Abstract

The present paper deals with the monthly variations of limnochemical characteristics of river Yamuna, Yamunanagar which is polluted with industrial effluents and domestic sewage via, maskara nala. Three sampling points that is, Station-Y1: Upstream of the river; Station-Y2: Point of influx of industrial effluents and domestic sewage; Station-Y3: About 5 km downstream from station Y2 were selected for the investigation. Studies revealed high values of conductivity, free CO₂, Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), total alkalinity, calcium, hardness, chloride, nitrite and nitrate whereas, low values of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at the point of getting effluent samples. The differences in various parameters were statistically significant (P<0.05) when compared from upstream and downstream stretches of the river. DO, BOD and COD were found to be important parameters which showed strong correlation with other parameters and hence can serve as good indices of river water quality. Water quality may be designated as ‘medium’ according to Brian Oram’s water quality Index and ‘severely polluted’ according to Kaur’s water quality index at station Y2.

Key words: Water quality index, Yamuna River, limnochemical characteristics, industrial effluent, sewage.