R.M.Bhardwaj
Senior Scientist
Central Pollution Control Board
(Ministry of Environment & Forests)
‘Parivesh Bhawan', East Arjun Nagar
Delhi – 110 032
E-mail : rmbhardwaj@gmail.com
NATIONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME
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Water quality monitoring in India started in 1978
under GEMS Programme.
National programme of Monitoring of Indian
National Aquatic Resources started in 1984 with
a total of 120 stations in 10 River Basins.
The present network comprises of 1700 stations
in 27 States and 6 Union Territories spread over
the country.
Monitoring is carried out on Monthly and Half
Yearly basis.
Monitoring network covers 353 Rivers (979
stations), 107 Lakes (117 stations), 9 Tanks, 44
Ponds, 8 Creeks/Seawater (15 stations), 14
Canals (27 stations), 18 Drains and 491 Wells.
82-83
83-84
YEAR
784
784
02-03
03-04
1032
06-07
1700
1800
09-10
1429
1600
08-09
1245
1400
07-08
1019
1200
05-06
870
784
01-02
1000
04-05
784
800
00-01
507
480
96-97
99-00
480
95-96
507
480
94-95
98-99
480
93-94
507
480
92-93
97-98
480
450
400
91-92
310
600
90-91
89-90
200
168
400
88-89
87-88
86-87
136
74
81-82
85-86
73
80-81
120
67
79-80
84-85
43
89
29
78-79
0
18
200
77-78
NO OF MONITORING STATIONS
YEAR WISE GROWTH OF MONITORING NETWORK
National Water Quality Monitoring Programme
(contd.)
•
Water samples are analysed for 9 Core
Parameters (pH, Temperature, Conductivity, DO,
BOD, Nitrite, Nitrate, Total Coliform and Faecal
Coliform) 19 General Parameters, 9 Toxic
Metals and 15 Pesticides.
4
Parameters for National Water Quality Monitoring
Core Parameters (9)
Field Observations (7)
Weather
Approximate depth of main stream/depth of water table
Colour and instensity
Odor
Visible efluent discharge
Human activities around station
Station detail
pH
Temperature
Conductivity
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen
Demand
Nitrate-N
Nitrite-N
Faecal Coliform
Total Coliform
Bio-Monitoring Parameters (3)
General Parameters (19)
COD
TKN
Ammonia
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Fixed Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Turbidity
Hardness
Fluoride
Boron
Chloride
Sulphate
Total Alkalinity
P-Alkalinity
Phosphate
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Saprobity Index
Diversity Index
P/R Ratio
Trace Metals (9)
Arsenic Nickel Copper Mercury Chromium Total
Cadmium Zinc Lead
Iron Total
Pesticide (7)
BHC(Total) Dieldrin Carbamate 2.4 D
DDT(Total) Aldrin
Endosulphan
5
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF MONITORING STATIONS
River/Stream
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Water intake point - community water supply.
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Large/medium polluting industries or cluster of SSI.
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Religious bathing.
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Source of river – pristine quality.
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Filling up long distance between existing stations.
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D/S of large irrigated areas.
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Low flow stretches.
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D/S of big cities.
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U/S and D/S of confluence of rivers.
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Inter-state boundaries.
Lake/Reservior/Pond/Tank
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Water abstraction point.
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Organised bathing.
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Vicinity of significant outfall.
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Recreational purpose.
Canal
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Irrigation offtake.
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D/S of wastewater outfall.
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Intake point – drinking water.
Groundwater
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Drinking water source located in insanitary condition – sewage cesspool, septic tank,
garbage dump, shallow aquifer.
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Tube-wells, hand-pumps or dugwells in industrial area.
Water Quality Criteria
Designated best use
Class
Drinking
water
source
without
conventional
treatment
but
after
disinfections
A
Criteria
*Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 50 or less.
