Water quality assessment of Ganga river in Bihar Region, India.

A study was carried out on Ganga river in Bihar region in and around Patna to assess the impact of sewage pollution on the water quality of the river. The drain water samples from the confluence point of outfall drains to the river were collected and studied for key parameters. Parameters such as BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, total and faecal coliform (MPN) were observed high in drain water. The physicochemical analysis of Ganga river shows that the water has high TDS, TSS, BOD, and COD. The coliform bacteria were found to be alarmingly high in the river. Most of the parameters analyzed were found high near the bank in comparison to the water in the middle stream of that station. The XRF analysis of sediments of the Ganga river showed that Si, Fe, Ca, Al and K are the major elements of the Ganga sediment. The study revealed that due to discharge of untreated sewage into the Ganga, the water quality of Ganga has been severely deteriorated and the potable nature of water is being lost.