Evaluation of water quality through studies on the Physico-Chemical characteristics of Mithi River, Mumbai

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1 Asia Pacific Journal of Engineering Science and Technology 3 (1) (2017) Asia Pacific Journal of Engineering Science and Technology journal homepage: Full length article Evaluation of water quality through studies on the Physico-Chemical characteristics of Mithi River, Mumbai Rushikesh S. More 1,*, Sakshi S. Chaubal 2 1,2 The Institute of Science, Madam Cama Road, Mumbai , India (Received 8 March 2017; accepted 20 March 2017; published online 24 March 2017) ABSTRACT Present paper deals with the assessment of water quality of Mithi River, Mumbai. The river was studied over a period of one year. Six different sites with ecological importance and and geographical variation sites were identified and selected for evaluation of its physico - chemical nature. The results obtained from different parameters studied were ph ( ), Sodium (2.4mg/l - 68mg/l), Potassium (8.72mg/l - 746mg/l), Magnesium (135mg/l mg/l), Total Phosphorous (0.039 mg/l mg/l), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (0.8 mg/l mg/l) and Chloride (1.26 mg/l 3.9 mg/l). Each of which less or greater in quantity, contributes to the ecosystem significantly. Majority of the parameters exhibited higher levels at sampling stations 2, 3 and 4 indicating pollution load due to domestic sewage discharge and addition of effluents from nearby industries. Keywords: Mithi river; Pollution; Water samples; Physico-Chemical characters 1. Introduction Water pollution is one of the main reasons why freshwater resources are constantly in decline (Tarea et al. [13]). The Mithi river is a river on Salsette Island. The river is seasonal and rises during monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river flow which is stopped by a dam in other times. It originates at the spillway of Tulsi lake and then a part into the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It flows through residential and industrial complexes of Safed pool, Kranti nagar, Taximen Clny, Kapadia Nagar, Shashtri Nagar and Mahim Nature park for a total of 15 km before it meets the Arabian sea. The river has an average width of 5 m in the upper reaches, has been widened to 25 m in the middle reaches and up to 70 m in the lower reaches after the 26 July 2005 flood (944 mm in 24 h on 26 July 2005). Mithi River meets Arabian Sea at mahim bay area. This area is also nominated as bird sanctuary where migratory birds come for nesting. This part is full of mangroves. When the river was not as polluted as it is today, it used to serve as an important storm water drain for Mumbai. * address: rrushikeshh@gmail.com 2017 Author(s)

2 23 R.S. More and S.S. Chaubal Asia Pacific J. Eng. Sci. Tech. 3 (1) (2017) High pollution rate, sewage from slums and dumping of industrial effluents from workshops lead to narrowing of the river passage. It has been estimated that up to 80 % of India's urban waste ends up in its rivers. Also the river has become more shallow due to the presence of accumulation of silt, debris and plastic bags. Very often, and this continues to happen, citizens dump raw sewage, industrial waste and municipal waste into the river, unchecked. Certain permiss limits have been configured by various agencies like WHO, BIS, MPCB etc. beyond which they prove fatal. Present study of Mithi River is the assessment of seasonal variation of Physico-Chemical characteristics of river which conclude the present nature and its current status. 2. Material and Methods Six sampling stations were considered along the flow of the Mithi river namely S1-Mahim nature park, S2- Shashtri Nagar, S3- Kapadia Nagar, S4-Taximen Colony, S5- Kranti Nagar and S6- Safed pool. These sampling stations selected according to their nature of diversities. Whereas Mahim nature park was considered as control amongst the other five sampling sites. Mithi river at Shashtri nagar site is surrounded by industrial establishments. Kapadia nagar and Taximen colony sites fall into an area which is partly populated by domestic establishments and partly by various chemical and mechanical industries. Kranti nagar and Safed pool sites flow along the domestic establishments. Mahim Nature park has very rich variety of mangroves covering its borders with establishment of industrial pockets, thus indicating the presence of Organic and Industrial waste as well. The surface water samples were collected from 1m to 2m depth from the water surface. For analysis of dissolved oxygen (D.O) water samples were fixed at the sampling locations. The water temperature and ph were measured at the sampling site using standard mercury thermometer and pocket ph meter. Conductivity of the water sample was analyzed immediately after the samples were brought to the laboratory with the help of digital conductivity meter. For the study of Total nitrogen, phosphorous, chloride, total hardness, calcium and magnesium, MPN count. Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory following standard methods (APHA [1]). 3. Results and discussion Temperature of the water on the surface ranged from 22 0 c c showing minimum and maximum values during summer, monsoon and winter seasons at all the sites. ph was found in the range of which is well within the standard limits as per BIS standards. Conductivity value was minimum at site 1 in winter and maximum at site 2 during Summer season which might be due to the input of various elements like Na and K due to several domestic activities. Bipra et al. [10] found results in the similar range showing maximum conductance upto (46.03 mω) during summer as compared to monsoon and winter, Singh et al. [11] also found similar values far less while studying the Physico-chemical properties of Water Samples from Manipur River System.

