For a closed waterbody in an urban location, regular checking of the water is very important. Any deviation from normal values for the quality defining establishing parameters suggest potential contamination and pollution of the water body due to anthropogenic intervention. One such water body affected by urbanization is the Banganga Tank in Mumbai. In the current research work, water quality at Banganga Tank has been evaluated in terms of water quality parameters such as pH, Alkalinity, Salinity, Chlorinity, Total Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand and Biological Oxygen Demand. The values obtained have been compared with the acceptability criteria set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Water collected from the pond was physically observed to be eutrophic and contaminated due to anthropogenic pollution. These optical observations were supported by the results obtained. Levels of all the above-mentioned parameters were found to be above the acceptable limits. Results suggest that the chemical imbalance in the water is primarily responsible for algal blooms observed and raises a warning for overall degradation of the waterbody. Awareness regarding the degrading conditions of Banganga Tank needs to be generated on war-footing. With help from local governmental authorities, scientific steps for cleaning and rejuvenation of the waterbody need to be implemented. Further in-depth evaluation encompassing other water quality defining parameters will be able to shed more light on the current situation and provide the necessary information for the restoration effort.
Type of Publication
Research Paper
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