Geospatial Assessment of Water Quality in Creeks and Coast of Mumbai India

Mumbai, the financial capital of India is generating about 2700 MLD of sewage from seven service areas and discharging into adjoining coast, Malad, Mahim, Marve and Thane Creeks. The coastal and creeks water quality is deteriorating due to disposal of partially treated sewage, wastewater from open drains as well as industrial wastewater. The objective of present paper is to assess and evaluate the water quality during low and high tides. 65 samples from west coast including beaches and seafronts, 44 from creeks and 3 from ocean outfalls were collected as per Standard Method. The samples were analysed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters and results were compared with SW II standards as prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board, India. The results were incorporated on the GIS platform for further geospatial analysis and visualization. The spatial distributions of water quality were generated to delineate the areas affected due to sewage discharges and disposal through ocean outfalls. Based on water quality analysis and spatial distribution, creeks were observed to be worst and most of the parameters were above the prescribed standards as compared to west coast. Spatial and temporal assessment of water quality suggests that there is a dire need of improvement in wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities to achieve designated standards in creeks and coastal environment.