Articles

Investigation of Seasonal Fluctuations in Water Quality at Backwater Locations of Nathsagar Dam, Maharashtra

The backwaters of Jayakwadi Dam, situated on the Godavari River in Maharashtra, constitute a critical water resource for the drought-prone Marathwada region. Known as the Nath Sagar Reservoir, this expansive water body plays a vital role in sustaining ecological balance and supporting human activities. It serves as a primary source of drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use, particularly benefiting the urban and peri-urban areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. During periods of water scarcity, the reservoir ensures water availability for both rural and urban populations, highlighting its regional importance.

This study aims to evaluate the Water Quality Index (WQI) of surface water from selected backwater stations of the Nath Sagar Reservoir to determine its suitability for domestic, agricultural, and industrial applications. Water samples were collected from multiple locations and analyzed for ten key physicochemical parameters: pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, nitrates, sulphates, total alkalinity, total hardness, biological oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen (DO). These indicators were selected for their significance in assessing water quality and potential environmental and health impacts.

Assessment of Effect of Industrial Effluent on Ground Water of Pali, Rajasthan, India

A study was conducted to assess the present status of the ground water in Pali town. The city is known as an industrial hub especially for the textile industry. Ten sampling locations were selected at random and the ground water samples were selected from tube wells and wells in and around Pali town. For this purpose, these samples were analysed for major physical and chemical water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids  (TDS), Alkalinity, Total Hardness (TH), Sodium, Phosphate, Nitrate, Carbonate, Bicarbonate and Chloride. The results were compared with standards prescribed by WHO (World Health Organization).

It was found that most of the samples of the ground water quality were substandard, may be due to the industrial effluents, discharge by industrial units in the Bandi River and on open surface. The sampling sites Punayata and Mandia showed high deviation from standards prescribed by WHO. Hence the present study concluded that the ground water quality in the study area was polluted. So, it is necessary to take periodic monitoring of the ground water quality and strict rules and regulation on industrial effluent in this region for future sustainability.