The present study was designed to assess the impact of mass bathing and religious activities on water quality index (WQI) of prominent water bodies (eight) in Haryana, India. Water quality characteristics revealed significant increase in the values of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, total hardness, total alkalinity, and MPN count after the religious activities. The computed WQI at all the eight selected sites varied from 47.55 to 211.42. The results revealed that there was a significant increase in the value of WQI after mass bathing or any other ritual performed. Out of eight water bodies studied three (sites 3, 4, and 5) were found under good water quality status; four sites (1, 2, 6, and 7) depicted medium water quality but site 8 was found under poor water quality after the religious activities. The good water quality status of water bodies was correlated with larger size of the water bodies and less number of pilgrims; however, the poor WQI values may be attributed to smaller size of the water body and heavy load of pilgrims on such sites. Therefore, water of these religious water bodies needed to be regularly changed after mass bathing to protect the aquatic component from different contaminations.
Surface water bodies have been the basic resource to fulfill all kinds of human requirements but unfortunately today water quality of these water resources is under severe environmental stress and under threat due to various types of anthropogenic activities and the condition is more pathetic in lentic water bodies. Among various types of anthropogenic actions religious activities like immersion of flour, oil, soap, ash, detergents, floral offerings, and mass bathing are also one of the important causes that affect the water quality of a water body. The holy water bodies of state of Haryana, India, have their immense value in terms of religious aspect, as people of Haryana, Punjab, and other states also are associated emotionally and spiritually with these water bodies. The religious activities are deeply rooted in its cultural heritage; millions of people take holy bath and perform religious activities and also do
For taking a better picture of water quality the data of various quality indicating parameters data could be aggregated into an overall index called water quality index (WQI). WQI can be defined as “a rating reflecting the composite influence of different water quality parameters on overall quality of water” [
A total of eight religious water bodies (lentic waters) in four districts of state of Haryana (Figure
The selected water bodies, their location, and the religious activities performed.
Site number | Name of water body | District | Activity |
---|---|---|---|
(1) | Kapalmochan tank | Yamunanagar | Full moon day (Kartik/Nov) on eve of Gurunanak birthday |
(2) | Kirmach pond | Kurukshetra | Kulotarn Tirth, fair at Sept month |
(3) | Ban Ganga Tirth tank | Kurukshetra | Vaishakhi (April) |
(4) | Brahmsarovar tank | Kurukshetra | Amavasya (new moon day), solar eclipse |
(5) | Jyotisar tank | Kurukshetra | Amavasya (new moon day), solar eclipse |
(6) | Saraswati Tirth tank | Pehowa, Kurukshetra | Pind-dan and bathing during Sharadh (Sept-Oct), solar eclipse & Kartik amavasya |
(7) | Phalgu Tirth pond | Kaithal | Somvati amavasya of Sharadh |
(8) | Pandu-Pindara Tirth pond | Jind | Somvari amavasya (new moon day on Monday), solar eclipse, Sharadh |
Map showing different sites of Haryana selected under the study area.
Water samples for physicochemical analysis were collected two days before every religious activity and one day after religious activity from selected stations, in triplicate, in clean polythene bottles during February 2012 to March 2013 for physicochemical analysis. During the study period the religious activities were performed two times at stations Ban Ganga Tirth, Brahmsarovar, Jyotisar, Saraswati tank, and Pandu-Pindara Tirth; one time at stations Kapalmochan, Kulotaran Tirth, and Phalgu Tirth.
Physicochemical parameters, namely, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total alkalinity, chloride, hardness, total sulphate, and total nitrate, were determined using the standard procedures followed by APHA [
Concentration of total faecal coliform bacteria was reported as Most Probable Number per 100 mL (MPN/100 mL) following standard procedures APHA [
For computing the WQI three basic steps were followed [
Relative weight (
S. number | Physicochemical parameters | Water quality standards for bathing or recreation | Assigned weight | Relative weight |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | pH | 6.5–9.0 [ |
4 | 0.1 |
2 | Conductivity (Ω/cm) | 3000 [ |
4 | 0.1 |
3 | TDS (mg L−1) | 1500 [ |
4 | 0.12 |
4 | Turbidity (NTU) | 5 [ |
2 | 0.05 |
5 | DO (mg L−1) | ≥5 [ |
4 | 0.1 |
6 | BOD (mg L−1) | ≤3 [ |
3 | 0.07 |
7 | Total alkalinity (mg L−1) | 200 [ |
1 | 0.02 |
8 | Total chloride (mg L−1) | 350 [ |
3 | 0.07 |
9 | Total hardness (mg L−1) | 600 [ |
2 | 0.05 |
10 | Total sulphate (mg L−1) | 350 [ |
4 | 0.1 |
11 | Total nitrate (mg L−1) | 5.6 [ |
5 | 0.12 |
12 | Total coliform (MPN/100 mL of water sample) | ≤500 [ |
4 | 0.1 |
Maximum weight of 5 was assigned to parameter like nitrate due to their major importance in water quality assessment [
For the calculation of WQI, the SI (subindex) was computed for each given parameter as per the following equations:
Status of water quality based on WQI.
