INTRODUCTION:

Water pollution is serious issue, a major culprit for environment degradation throughout the world especially in developing countries. With rapid progress of urbanization and industrialization in the country accompanied with indiscrimination fallout of substances resulted in suffering of life sustaining systems. The discharge of industrial waste and effluents to water resource may cause serious water pollution in certain parts of the country. The toxic chemicals particularly the organic pollutants, heavy metals which are disposed of in the water bodies through industrial waste and effluent, pose long term risk to human health and also to the life of other animals. In general it has been observed that man’s activity and population along with climate conditions of the area are the major factors increasing the pressure on water pollution level of rivers. There is great potential to evaluate and analyze various aspects which affect the quality of water of the rivers and its impact on associated flora and fauna.

This polluted river water is used in Irrigation practices by the local adjacent farmers as this polluted water contain good source of nitrogen and phosphorous due to sewage and industrial wastes. Simultaneously it becomes hazardous due to accumulation of non-degradable pollutants like heavy metals, recalcitrant organic compounds and pathogenic microbial contamination. The recalcitrant organic compounds form pulp and paper mill also contribute toxicity due to presence of organo chlorine compounds (Gupta at el, 2012). The microbial contamination in water is extended to human population via irrigated vegetables and crops.

The bacteriological quality of water is based on testing for bacterial species, particularly organisms of the coliform group. The coliform group of bacteria included all the aerobic, gram negative, non- sporulating bacilli that produce acid and gas from the fermentation of lactose. These group of bacteria particularly, faecal coliforms, can be used as a the principal indicator of suitability of water for drinking, irrigation and other household uses (standard method committee, 1981). The presence of coliform in water is an indication of surface water contamination, regarded as un-potable.

The study is aimed on characterization of quality of river water for microbial contamination starting from upstream to downstream and evaluation of impact of seasonal variation on the same. Badola and Singh studied the hydrobiology of the Alaknanda. Raina et.al.(1984) made study on pollution of river Jhelum. Bhowmick and Singh (1985) studied Phytoplankton of river Ganga. Sharma (1985) studied phytoplankton of Bhagirathi River. Bhatt et al. (1985) explain the ecology and phytoplankton population in relation to Physico chemical factors of River Kosi of Western Himalaya. Khanna et al.(1993) studied about physico chemical and biological parameters of River Ganga at Chandi Ghat. Joshi et al. (1996) observed the planktonic population in relation to certain Physico chemical factor of Ganga canal at Jawalapur, Haridwar.Srivastava et al. (1996) evaluated the phytoplanktonic productivity and Physico chemical properties. Seth et.al (2000) investigated temporal trends of phytoplanktonic diversity in the river Ganga at Hardwar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Location of sampling: City Saharanpur is located at the latitude of 29°28’ N and at the longitude of 77°33’E. It has 270.8 meters altitude at sea level. A small stream named Paodhoi originate from Salkapuri, passes through the main city and carry municipal waste, industrial wastewater etc., which finally confluence with River Dhamola and then in Hindane near Tapri.

The water samples were collected in three season viz., Summer, Winter and Monsoon from three sampling sites for two years in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010:

1. Upstream site (A), 5 km away from city near Shivalik Hills

2. Midstream site (B), Near Star paper mill

3. Downstream site (C), near Tapri

Methods:

Various physiochemical parameters of River water like pH, turbidity, color, odour, Total suspended solids, Chemical oxygen demand, Biological oxygen demand, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Most probable number were performed as per APHA (2005). The BOD was measured by measuring difference of the oxygen concentration in samples before and after incubating it for 5 days at 20 °C.

BOD was calculated by the given formula i.e. BOD= (DO – D5) x Dilution factor.

DO = Initial DO in the sample

D5 = DO after 5 days

Total bacterial count (standard plate count) - was measured by taking 1 ml. of liquid from last 3 dilution and transferred to the petridishes and 15-20 ml medium was poured into these plates. The temperature of Nutrient Agar Medium should be about 45°C. When medium become solidify the plates were inverted and incubated at 37°C ± 2°C temperature for 48 hours. The colonies were counted after 48 hours by colony counter and colony forming unit (CFU)/ml was calculated.

CFU/ml = Colonies counted/Dilution factor.

Most probable number of Coliform –The multiple tube fermentation technique was used to enumerate positive presumptive and confirmed coliform tests. Results of the test were expressed as the MPN, since the count is based on statistical analysis of set of tube in a series of serial dilution.

MPN/100 ml = MPN table value x10/starting value

Phytoplankton – The Plankton of rivers were collected by fine plankton net. The known quantity of water was passed through filter, and concentrated in the desired quantity; 1 ml of the concentrate was taken and placed in a Sedgwick Rafter counting cell. Counting of organism was done by applying the following formula.

Plankton/l = (Ax1000)C/l

A= Average number of phytoplankton in one small counting chamber of Sedgwick rafter counting cell.

C= ml. of plankton concentrate

l= volume of original water filtered in liter.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The main river Paodhoi which originate from Shivalik range and pass through district Saharanpur provide water for irrigation and drinking purpose to nearby population. The river is polluted due to addition of municipal waste, sewage waste, the effluent from industries, and run off surface water. The characteristics of river water at three sites in the winter season clearly indicated the impact of manmade activities on the quality of the river water (Table 1).

The quality of river water for organic pollutant can easily be characterized by chemical or biochemical oxygen demand. The latter one is more important as it directly affects the DO level in the river and subsequently affects the aquatic organisms.

