Water Quality Analysis And Genotoxic Potential of Hansali Urban Drain, Punjab, India

IJEP 46(6): 530-539 : Vol. 46 Issue 6 (June 2026)

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Mandeep Bedi1,2, Ishani Singh3, Vaneet Kumar4, Anjana Bhatia5 and Sandip Singh Bhatti3*

1. Lovely Professional University, Department of Botany, Phagwara – 144 401, Punjab, India
2. Baring Union Christian College, Department of Botany, Batala – 143 505, Punjab, India
3. Lovely Professional University, Department of Chemistry, Phagwara – 144 401, Punjab, India
4. S.L. Bawa D.A.V. College, Department of Botany, Batala – 143 505, Punjab, India
5. Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Department of Botany, Jalandhar – 144 008, Punjab, India

Abstract

Urban drains are important for surface water recharge but face pollution threats from industrial, agricultural and domestic sources worldwide. In this context, the current study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of the historically important Hansali drain located in Batala, Punjab, India. Drain samples (N=18) were collected from 6 sites across three seasons to determine physico-chemical properties, metal(loid) contents and genotoxic potential. The physico-chemical analysis of water samples revealed that the values of total dissolved solids, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, potassium, phosphates and nitrates exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible limits. The levels of dissolved oxygen, indispensable for the existence of aquatic organisms, were below the acceptable limit of 5 mg/L, indicating the drain to be highly polluted. Out of the ten metal(loid)s analyzed in drain water samples, cadmium, lead and zinc exceeded BIS and WHO permissible limits. The drain water samples exhibited significant genotoxic potential, as indicated by the results of the Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. Water quality index values for all six sites exceeded 100, indicating the water to be highly contaminated and unsuitable for drinking and fish culture.

Keywords

Hansali drain, Physico-chemical parameters, Metal-(loid)s, Water quality index, Genotoxicity

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