S. number | WQI range | Status |
---|---|---|
1 | <50 | Excellent water quality |
2 | 50–100 | Good water quality |
3 | 100–150 | Medium or average water quality |
4 | 150–200 | Poor water quality |
5 | 200–300 | Very poor water quality |
6 | >300 | Water unsuitable for drinking/bathing or any other human use |
Mean values of all the eleven physicochemical parameters (mean ± SE) before and after the religious activities from February to March 2013 are represented in Figures
Variations in pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biochemical oxygen demand (mean ± standard error of the mean) before and after the religious activities at all the selected sites.
Variations in total alkalinity, total chloride, total hardness, total sulphate, and total nitrate (mean ± standard error of the mean) before and after the religious activities at all the selected sites.
On the basis of physicochemical and bacteriological variables before and after the religious activities, WQI was calculated for all the selected sites, which is shown in Table
Water quality index values calculated at all the selected sites before and after the religious activities.
Sites | Before activity | After activity | |
---|---|---|---|
Kapalmochan | Site 1 | 78.600 | 106.301 |
Kulotarn Tirth | Site 2 | 91.306 | 113.064 |
Ban Ganga | Site 3 | 67.187 | 79.101 |
77.622 | 84.115 | ||
Brahmsarovar | Site 4 | 47.550 | 63.724 |
60.890 | 53.696 | ||
Jyotisar | Site 5 | 58.934 | 70.686 |
60.773 | 59.941 | ||
Saraswati Tirth | Site 6 | 87.625 | 101.256 |
87.125 | 122.734 | ||
Phalgu Tirth | Site 7 | 94.278 | 125.427 |
Pandu-Pindara Tirth | Site 8 | 112.069 | 211.425 |
63.727 | 133.061 |
Water quality status of the selected sites on the basis of water quality index values before and after the religious activities.
Sites | Before activity | After activity | |
---|---|---|---|
Kapalmochan | Site 1 | Good water quality | Medium water quality |
Kulotarn Tirth | Site 2 | Good water quality | Medium water quality |
Ban Ganga | Site 3 | Good water quality | Good water quality |
Good water quality | Good water quality | ||
Brahmsarovar | Site 4 | Good water quality | Good water quality |
Good water quality | Good water quality | ||
Jyotisar | Site 5 | Good water quality | Good water quality |
Good water quality | Good water quality | ||
Saraswati Tirth | Site 6 | Good water quality | Medium water quality |
Good water quality | Medium water quality | ||
Phalgu Tirth | Site 7 | Good water quality | Medium water quality |
Pandu-Pindara Tirth | Site 8 | Medium water quality | Very poor water quality |
Good water quality | Medium water quality |
Pollution status was found to be lower at the sites 1, 3, 4, and 5 indicating their good water quality status that was suitable for bathing purpose may be attributed due to larger sizes of the these water bodies and less number of bathers or pilgrims.
The higher values of water quality index at maximum sites after the religious activities were observed mainly due to increase in the values of physicochemical parameters, namely, nitrates, turbidity, BOD, TDS, total alkalinity, and total hardness, and also due to decrease in the values of DO.
The results of the present study clearly depict that there is an increase in the value of water quality index after the religious human activities due to increase in the values of nitrates, turbidity, BOD, TDS, total alkalinity, total hardness, and MPN and decrease in the values of DO. Out of eight water bodies studied three were found to be under good water quality status and four (1, 2, 6, and 7) were designated under the medium water quality status whereas site 8 fell under the category of poor water quality after the religious activities. The sites with good WQI status (sites 3, 4, and 5) may be considered suitable for bathing purpose.
Regular change or mixing of water after mass bathing to protect the water body from different contaminations is recommended. Educational campaigns for awareness of the public regarding suitable use of water bodies without impairing the water quality are also required. To ensure that water quality standards are not violated, there is need of regular monitoring and surveillance of water quality in terms of physicochemical, biological, and bacteriological parameters taking suitable remedial measures to control pollution and prevent the depletion of the quality of lentic waters.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.