The average level of BOD at upstream was 3.10±0.76 mg O₂/l throughout the various seasons (figure-1). The BOD level was lowest during winters for both the years under study. There was increase in the BOD level at mid stream. The reason for the increase in BOD was drainage of several small sewage drains into River. The highest impact was observed during monsoon season due to runoff of silted sewage during the months of rainy season. The level of BOD were near to alarming stage at downstream and crossed the criteria for BOD prescribed for treated wastewater from industry i.e. 30 mg/l.

BOD determination is a most powerful technique to assess the level of organic pollution in river system, highest level of BOD at some study site may be due to drainage of several small sewage drains into the River and runoff of sludge silted sewage during the month of rainy season. Raina et. al. (1984) reported peak values during winter in river Jhelum. Likewise, Khanna et al. (1997) observed peak values in monsoon season in River Ganga. Similar trend further noticed by Badola and Singh (1981), Keley (2007), Manoja Das (2008) Gupta et al.(2009).

The number, type and distribution of some aquatic organisms provide a clue on the environmental conditions prevailing in the particular habitat. It is seen that many environmental factors interact to provide the conditions for the growth of plankton. A comparison of seasonal variation of total phytoplankton at all the three sites showed comparable results. There was no impact of seasonal variation on the distribution of plant. Although Badola and Singh (1981), Dobriyal and singh (1987) reported high value of plankton during winter season. The study revealed impact of pollution level from upstream to downstream on the growth of phytoplankton (fig. 2). Results showed that total phytoplankton found highest (488 µ/l ± 30) in the summer season of year 2008 at study site ‘A’, while these values found lowest (210 µ/l ± 20) in the year 2008 during monsoon season at study site ‘C’. The average values of total phytoplankton at study sites A, B and C are 387 µ/l ± 28, 328 µ/l ± 28 and 302 µ/l ± 28, respectively. It was observed that many environmental factors interact to provide condition for the growth of plankton. The planktonic concentration also affected by turbidity. The increased turbidity reduces the plankton production (Khanna et al. 1993). In the present study it was noted that temperature show a negative relationship with plankton.

The bacteriological quality of water is based on testing for bacterial species of known excretal origin, particularly the coliform group. Most Probable number of Coliform in the present study revealed that the value of MPN coliform bacteria increased in summer season; maximum value was observed in the monsoon season (400±30) MPN/100 ml at study site ‘A’ and minimum was observed in winter season (210±19). Average highest value of total coliform (279±30) MPN/100 ml at study site ‘A’ might be due to drainage of several sewage drains, increasing human activities during summer fig (3-5) . Khanna and Chugh (2004) in the River Ganga at Hardwar reported the similar trend of total coliform bacteria.

The higher value of standard plate count SPC was recorded in the monsoon season (580± 46) SPC/mlx1000 and minimum in the winter season (240±20) SPC/mlx1000 (Fig 3-5). Similar trend of SPC was reported by Khanna and Chugh (2004) in Ganga River at Hardwar.

Similarly, impact of seasonal and pollution level was also studied for some species of bacteria at different sites in which Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhii, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium sp., Streptococcus sp., Aerobacter Sp., Pseudomonas aeroginos sp were found as pathogen whereas, the non pathogenic bacteria micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp. & Sporolactobacillus sp. were also observed.

Table 1: Showing comparison of different parameters during winter at three experimental sites.

Parameters	Winter season 2008			Winter season 2009
Parameters	Site A	Site B	Site C	Site A	Site B	Site C
Turbidity(J.T.U)	21.00±2.60	31.80±4.50	880±32.30	24.00±2.30	60.40±6.90	700.60±46.28
pH	7.00±0.06	6.60±0.05	6.60±0.03	6.80±0.06	6.50±0.06	6.80±0.08
T.S.S (mg/l)	26.00±2.14	36.00±2.20	800±50.24	28.00±2.50	30.50±2.80	820.00±54.70
BOD (mg/l)	2.42±0.28	6.20±0.54	23.00±2.30	2.54±0.38	6.60±0.23	26.10±1.20

Fig-1: Seasonal variation in BOD at three sampling site- a, b, c

Fig-2: Seasonal variation in phytoplankton count at three study site

Fig-3: Seasonal variation in bacterial count at study site ‘A’ upstream

Fig-4: Seasonal variation in bacterial parameters at study site ‘B’ midstream

Fig-5: Seasonal variation in bacterial parameters at study site ‘C’ downstream

CONCLUSION:

Water pollution of most river is due to millions of liter discharge of sewage, domestic waste, Industrial and agriculture effluent containing substances varying from simple nutrient such as nitrogen, phosphorus etc. to highly toxic substances .In a given situation, the extent of pollution is characterized by various chemical and biological parameters and based on comparisons with standard value. Such interpretations can be useful in evaluating the impact of pollution on the state of the environment.

The number, type and distribution of organisms present in any aquatic habitat provide a clue on the environmental conditions prevailing in that particular habitat. It is seen that many environmental factors interact to provide conditions for the growth of plankton both specially and seasonally

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The corresponding author is thankful to principal, M.S College, Saharanpur (U.P) for providing facilities and support for the study. The author also express special gratitude and thank to Dr. Ashok K. Bhargava, Head, Botany Department, M.S College, Saharanpur for his valuable guidance, constructive suggestions and critical screening throughout this research.

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Received on 03.09.2014 Modified on 20.01.2015

Asian J. Research Chem 8(3): March 2015; Page 155-160

DOI: 10.5958/0974-4150.2015.00027.9