*pH between 6.5 and 8.5
*Dissolved oxygen 6 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 2 mg/l or Less
Outdoor bathing (organised)
B
*Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 500 or less
*pH between 6.5 and 8.5
*Dissolved oxygen 5 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or Less
Drinking water source with
conventional
treatment
followed by disinfection
C
*Total coliform organisms MPN/ 100ml shall be 5000 or
less
*pH between 6 and 9
*Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or less
Propagation of wild life,
fisheries
D
*pH between 6.5 and 8.5
*Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more
*Free ammonia (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less
Irrigation, industrial cooling,
controlled waste disposal
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E
*pH between 6.0 and 8.5
*Electrical conductivity less than 2250 micro mhos/cm
*Sodium absorption ratio less than 26
*Boron less than 2mg/l
Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing
CRITERIA
1. Faecal Coliform
MPN/100ml
:
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RATIONALE
500 (desirable)
2500 (Maximum
Permissible)
2. Faecal Streptococci
100 (desirable)
MPN/100ml
: 500 (Maximum
Permissible)
To ensure low sewage contamination. Faecal
coliform and faecal streptococci are considered as
they reflect the bacterial pathogenicity.
The desirable and permissible limits are suggested
to allow for fluctuation inenvironmental
conditionssuch as seasonal changes, changes in
flow conditions etc.
3. pH:
The range provides protection of the skin and
delicate organs like eyes, nose, ears etc. which are
directly exposed during outdoor bathing.
Between 6.5-8.5
4. Dissolved Oxygen:
5 mg/l or more
The minmum dissolved oxygen concentration of 5
mg/l ensures reasonable freedom from oxygen
consuming organic pollution immediately U/s
which is necessary for preventing production of
anaerobic gases (obnoxious gases) from sediments
5. Biochemical Oxygen
Demand 3 day, 27oC:
3 mg/l or less
The Biochemical Oxygen Demand of 3 mg/l or
less of the water ensures reasonable freedom from
oxygen demanding pollutants and prevent
production of obnoxious gases.
Water Quality -Indian Rivers –2009
WATER QUALITY STATUS
Analysis of long term data with respect to BOD
(indicator of organic pollution)
Level of
Pollution
Pollution
Criteria
Riverine
Riverine
length, Km. length
percentage
6750
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Severely
polluted
Moderately
polluted
>6 mg/l
3-6 mg/l
8550
19
Relatively
clean
<3 mg/l
29700
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IDENTIFICATION OF POLLUTED WATER BODIES
• CPCB identified 10 polluted stretches for prioritising pollution
control efforts in 1988-89.
• Number of Stretches increased to 37 during 1992-93, 86 during
2001 and 178 during 2006
• Priority action planned in 2009.
• Polluted Rivers prioritised in five categories(BOD> 30 mg/l,
Between 20-30 mg/l, Between 20-10 mg/l, Between 6-10 mg/l
and Between 3-6 mg/l).
• The efforts are initiated by concerned Agencies to restore the
desired level.
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RIVER ACTION PLAN
• CPCB identified polluted water bodies, which leads to
formulation of action plan for restoration of the water
body.
• Based on CPCB’s Recommendations, Ganga Action Plan
was launched in 1986 to restore the water quality of River
Ganga by interception, diversion and treatment of
wastewater from 27 cities/towns located along the river.
• Based on the experience gained during implementation of
the Ganga Action Plan, Govt of India extended river
cleaning programme to other rivers.
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TOWNS CONSIDERED UNDER NATIONAL
RIVER ACTION PLAN
River
No. of Towns
River
No. of Towns
Ganga
74
Brahmini
3
Yamuna
22
Chambal
3
Damodar
12
Gomti
3
Godavari
6
Krishna
2
Cauvery
9
Sabarmati
1
Tungabhadra
4
Khan
1
Satluj
4
Kshipra
1
Subarnrekha
3
Tapi
1
Betwa
3
Narmada
1`
Wainganga
3
Mahanadi
1
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Strengthening of water Quality Monitoring Network
• Number of monitoring stations will be increased to
2500 during 11th Plan and 5000 during 12th Plan.
• The optimum network to cover all the surface water
bodies would be about 10000 monitoring stations.
• Monitoring of micro pollutants will be strengthened
with quality assurance.
• Optimization of monitoring locations, parameters
and frequency of monitoring.
