Assignment on:
Detection and Characterisation of Major Water
Pollutants in River Water
Submitted by:
Name: ____________________
Class: ____________________
Roll No.: _________________
Introduction
Rivers are one of the most vital freshwater resources that support human life, agriculture,
industry, and biodiversity. Unfortunately, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population
growth have led to large-scale discharge of pollutants into river systems. Water pollution not
only affects aquatic ecosystems but also poses serious health risks to humans. Therefore, the
detection and characterisation of river water pollutants is essential for water quality
assessment, pollution control, and sustainable water management.
Major Water Pollutants in Rivers
1. Organic Pollutants – Sources: sewage, agricultural runoff; Examples: pesticides, oils;
Impacts: oxygen depletion, eutrophication. 2. Inorganic Pollutants – Sources: industrial
effluents, mining; Examples: heavy metals, nitrates; Impacts: toxicity, bioaccumulation, human
health hazards. 3. Pathogenic Microorganisms – Sources: sewage, hospital waste; Examples:
E. coli, cholera bacteria; Impacts: waterborne diseases. 4. Nutrients – Sources: fertilizers,
detergents; Examples: nitrates, phosphates; Impacts: algal blooms, oxygen depletion. 5.
Thermal Pollution – Sources: power plants; Impacts: loss of aquatic biodiversity. 6. Suspended
Solids – Sources: erosion, waste; Impacts: turbidity, habitat loss.
Detection Methods
Physical Methods: temperature, turbidity, conductivity. Chemical Methods: pH, DO, BOD, COD,
nitrates, phosphates. Biological Methods: coliform tests, bioassays, species diversity.
Instrumental Techniques: GC, AAS, ICP-MS, HPLC, UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
Characterisation of Water Pollutants
Physico-Chemical – pH, turbidity, DO, BOD, COD. Microbiological – coliform counts,
membrane filtration. Toxicological – bioassays, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity tests. Ecological –
plankton diversity, benthic macroinvertebrates.
Case Studies
1. Ganga River – sewage, tannery waste, high coliform levels. 2. Yamuna River – high sewage
load, high BOD and COD, fish mortality. 3. Mahanadi River – industrial effluents, turbidity
during monsoon.
Conclusion
The detection and characterisation of river water pollutants is a critical step towards pollution
control and sustainable management. Pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, nutrients,
and pathogens severely degrade river ecosystems and endanger human health. Regular
monitoring using physical, chemical, biological, and advanced instrumental methods is
essential. Stricter laws, wastewater treatment, and awareness are required to restore and
maintain healthy rivers.
