Assessment of the Deterioration in Physiochemical and Microbiological Quality of Shivnath River Water in Durg District , India

The water samples collected from Shivnath river in Durg Dist., India, were analyzed for physical properties like color, temperature, turbidity and odor, chemical properties like pH, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, total solids {Total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS)}, sulphates, nitrates were analyzed. Microbiological characteristics like detection of coliforms, quantitative analysis and most probable number (MPN) of coliforms was also performed. Incidences of Escherichia coli 0157 (Thermo tolerant strain) and Salmonella species were analyzed. All stated properties were analyzed for both upstream and downstream sampling points to determine the effect of residential and industrial discharges on the quality of river water. The addition of discharges has shown many fold increase in all the analyzed physiochemical parameters. The MPN/100 mL for upstream sample was 900 and down stream sample showed rises up to 1600. The heterotrophic plate count (HPC) also increased from 1.30x10/100 mL to 1.53x10/100 mL. Incidences of E.coli 0157 (Thermo tolerant strain) and Salmonella species were both found even before the addition of discharges.


Introduction
Water is the most basic and vital resource of our planet.According to the UN (United Nations) reports, 1978 consumable water levels are up to 2.7% of the total water content.1% of the ground water levels are threatened either directly or indirectly by pollution 1 .River water acts as receiving end of industrial wastes, residential area discharges which increase the pollution stress on these surface water bodies 2 .
Non pathogenic faecal organisms are best indicators of faecal pollution.However, in all cases faecal coliform counts and Escherichia coli is used as the major tool in the assessment of the health risks borne by pathogens in water 3 .
Many researchers constantly undertake work on assessment of physiochemical and microbiological quality of water bodies in different parts of the country [4][5][6][7] .In Chattisgarh state many small and big rivers co-originate.Shivnath river is main tributary of river Mahanadi.After originating from Panbara in Ambagarh tehsil of Rajnandgaon, it flows initially north wards about 40 km and at Ambagarh chouky it turns at right angles to flow in the east direction.
It is the second important river of chattisgarh in terms of carrying of water and length measured in the state.It flows about 290 km through Rajnandgaon, Durg and Janjgir, Champa District.The main tributaries are Lilagar, Maniyari, Surahi, Tandula etc. Shivnath is facing a great deal of pollution due to dumping of variety of wastes.The present study focuses on assessment of impact of the discharges on the physicochemical and microbiological quality of Shivnath river water in Durg Dist.

Experimental
River water samples were collected at two different sites hence forth cited as upstream and down stream.Shivnath River enters Durg; the spot chosen for upstream sampling was at Shivnath Bridge, near Vrindavan Hotel, Durg.The Pulgaon Channel which is one of the major sources of residential and industrial area discharges mixes into the river at Pushpavatika (Ganjpara, Durg) and is referred as downstream in the observations given below.

Collection of water samples for physiochemical analysis
Five liters of grab samples were collected.The samples were collected in plastic containers.The collected samples were analyzed for physiochemical analysis.

Collection of water samples for microbiological analysis
The water samples were collected in clean, sterilized narrow mouthed glass bottle of 250 mL capacity .The collected samples were analyzed for microbiological parameters.

Methodology
APHA 8 (American Public health Association) was used for analysis.The method used for studying physical properties like color was by visual observation and odor by smelling, temperature by thermometer (0º-1000º), turbidity by turbidometer, chemical properties like pH by pH meter, DO, BOD, COD, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness by titrometric methods, total solids (TDS and TSS) by gravimetric method, sulphates, nitrates were analyzed by colorimetric method.Microbiological properties like detection of coliforms, quantitative analysis (MPN) of coliforms, incidences of E.coli 0157(Thermo tolerant strain) and Salmonella species were analyzed for both upstream and downstream sampling.All the chemicals used were of analytical grade.

Results and Discussion
The study revealed that, addition of discharges into the river water has enhanced the pollution load of all the parameter taken under study like TDS, TSS, alkalinity, hardness, (Biological oxygen Demand) BOD, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), nitrates, nitrites and sulphates.The results of analysis are also represented in graphical manner.The upstream and down stream water samples were found to be colorless and odorless with 23.8 (ºC) and 25.2 (ºC) temperature respectively.The permissible limit for pH is 6.5 to 8.5 for use of the river water for drinking purpose.The addition of the discharges resulted in increase of the pH beyond the BIS 9 (Bureau of Indian Standards) tolerance limit.Table 1 reports the observation of pH, temperature, turbidity, color and odor.
Table 1.pH, temperature, turbidity, color and odor of upstream and downstream samples.

TDS and TSS
The values of TDS were found to be within limits even after the effluent introduction into the river.Observations of the stated parameters are given in Table 2.

DO, BOD and COD
The BOD values of both the samples were observed to be quite high than the BIS tolerance limit indicating high organic matter content in river water.Observations of the stated parameters are given in Table 3. Color colorless colorless 300Hazen units.

S.No
In mg/L

Hardness, Sulphates, Nitrates and Nitrites
The introduction of the effluent caused the nitrate of river water to exceed the tolerance limit.According to the BIS 10500: 1991 the desirable limit of calcium should be 75 mg/mL and the permissible limit is 400 mg/mL.The calcium content of river water was observed to exceed the desirable limit but was within permissible limit.Observations of the stated parameters are given in Table 4.

Alkalinity
The river water shows increase in alkalinity beyond the limit.This is attributed to the routine washing and bathing activities conducted at the banks of the river.Observations of the stated parameters are given in Table 5.

S.NO Parameters
Upstream Downstream BIS    Microbiological studies revealed that the effluents induced microbial growth in the river water by increasing the MPN from 900 to 1600/100 mL .The HPC of upstream river water sample was 1.30x10 4 /100 mL .The downstream sample revealed the increased value of 1.53x10 4 /100 mL.Incidences of Salmonella spp and 0157 E.coli were found in both upstream and downstream samples.According to the BIS standards the water is unsuitable for bathing .Raw river water cannot be used for drinking purpose.

Conclusion
The above studies reveal that there was slight increase in physiochemical parameters .The BOD, calcium content and alkalinity exceeded the BIS limits.Significant impact was found on microbiological characteristics.The MPN of coliforms nearly doubled .The quality of Upstream Downstream (P= Phenolphthalein; M= Methyl red) river water deteriorated and cannot be used for bathing purpose .The river water is unsuitable for drinking without any disinfection.
pH temp in o C turbidity, Upstream Dow nstream Assessment of the Deterioration in Microbiological Quality of River Water 735 pH, Temperature, Turbidity, Color and Odor

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Comparisons of pH, Temperature and turbidity of upstream and downstream samples.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. TDS and TSS of upstream and downstream samples.

Table 3 .
DO, BOD, COD of upstream and downstream samples.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. DO, BOD and COD (in mg/L) upstream and downstream samples.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Hardness, sulphates, nitrates and nitrites of upstream and downstream samples represented in mg/L.

Table 2 .
TDS and TSS of upstream and downstream samples.

Table 4 .
Hardness, sulphates, nitrates and nitrites of upstream and downstream samples.

Table 5 .
Alkalinity of upstream and downstream samples.

Table 6 .
10andards of acceptable total coliform in inland surface water, according to Indian Standards 229610.(Indian standards of drinking water-specification BIS 10500: 1991) .

Table 7 .
Microbiological analysis of upstream and downstream samples.