ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF RIVER MANDAKINI FOR DRINKING PURPOSE IN STRETCH OF CHITRAKOOT AREAL.N. GUPTA, B. LAL, M.K. AHIRWAR AND G.S. GUPTAAbstract Present study deals with assessment of water quality of the river Mandakini for drinking purpose in a stretch of Chitrakoot area. The river Mandakini is one of the minor sacred rivers of Madhya Pradesh especially of Chitrakoot area, the eastern part of Bundelkhand region, sharingwater between MP and UP. It originates from Kelhaura hills about 45 Km in south-west of Chitrakoot and finally joins in the river Yamuna near Rajapur about 40 Km. in northeast of Chitrakoot. The sampling stretch covers approximately 25 km length from Sati Anusuiya to downstream of Karwi Bridge. The selected sampling stations were Sati Anusuiya (SA), Sphatikshilla (SS), Arogyadham Pool (ADP), Jankikund (JK), Pramodvan (PV), Bharat Ghat (BG), Ramghat (RG), Karwi Bridge Upstream (KBU) and Karwi Bridge Downstream (KBD). The parameters investigated were temperature, pH, turbidity, chloride, alkalinity, hardness, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total coliform count (TC). These parameters were determined in the laboratory by following the standard methods for examination of water and wastewater (APHAAWWA, 2012). Investigated parameters were compared with their standards prescribed by BIS and CPCB. Based on results, it was concluded that the quality of river water was not fit for drinking purpose except at SA, SS and ADP sampling stations. |