3 24 R.S. More and S.S. Chaubal Asia Pacific J. Eng. Sci. Tech. 3 (1) (2017) The investigated result shows the dissolved solids from mg/l to 259 mg/l respectively. TDS values were less in summer indicating settling of the dissolved particles Behera et al. [2] while studying Mahanadi River Delta at odhissa found similar results ranging from 4510mg/l mg/l indicating the pollution of the water which are mostly due to the mixing of sea water with the river water. While studying seasonal variation of river Ganga, Khatoon et al. [6] obtained similar variance in readings with maximum TDS in monsoon than in winter season.tds also varies with geological factor and is a good indicator of the degree of dissolved substances. Total Hardness of water analyzed was maximum 4700 mg/l at kapadia nagar and least at 15 mg/l at site1 during summer. Higher level of total hardness of water can be attributed to the presence of higher Mg content at almost all the sites. Joshi et al. [5] while studying physicchemical parameters of river Ganga in Haridwar district found seasonal variation showing lowest concentration during the winter season (87.55 mg/l). While Studying seasonal variation Shrivastava et al. [12] found results with higher concentration in summer than in winter during assessment of Ramganga River at Moradabad. Chlorine content analyzed, show maximum value(3.9 mg/l ) during monsoon at site 1 when the water level was considerably low and reached minimum during the monsoon season at most of the sites with high water levels. Lokhande et al., [7] while studying the Ulhas river obtained similar results with high values during monsoon than in winter. The minimum and maximum values of Potassium observed were 8.72 mg/l at site 1 and 746 mg/l site 3. Pandey [9] observed similar results in potassium level minimum 1.12 mgl and maximum mgl at sampling stations in summer. In the present investigation magnesium concentration was found to be in the range of 135 mg/l to 2808 mg/l both in the summer season at site 1 and site 3 which shows higher concentrations and thus unpalatable. Higher values of Magnesium might be due to various kinds of rocks, sewage and industrial wastes. kjeldahl Nitrogen observed was found ranging from 1.2 mg/l mg/l in summer, 0.8 mg/l to 1.8 mg/l in monsoon to 0.82 mg/l to 1.2mg/l. This showed maximum concentration during summer. While studying Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen levels in the river water Tare et al. [13] observed the Nitrogen levels appeared to be increasing in two of the three sampling points in the Kannauj Kanpur stretch, despite implementation of GAP Singh et al. [11] also found the results within permiss limits ranging from mg/l while studying physicchemical properties of water collected from Dhamra estuary. Dissolved oxygen (DO) readings in the present analysis obtained, ranged from as 1.0 mg/l to 6.3 mg/l. It is one of the most important parameters in water quality assessment reflecting the physical and biological processes prevailing in the water. Bhardwaj [3] while monitoring water quality of Indian rivers (river Sabarmati, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi) also found results in the similar range.

4 Safed Pool Kranti Ngr Taximen Clny Kapadia Ngr Shashtri Ngr Mahim Nature Park Safed Pool Kranti Ngr Taximen Clny Kapadia Ngr Shashtri Ngr Mahim Nature Park Safed Pool Kranti Ngr Taximen Clny Kapadia Ngr Shashtri Ngr Mahim Nature Park 25 R.S. More and S.S. Chaubal Asia Pacific J. Eng. Sci. Tech. 3 (1) (2017) Para meters SUMMER MONSOON WINTER SITE S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 ph Tempera ture Conducti vity TDS Hardnes s Chloride 3.52 Negli Negli 2.18 Negli 3.9 Negli 2.85 Negli 2.89 Negli Sodium Potassiu m Magnesi um Phospho rous Total Nitrogen DO 5 Negli 1.1 Negli Negli Negli Negli BOD 0.5 Negli 0.1 Negli Negli Negli 0.2 Negli Negli COD 8.5 Negli Negli Negli Negli 12 MPN

