THANKS TO INDIA WATER WEEK FORUM FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS PAPER

REFERENCES GOM WATER QUALITY LAB LEVEL-II+, Jalvidnyan Bhavan, NASHIK PUBLISHED PAPERS - Analysis of water quality parameters of river ganga during mahakumbh, haridwar, india. From journal of environmental biology- july The international journal of science & technology. - Monitoring & analysis of qualitative characteristics of holy kshipra river at city ujjain (m.P.).