TURBIDITY TRENDS IN RIVER GANGA AT DIAMOND HARBOUR-INDIA

Abstract

The present study evaluates the water quality of  River Ganga at Diamond Harbour through monthly monitoring of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters from January to December 2024. Water samples were analyzed for turbidity, temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Fixed Solids (TFS), Escherichia coli, Fecal coliforms, and Fecal streptococci. Turbidity values ranged from 33.5 to 538 NTU, with maximum values recorded during October and May and  pH remained slightly alkaline throughout the study period, while solids concentration showed wide fluctuations. Bacteriological parameters exceeded permissible limits in all months, with extremely high E. coli and fecal coliform counts observed in October, indicating severe feacal contamination. The correlation analysis revealed a very weak relationship between turbidity and temperature and turbidity and pH. A moderate negative correlation was observed between turbidity and TDS , while turbidity showed a weak positive correlation with TSS . Elevated microbial counts were found associated positively with turbidity. Concluding that bacteriological parameters were responsible for high turbidity during the study period. The work paves way for finding mathematical models for further investigation of turbidity fluctuations with bacterilogocal microorganisms at the study area to curb water pollution.