5 26 R.S. More and S.S. Chaubal Asia Pacific J. Eng. Sci. Tech. 3 (1) (2017) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen utilized by the microorganisms in stabilizing the organic matter. In the present study BOD was found to be in the range of 0.2 mg/l to 3.5 mg/l which is negli. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) chemical oxygen demand is the oxygen required by the organic substance in water to oxidize them by a strong chemical oxidant. COD was found in the range of 8.5 mg/l to 38 mg/l which falls under the standard limits prescribed by BIS. While monitoring Water Quality Parameters of Karola River, West Bengal, Mandal et at. [8] found results ranging from (4 mg/l to 38.2mg/l) within the permiss limits. In the present investigation MPN count was found to be 398 Coliform /ml indicating water unfit for consumption. As the drinking water quality standard s permiss limits of Coliform count is 0, all the readings obtained, exceeded the limit. Site 4 showed the maximum number of Coliform - 398/100 ml, therefore all the six sites fail the microbiological tests for Most Probable Number (MPN 4. Conclusion Most of the water quality parameters in the present study at all the sampling location are well within the standard limits by BIS. Assessment of heavy metal analysis needs to be done as it will help to evaluate the present water quality status of the river. However MPN count indicates that the water is non potable. People should be educated about their activities which affect the natural ecosystem with a different approach. Problems related to the environment and its ecosystem need to be discussed seriously. Proper policies and programs towards solving problems should be implemented. The present data on the Mithi river s status also points out to the need for regular monitoring of water resources. References [1] APHA, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th ed.). Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, [2] B.C. Behera, R.R. Mishra, J.K. Patra, S.K. Dutta, H.N. Thatoi, Physico Chemical Properties of Water Sample Collected From Mangrove Ecosystem of Mahanadi River Delta, Odisha, India, American Journal of Marine Science, 2 (1) (2014) [3] R.M. Bhardwaj, Water quality monitoring in India- achievements and constraints, IWG-Env, International work session on water statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, [4] BIS: Drinking Water Specifications, Bureau of Indian Standards, IS: 10500, [5] D.M. Joshi, A. Kumar, N. Agrawal, Studies On Physico Chemical Parameters To Assess The Water Quality Of River Ganga For Drinking Purpose In Haridwar Distric, Rasayan j. chem., 2 (1) (2009) [6] N. Khatoon, M. Rehman, A.H. Khan, Study of Seasonal Variation In The Water Quality Among Different Ghats Of River Ganga, Kanpur, India, J. Environ. Res. Develop., 8 (1) (2013) 1-10.

6 27 R.S. More and S.S. Chaubal Asia Pacific J. Eng. Sci. Tech. 3 (1) (2017) [7] R.S. Lokhande, D.N. Shinde, S.W. Kulkarni, P. Lohani, V. Ghodvinde, S. Gangele, Hydrobiological studies of Ulhas River, Thane district (M.S), India, at various stations, Poll Res, 27 (4) (2008) [8] H.S. Mandal, A. Das, A.K. Nanda, Study of Some Physicochemical Water Quality Parameters of Karola River, West Bengal - An Attempt to Estimate Pollution Status, International Journal Of Environmental Protection, 2 (8) (2012) [9] S.K. Pandey, Studies On Water Pollution Of River Bicchiya: Physicochemical Characteristics, JECET, 3 (2) (2014) [10] P. M. Bipra, P. C. Ranjan, Physico Chemical Properties Of Water Collected From Dharma Estuary, International Journal Of Enviromental Science, 1 (3) (2010) [11] M.R. Singh, A. Gupta, Kh. Beeteswari, Physico-chemical properties of water samples from Manipur river system, India, J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage, 14 (4) (2010) [12] K.B.L. Shrivastava, S.P. Mishra, Studies of various heavy metals n surface and ground water of Birsinghpur town and its surrounding rural area district satna (M.P), Curr World Environ, 6 (2011) [13] V. Tarea, A.V. Yadav, P. Bose, Analysis of photosynthetic activity in the most polluted stretch of river Ganga, Water Research, 37 (2003)