Environmental Challenges (Apr 2024)
Statistical analysis and water quality modeling towards holistic health assessment of Himalayan and peninsular rivers of India
Abstract
Water occurs naturally in a variety of forms. Liquid water is present in rivers, lakes, the ground, the sea, and precipitation. The primary objective of water quality monitoring is to ascertain whether the water quality being observed is appropriate for its designated purposes. An investigation was undertaken to assess the concentration levels of various water quality parameters, including total hardness, electric conductivity, temperature, Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Na, SO4, and HCO3. The research assessed the physicochemical parameters of ten (10) rivers, including the following: Brahmaputra (Arunachal Pradesh); Barak (Assam); Godavari (Maharastra); Brahmani (Odisha); Sabarmati (Gujarat); Tapi (Gujarat); Mahi (Gujarat); and Ganga (Uttar Pradesh). Water samples were obtained from the aforementioned rivers spanning the years 2013 to 2020. Descriptive Analysis, one-way ANOVA, Covariance, and Correlation were utilized to examine the impact of the rate of change on the interrelationships among the parameters. At the current level, the Narmada River cannot meet the daily demands that arise during and after the monsoon. The primary sources of pollution were inputs from households, businesses, and agriculture. The Gang River portions have been poisoned by sewerages, untreated industrial discharges, and chemical surges from agricultural fields. The basin is still being impacted by a number of anthropogenic pressures associated with an expanding human population, such as changes in land use, elevated water pollution, increased water demand, river channelization, and the Brahmanputra River's regulating flow. Anthropogenic heavy metals Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni have not been shown to exhibit seasonal changes; however, geogenic heavy metals Mn, Fe, Mg, and Ca have been recorded to undergo seasonal oscillations in the Barak River and Still. The alkaline impacts of the Godavari water sample on the river are shown by the physical-chemical analysis of the samples. The amount of dissolved oxygen has decreased at various sites when pollutants are added to the water. A rise in BOD and turbidity levels is a result of the introduction of contaminants at different sites. The tests of TDS and F-coli showed an increase in value because of the sewage and burial procedures. Reduced flows below the dam and sudden increases resulted in a significant loss of organisms due to water discharge for hydropower generation. The Krishna River lost several of its characteristic characteristics as a result of dams being built both upstream and downstream. The Brahmani River's summertime dissolved oxygen (DO) levels are found to vary from 6.16 to 7.81 mg/L. The Brahman River's water quality index varied from 36.7 to 44.1, which is considered excellent water quality. Huge public awareness, strong implementing environmental policy decisions are some of the potential solutions to increase the health conditions of the Himalayan and Peninsular rivers of India. India's Himalayan and Peninsular rivers' health is measured via water quality modeling. This study evaluates river health using physiochemical and biological parameters. This study examines Himalayan and Peninsular India's water resource management, environmental preservation, and public health.
