WATER QUALITY OF GANGA Ar ARDWAR OF BATHING 0 ENT GHATS OF Hn EFFECT DIFFER! (Received September 9, 1990: Accepted December 15, 1990) AK, Chopra & Jamal Hashim Department of Z00l0B¥s Gurukula Kangei University, Hardwar- 249 404, Indi: Daksh ‘The study showed that bathing at three ghats, Har-ki-Paw Mandir and Jwalapur of the river Ganga at Hard id (P> 0.01) increase in turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), 3 chloride aid standard plate count (SPC), insignificant increase (P’ <0.01) in alkalinity, calciuin and hardness; and significant (> 0,01) decrease in dissol- ‘ved oxygen (DO), There was significant (P> 0.05) increase of otal solids at Har-ki-Pauri and Daksh Mandir only, No significant difference waa observed in parameters like pl and temperature, ‘The water quality impros ved gradually at 50 mm and further at 100 m downstream from bathing place at each ghat. The’ river Ganga is the life line of : a millions of peo, with our culture and civilisation, the health and well tel Pianeta miee cet temic observations made at several points of Gan, Pee see discharged reveal serious pollution probloms'-S. to find out the effect of bathing, Guality of Ganga at three different ghats of Hard) dwar.Bathing Effect on Water Quality (159 MATERIALS AND METHODS Hardwar is situated at longitude 76,13" E and latitude 279,68" N at Shivalik foot hills. The river Ganga of the Indo-Gangetic plain flows through this region. A large number of people from distant parts of India take holy bath mainly at 1. Har—ki Paurk the most important bathing place situated on three differant ghat: tight bank of Upper Ganga Canal; II, Daksh Mandir, situated on the right bank of Ganga, 5 Km away from Har-ki-Pauri; Ill. Jwalapur ghet, situated on right bank of Upper Ganga Canal and 19 Km away from Har-ki-Paurl. At each ghat, the four sitos wero selected for the sampling. Site I (situated 50 m upstream from bathing place opposite the water flow), site II (bathing place where large number of people take bath), site I11 (60 m downstream from bathing place) and site IV (100m downstream from bathing placo)- The wator amples were collected every week (Nov. 1909 to dan, 1990) from each site by the sampler 6''-12"" deep under the surface of water against the flow of the wator current in 2 lit. plastic canes and analysed for different physico- © t@mporature, pH, turhidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), Livioyical alkalinity, acidity, chloride, calcium, hardness, total solids and count (SPC ) following standard chemical param oxygen demand (BOD), microbiological parameter like standard plate RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The mean values (SD )of different physico-chemical and microbiological parameters observed at different sampling sites (Ito IV) of Har-ki-Paurl, Daksh Mandir and Jwalapur ghat are given in table 1, The statistical analysis of results on different parameters at sites Ii to IV in comparison to site| (control) of each ghat Is given in table 2. The procont ctudy observed that bathing at site. I! of Har-ki-Paurl, Daksn Mandir and Jwalapur ghat did not cause any signiticant difference (P<0.05) in temperature: The temperature ranged from 12.30 13.12%C suitable for human health. However, World Health Organisation (WHO)"* and Indian Stanéards Institution (IS1)** did not fefinite temperature value for drinking and bathing respectively. The recommend any 4 z microbiological integrity of water also depends upon its pH value", There was noChopra & Hashim 160) erent sites of all the three ghats diffe in pHof water at di and permissible limit of ISI. Si significant (P-<0.05) variation i fv WHO The pH values were within desirable limit e inte at bathing ghats of Ganga river a farly much variation has not been observe tn i od at ghats of Ganga at Sangam Jues wor’ icantly higher (P> issible limit of ISI as 0,01) than controls at all the Varanasi’. Howover, higher pH val also reported earlier? ¢, The turbidity was observed to be signi thraa ghats: The values were within perm! DO and BOD are the most important parameters in water ect en and reflect the physical and biological processes prevailing in waler’s The pri * ns udy showed that DO in water at bathing citos of all the three ghats was significantly (P> 0,01) lower with respect to their respective control sites and was above the limit of DO recommended by WHO for supporting and maintaining healthy aquatic life. Besides this, the values were within permissible limit of ISI suggested for bathing: The BOD of Water at bathing sites of all the ghats was significantly (P>C.01) higher than control sites and within standard limit of WHO. The values of DO and BOD reported at bathing sites were almost similar to the values reported for the river Ganga at Bhandalnal ghat of Varanasit and for the river Ganga at Sangam during Ardha Kumbhe®% The alkalinity makes water tasty and holps in coagulation", Acidity also depends upon the presence of decomsosing vegetable matter and free carbon-dioxiae. In present stu: dy, alkalinity was insignificantly (P<0°05; while acidity was significantly (P> 0:05) higher. at bathing sites of all the ylais than their respective control sites. However, WHO and iat hate not recommended any range of alkalinity/acidity for the suitability of water aa athing respectively: Man and olher animals excrete very high quantities of chloride ‘together with nitrogenous compounds, In prasent etud centration at bathing sites of the three ghats was Rica their control sites. However, the co i ; : neentrations were withi i Of WHO and