Hydrochemistry and Water Quality Index of Kolong River: Analysis of drinking suitability of one of the most polluted rivers of India
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Abstract
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water” (Auden, 2021). The increasing population of the globe and anthropogenic activities are adversely affecting the hydrochemistry of the rivers and made them polluted. Kolong river of Nagaon, Assam, India is categorized under 71 most polluted river of India (2013, Central pollution control board). This study assessed the hydrochemistry of the river. The Samaguri site was selected from upstream of the river; Nagaon town and Jagi bhakatgaon sites were selected from midstream and the Mayong kajalimukh site was selected from the downstream. Temperature, PH, transperancy, total alkalinity, total hardness, conductivity, BOD, DO, COD, sulfate, magnesium, phosphate and chloride were selected as physico-chemical parameters. The physico-chemical parameters of Nagaon town site were not suitable for healthy survival of the biotic components of the river. The QWI assessment showed that the Nagaon town site is unfit for drinking in all seasons, during the study period. Other sites were also having very poor and poor status. Kolong river was once a vibrant river, but anthropogenic acts are degrading the ecological health of the river in a very terrifying way. Effective control measures should be taken to restore the polluted river to its original state.
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