PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF RIVER CHAMBAL IN KOTA CITY AREA OF RAJASTHAN STATE (INDIA)

Authors: Nitin Gupta, S.M.Nafees, M.K.Jain* and S. Kalpana

*E-mail: mkjres2008@gmail.com

Over the past several years deterioration in water quality has gradually rendered the Chambal River water unsuitable for various beneficial purposes and to maintain and restore the wholesomeness of river water in terms of its ecological sustainability is the logical necessity of today. The River Chambal passes through the Kota City, an industrial and educational town of Rajasthan state and due to various anthropogenic activities its water gets contaminated in the area. Although the self purification characteristics of river reduce pollutants at measurable extent but undesired substances adds to the water at proportionally higher rate and exerts impact on physicochemistry of water making it unsafe for intended purpose. Being the problem concerned with everyone’s health it was considered worthwhile to carryout physicochemical study by determining various parameters for water quality of River Chambal along with Kota City area during pre-monsoon seasons of the years 2007 to 2009 and indicated its suitability for intended purpose. The overall water quality of River Chambal was observed moderately polluted in City area in pre-monsoon period.

Keywords : Water quality, physicochemical parameters, self purification.