Assessment of Physio Chemical Parameters and Water Quality Index of Different Ghats of River Ganga at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Ganga, the longest river in India, provides water to millions of people who live along its bank and depend on it for their livelihood throughout the year. For about 40% of the population, it provides water for drinking and irrigation. This study was conducted to analyse the physico-chemical parameters and WQI of five different Ghats of River Ganga at Varanasi. The data recorded from the present investigation revealed that the maximum value of pH was recorded at Dasaswamedh Ghat with 8.57 in the month of March and minimum was 7.53 recorded in the month of February Harish Chandra Ghat. EC value was recorded maximum at Tulsi Ghat with 564 mmhos/cm in the month of April and the minimum value was 131 mmhos/cm in the month of January recorded at Assi Ghat. The maximum value of TDS was 319.67mg/l in the month of February recorded at Assi ghat and minimum data recorded was 229mg/l in the month of January at Manikarnika Ghat. The DO value was recorded maximum at Manikarnika Ghat with 8.20mg/l in the month of January and the minimum value was5.97mg/l recorded in the month of January at Tulsi Ghat. The BOD value was recorded maximum at Assi Ghat with 4.63mg/l in the month of March and minimum of 2.70 mg/l recorded in the month of January at Harish Chandra Ghat. The Total Hardness value was recorded maximum at Tulsi Ghat with 138.33mg/l in the month of February and minimum value of 78.33mg/l recorded in the month of January at Assi Ghat. The Total Alkalinity value was recorded maximum with 114.33mg/l in the month of April at Ghat and minimum value was 78.67mg/l recorded in the month of January at Harish Chandra Ghat. The chloride value was recorded maximum at Harish Chandra Ghat with 31.67mg/l in the month of February and minimum value was 10mg/l recorded in the month of January at Manikarnika Ghat. The results of the different parameters when compared with BIS standards were found to be within the permissible limit except for pH and BOD. The WQI of the different Ghats indicated poor category of water quality.