D. N. Shukla

Assessment of river water quality and ecological diversity through multivariate statistical techniques, and earth observation dataset of rivers Ghaghara and Gandak, India

ABSTRACT Water quality and ecological diversity of aquatic flora with respect to distribution in active channels and on banks of the rivers Ghaghara and Gandak have been investigated in years 2011–2012. The land use/land cover map of year 2010 showed agricultural land as the dominant class in both river basins. The appraisal of aquatic flora has indicated that the dominant plant species in numbers are as follows: macrophytic algae, aquatic angiosperms, aquatic pteridophytes, sedges, grasses, herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees collected from the banks and active channels of rivers Ghaghara and Gandak. In total, 207 plants species were reported as common in both river environments, and the remaining species have showed variability for both rivers. It was observed that the algal group showed higher species diversity in comparison to other plant groups. High numbers of macrophytic species were observed due to the alkaline pH and good level of dissolved oxygen at different sampling sites of the two rivers. Further, multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis and principal component/factor analysis were applied to fulfil the knowledge gap and to identify the potential sources and types of pollutants.

Assessment of Geochemical Environment from Study of River Sediments in the Middle Stretch of River Ganga at Ghazipur, Buxar and Ballia area

In order to investigate geochemical environment of the river Ganga, the freshly deposited sediment samples were collected from Ghazipur, Buxar and Ballia urban centers in the pre-monsoon period (May, 2010). The river receives industrial as well as domestic wastes from various drains of above mentioned cities. River Ganga has been one of the major recipients of the industrial effluents in India. The present study assesses the current status of the distribution and concentration of seven heavy metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in the river sediment at the three urban centers. The total trace metal content in sediment samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and obtained values were compared with different standard values. The heavy metal concentrations were recorded in the following ranges (mg/kg) Cr (113–230), Co (11–29), Ni (32–75), Cu (39–73), Zn (72–140), Cd (0.45–0.95) and Pb (15–27). Results show that the mean concentration of Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu and Co in sediment at all urban centers exceeded the average worldwide shale concentration. However the mean concentration of Ni and Co was lower than it. Metal enrichment factor (EFc) for all sampling stations was recorded between 0 and 3. The maximum EFc was 1.82 for Cr, 1.18 for Co, 0.87 for Ni, 1.33 for Cu, 1.15 for Zn, 2.43 for Cd and 1.05 for Pb. The exceptionally high EFc value was recorded for Cd at all sampling stations. High EFc value indicates that large amount of pollutants are added through anthropogenic sources. The percentage of anthropogenic and lithogenic values of heavy metal concentration indicates that Cd receives highest value of anthropogenic addition into stream and it is followed by Cr, Cu, Zn and Co. Geoaccumulation indices showed that sediment was uncontaminated to moderately contaminated and may adversely affect the fresh water ecology of the river. Toxicity reference value indicates that the river bed sediment is toxic to benthos organisms for most of the undertaken metals. The data generated may provide useful information to Governmental agencies to control the heavy metal pollution of the river Ganga sediment at these urban centers which may even be worst with the increasing population load in the basin.

Assessment of Physico-Chemical Parameters of River Ganga at Allahabad With Respect To WQI

The present investigation reveals the seasonal changes in concentration of physico-chemical parameters in river Ganga at Allahabad. Water samples under investigations were collected from the different sites viz: Phaphamau, Dashashumedh Ghat & Sangam of Allahabad during summer, monsoon & winter seasons in year 2013-14. The physico-chemical parameter as Temperature, pH , Dissolved Oxygen (DO) , Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) , Total alkalinity (TA) , Total Hardness (TH) , Total Dissolve Solids (T.D.S) , Turbidity & Chloride were used to analyse the pollution index of river Ganga at selected sites. A correlation matrix test was carried out to check the significant relationship among the physico-chemical parameters (significance level 0.05). Water Quality Index (WQI) was also calculated for all three sampling sites at Allahabad in three seasons. The results revealed that the water quality was severely polluted in monsoon and moderately polluted in winter season.

Studies on the Physico-chemical Parameters and Correlation Coefficient of the River Ganga at Holy Place Shringverpur, Allahabad

In the present investigation the physico-chemical parameter of the River Ganga at Shringverpur , Allahabad were analyzed. The analysis of water sample were taken during January 2013- December 2013. Seasonal variations at different sampling sites of Shringverpur were observed. The results shown that the fluctuation occurred in physico-chemical parameter in different seasons. Correlation coefficient value indicates high positive and negative relationships (p<0.01 level) and also show significant positive and negative relationship (p<0.05 level). About 16 physico-chemical parameter were taken in consideration for analysis of the River water such as water temperature, Total Hardness, Total Alkalinity, pH, Total solids, Dissolved oxygen, Biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, Transparency, Turbidity, Electrical conductivity, Sulphate, Nitrate, Phosphate, Chloride and Salinity. This paper deal with the study of river Ganga at Allahabad. From Allahabad the sites were taken Shringverpur that were located at 40km distance from Allahabad main city.