within permissibie limit of IS| for vathing. eg aeeat desirable im comparison to the values of chi thing. These val lorie . ues were iower In at Sangam during Ardha Kumbhat, Poe’ *t bathing ghats of the river Ganga Calcium en However, some evi eno ene vider hazard disease! WHO and ist aes eee" Siven to indicate anes eects on human health. I did rot recommend a ate the rolé of hardness in heart ny defi[ 161 Bathing Effect on Water Quality #LOF a BUF fF OIF ore elie seit Sl zor ag e96F Wet l08F o6F Ooo ore OotZt Lest egrast 6615 “oF beer cer pecee z9'88 Ios 1764, 6eor 0671 POI LTE acer 20°62 wl 6's% thor wor LhOF OF 99 ore we tre ror cor LV0F se'0F O81 (8) 165 ors i GBS ST “100 sc E “uF WF WEE set (18a) os"04 | oven 6904 OL 06-4 90 “eIv ror sor zor WOF ror 107 (ow) lot oy 88'F 6 re ove goa cor 870° 9COF sroF sor (6a) 16 oF6 $5 6 vor oa SLOT > 8697 aie osoF 960% soor (un) 989 $99 98°9 99 seu ore any, SOF seDF Svor OF OF scOF Wh oe ere el SL eek Ha BOF OF scl WUE IVER ore fou) BOE 901 18°31 gsTl 9S Tt ost sue, Mu I j f y I t andeyemp 2IpueW ysyeq EH suyoueieg Salis oNawys s(awpreasosqo BISe-a's F weoyy) seegs sob Jo sous Soydures yuose pp ye OAs pue szssscrered peofusaya-oosekyy T erneruundejemp -p t ueW USHEG — uNed-pIeH ~14 Chopra & Hashim 162 } To0d > O>d —Vd 10d Od S00>d 0>d SOO>d STV>d —SN0>d —G00>d SV'O>d SO>d ssoupIeH MO>d G'VHd M'O>d WO>d SOV>d SO>d SO0>d GW'0>d SO>d — whIDIeD WOKd S0'0>d 50°0>d c0'0>d s00>d 0 0>d so'0>d s00>d 100>d W0d s0'0>d so'0>d s00>d s00>d $0'0>d $00>d S0'0>d cO'0>d so'0>d So'0>d 90°0>d so0>d_ s0'0>d s0°0>d SO0>d S0'0>q SO';O>d eiNeredwey fc qa H iy a H r a H AI OS 8A 1 aS ML eHS SA 1 ous eS SA Leis sssjoweseg ‘syeql soap jo soys Suydues su29331p 3 poasosqo Cag pur sxojourered [woywsyo-oofshyd wo synsox Jo sySh[EUE [ORSALIS—zZ >1geLBathing Effect on. Water Quality [16 3 rawwater for public water supply and bathing. Thecalcium and hardness at bathin, caf all the three ghats were insignificantly (P<0.05) higher with respect to their : si sites. The water was observed to be ‘moderately hard! as per classification of ion. mann and Wasser" and was within limit eet by WHO for potability of water. Total qnlids in winter at bathing sites of Har-ki-Pauri and Daksh Mandir were significantly higher (P> 0.01) and that of Jwalapur ghat wore insignificantly (P <0.01) higher than control sites: These were lower than WHO standard as well as those reported at the ghats of Ganga at Varanasi, The SPC values are useful in warning about excessive microbial growth in any water and also In judging the efficiency of water’. The bathers who drink untreated Ganga water are definitely upen to risk to many intestinal disorders due to heavy concentration of coliform bacteria’, In present study SPC was significantly higher (F>0.01) at bathing sites as compared to their control sites of all the three ghials wicl is an indication of pollution. It was observed that all physico-chemical parameters at bathing place (site I!) were within the limit recommended by WHO for drinking and ISI for bathing. However, higher number of SPC at bathing place was an indication of more organic matter. ‘At site II] (60 m downstream trom athiny place), the valuoe of pH and tempo: ralure uf all the three ghatz showed no significant (P <0.05) variation as compared ie Gea eatral sine Tf valent turblaly, BOD. sIke)als eel yc Uiatic scare hednece, "TS and SPC were loner than bathing sites of all three ahats. The alka- Tinity, calcium and hardness at site Ill were insignificantly higher (P 0.01) higher han their control “sites. Total solids of Har-ki-Pauri and Daksh Mandir wore signitl- Cantly higher (P>0.01) and that of Uwalapur ghat wor Ineignificantly higher (p-0.05) than eantral. DO at site III was higher than bathing sites and was signifi cantly (P>0.01) lower then control sites. The lower values of physico chemical as weit as SPC at site Ill in comparison to bathing site I! were due to the dilution of the impurities at all three ghats. It indicated that recovery had started in tho Ganga due to natural purification to restore the water t0 lis natural condition of purity.1641 Chopra & Hashim At site 1V (100 m downstream from bathing place) also, there was no signi- fioant diffarance (P<0.08) in values of pH and temperature In comparison to site III, bathing place and control. The values of turbidity, BOD, chloride, 1S and SPC were Tower than site Ill and site Il, The values of turbigiys BOD, acidity, chloride and SPC were significantly (P>0.01/0.05) higher while. TS was insigniticantly (P<0.01) lower than control sites. The alkalinity, calcium and hardness were also lower than site II and bathing place and were almost similar to control sites (P <0:05). The values of “DO at site IV were higher than site Ill, bathing place and significantly (P> 0.01) lower than control sites. The water quality further improved at site 1V_in comparison to their bathing place and site INI of all the three ghats. It may be due to more and more dilution of the impurities of Ganga water; and also ‘due to natural process of self-purification which was physical, chemical ‘and bacteriological in nature. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Inanks are due to Prof. B.D. Joshi, Ex-Head, Department of Zoolo.ys GKV, Hardwar for providing necessary laboratory faci REFERENCES 4. Roy, P. and David, A. (1966). Indian J, Environ. Hlth. 8 : 837, 2. Agarwal, D.! (1976). Indi Gaur, S.D., Tiwarl, T.C., Narayanswami, M.S. and Marwah, S.M. J. Baviron, Hlch., 18 : 201. 3 Bllowmick, BN. and oh, A.K. 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