Qualitative evaluation of Kanhan river and its tributaries flowing over central Indian plateau

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 147; no. 1-3; pp. 83 - 92
• Main Authors: Khadse, G. K, Patni, P. M, Kelkar, P. S, Devotta, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-12-2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alkalinity; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; COD; Contamination; Continental surface waters; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; ESP; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; India; Irrigation; Load; Mineralogy; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Natural water pollution; Nonpoint source pollution; Point and non-point pollution; Pollution; Pollution load; Pollution, environment geology; Rivers; Rivers - chemistry; RSC; Salinity; SAR; Seasons; Sediments; Sewage; Silicates; Studies; Summer; Temporal and spatial variability; Tributaries; Turbidity; Urban agriculture; Water geochemistry; Water Movements; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution - analysis; Water quality; Water supply; Water treatment and pollution; watersheds; Wind; Asia; India; India, Madhya Pradesh, Pench R; Catchment; RSC; ESP; Point and non-point pollution; SAR; Temporal and spatial variability; COD; DO; Irrigation; Geochemistry; Spatial variation; Time variation; Ion composition; Hydrochemistry; Surface water; Water quality; Pollution source; Chemical composition; Stream; Water pollution; Physicochemical properties; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-0100-x

Water quality evaluation of Kanhan river and its tributaries viz. Pench and Nag rivers was carried out in order to assess the qualitative changes and possibility of point and non-point pollution loads in these rivers for the post monsoon and summer seasons. pH, turbidity, conductivity, total alkalinity and total hardness were found in the range 7.1-8.7, 0.8-35 (NTU), 227-970 (μScm⁻¹), 7.1-8.7, 158-486 (mg/L) and 142-246 (mg/L), respectively. Ca, Mg, Na and K were in the range 24-62, 13-28, 15-183 and 3-33 mg/L, respectively. The respective ranges of Cl, SO₄, NO₃ and PO₄ were observed between 19-102, 8-23, 3-32 and 0.1-1.4 mg/L. DO and COD in the rivers ranged between nil to 8.5 and 7-172 mg/L, respectively. Absence of DO and higher COD in Nag river is due to its sewage content from Nagpur city. Nag river showed higher bacterial counts than Kanhan and Pench rivers. The temporal and spatial variability in the river water quality may be attributed to catchment characteristics, agricultural and urban activities in catchment and on the bank of the river. The values of RSC, ESP and SAR indicated that the water of Kanhan and Pench rivers are suitable, whereas that of Nag river is unsuitable for irrigation purpose.