A Study of Water Quality of Kaushalya River In The Submountaneous Shivalik Region

Water is a valued natural resource for the existence of all living organisms. Indian rivers are polluted due to the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents. Management of the quality of this precious resource is, therefore, of special importance. In this study river water samples were collected and analysed for physicochemical and bacteriological evaluation of pollution of Kaushalya River in Parwanoo. The water quality was studied quarterly at two sites at upstream and downstream regions during 2011 in the months of January, April, July and October. Physico-chemical and microbiological analyzed. Also the correlation coefficients between parameters of river water samples were parameters of the samples were measured, moreover, possible sources of contamination were determined. Most of the parameters analysed for Kaushalya river were in acceptable range except COD, Alkalinity, Hardness, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform which showed human, animal and agricultural activities as the main sources of pollution. Trace metal and pesticides levels were low suggesting low contamination of the river by industrial wastes and toxics. However due to presence of a water treatment plant in the village Kamli from where the water of Kaushalya river is supplied to different sectors of Parwanoo, the river is suitable for drinking, bathing, recreation, irrigation and industrial uses, etc. Thus the overall water quality of the study site remained within the safe limits throughout the study period. Though the river is safe, still some of the conservation and management plans are proposed to reduce the sewage and the agricultural impacts on the river. Index Terms bacteriological analysis, correlation , Kaushalya river, Parwanoo, physiochemical analysis, seasonal variation, spacial variation, water quality