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Major Water Quality Issues
Common issues of Surface and Ground water
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Pathogenic (Bacteriological) Pollution
Salinity
Toxicity (micro-pollutants and other industrial pollutants)
Surface Water
• Eutrophication
• Oxygen depletion
• Ecological health
Ground Water
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Fluoride
Nitrate
Arsenic
Iron
Sea water intrusion
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Outcome of National Monitoring Programme
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Every year a compendium of water quality statistics is published and
circulated to various scientific institutes and processed data is put on the web
site for easy access.
Basin sub basin Inventory of water pollution is prepared and published for all
the major river basins in the country.
Water quality atlas is prepared to assess the fitness of river water for desired
uses in the country.
Water quality data is used for Identification of Polluted Water Bodies based on
violation of desired water quality criteria for designated uses.
Water quality data formed the basis for Formulation of River Action Plan (38
rivers) and Identification of Pollution Sources in 167 cities for interception and
diversion of municipal wastewater and stricter surveillance of industrial
sources.
Water quality data is used for Query Response i.e. to reply Parliament
Questions, VIP reference, Public Queries, Public Interest Litigation filed in
Supreme Court and Various High Courts and to fulfill the requirement of Non
Governmental Organisation, Students, and Researchers.
Providing data to GEMS Programme on Water on annual basis for 72 stations
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for global data base.
Constraints in Maintaining the Network
 Sustainability of infrastructure and maintenance of
instruments and equipments.
 Financial as well as Manpower resources are inadequate
and reducing due to policy shift.
 Travel to long distances for monitoring and preservation of
samples in warm weather conditions adversely affect the
results.
 Analysis results needs in-depth validation and repeated
interaction with laboratories.
 Improper reporting of units, variation in analysis methods
and quality control of chemicals are cause of concern.
 Lack of consistent training for laboratory and field staff.
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Limitations of Monitoring Programme
 Problems in data validation due to fluctuation in water
quality.
 Flow in many rivers dwindles due to short period of
monsoon.
 Removal of outliers during validation of data may devoid
valuable information related to flushing of Industrial
effluents responsible for episodal pollution and fish kill.
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Major Factors Responsible for WQ Degradation
Municipal Sewage: 423 class I cities and 499 class II
towns harboring population of 300 million generate
about 38271 mld of wastewater of which only 11787
mld is treated. Treatment capacity address to about
30% of municipal sewage.
Domestic sewage is the major source of pollution in
India in surface water which contribute pathogens, the
main source of water borne diseases along with
depletion of oxygen in water bodies.
Industrial Effluents: About 57,000 polluting industries
in India generate about 13,468 mld of wastewater out
of which nearly 60% (generated from large & medium
industries) is treated.
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Major Factors Responsible (contd.)
Sewage along with agricultural run-off and
industrial effluents also contributes large amount
of nutrients in surface water causing
eutrophication
A large part of the domestic sewage is not even
collected. This results in stagnation of sewage
within city and contaminate the groundwater
which is the only source of drinking water in large
number of cities.
Non-point sources also contribute significant
pollution loads mainly in rainy season. Pesticides
consumption is about 1,00,000 tonnes /year of
which AP, Haryana, Punjab, TN, WB, Gujarat, UP
and Maharashtra are principal consumers
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What Needs to be done
1. Preparation of proper action plan and implementation to
achieve the desire water quality is required.
2. In some polluted river stretches due to lack of assimilative
capacity, stringent effluent discharge standard for
industries are required to be prescribed.
3. In some polluted river stretches, e.g. Delhi stretches of
Yamuna, dilution water is required to meet the desired
water quality criteria.
4. Seven States which are using 90% of pesticide for
Agriculture activity, surface / ground water is required to be
monitor critically with respect to pesticides residue.
What Needs to be done (Contd..)
5. 90% of the class II cities are not having any treatment of
domestic waste water. Phase wise this waste water should be
treated and disposed.
6. Water recycle and reuse should be given major thrust.
7. Rain water harvesting should be promoted in all the
developmental activities.
8. Interlinking of river(s) to be experimented and expedited to
made available more water in polluted river to achieve the
desired water quality.
THANKS FOR PATIENCE
DEDICATED TO WATER QUALITY MANGERS
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