Seasonal variations in physico-chemical characteristics of River Yamuna in Haryana and its ecological best-designated use

Abstract

Various physico-chemical characteristics of the River Yamuna flowing in Haryana through Delhi were studied in the summer (April 1998) and winter (Jan.–Feb. 1999). Ecological parameters like dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, nitrate (NO₃⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻), were analyzed and compared with standard permissible limits to assess the best-designated use of the river water for various purposes. The river in Delhi upstream was of better quality whereas the Delhi downstream stretch was polluted as indicated by very low DO and high total dissolved solids (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), total hardness, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, F⁻ and SO₄²⁻. The differences in various parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.01) when compared for the Delhi upstream and downstream stretches of the river, particularly in summer. DO and TDS were found to be two important parameters, which showed strong correlation with several other parameters and hence can serve as good indices of river water quality. The river tended to recover from the pollution stress after flowing through a distance of about 80 km downstream of Delhi.