Assessment of Degradation in Water Quality of River Krishna at Sangli, using Water Quality Index

IJEP 44(1): 90-96 : Vol. 44 Issue. 1 (January 2024)

Manoj Hirji Mota*, Shailendra B. Hivarekar and Ajim G. Mujawar

Annasaheb Dange College of Engineering and Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Ashta – 416 301, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Sangli city is a fast-growing suburban in the state of Maharashtra in India. In city of Sangli, the Sheri nala is a wastewater stream which is causing the degradation of water quality of river Krishna for many decades. This stream carries the municipal wastewater as well as a part of wastewater from industrial area. This water is discharged into river Krishna without any treatment. The intensity of pollution increases particularly during post-monsoon period. This research aimed to assess the change in water quality of river Krishna because of the addition of wastewater from Sheri nala. The assessment was done in the form of change in the water quality index (WQI) observed. The WQI was calculated using weighted arithmetic index method. Various environmental variables- pH, electrical conductivity, chloride concentration, dissolved oxygen content, total solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, most probable number, turbidity and hardness were selected for WQI calculation. The major reasons behind degradation of river water were found to be higher BOD, high turbidity and low DO concentration. The study reveals that the water quality of river Krishna is poor and it has further degraded because of the mixing of wastewater from Sheri nala.

Keywords

River water quality, Water quality index, Biochemical oxygen demand, Turbidity, Dissolved oxygen content

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