Analysing the Changes in the Water Quality of River Yamuna, During 2012-2023
| International Journal of Applied Chemistry |
| © 2025 by SSRG - IJAC Journal |
| Volume 12 Issue 3 |
| Year of Publication : 2025 |
| Authors : Sayaan Mehta |
10.14445/23939133/IJAC-V12I3P101
How to Cite?
Sayaan Mehta, "Analysing the Changes in the Water Quality of River Yamuna, During 2012-2023," SSRG International Journal of Applied Chemistry, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1-11, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939133/IJAC-V12I3P101
Abstract:
The River Yamuna, one of the most significant rivers in northern India, plays a vital role in supporting agriculture, industry, and human settlements, but it continues to face severe pollution stress. This study examines the changes in the Yamuna’s water quality between 2012 and 2023. Secondary data for key physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were collected from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website, and annual mean values were analyzed to identify long-term trends. The parameters studied include pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), conductivity, nitrates/nitrites, fecal coliform, and total coliform. The findings reveal that while pH remained relatively stable (7.5–7.8), DO levels fluctuated widely, with a minimum of 5.34 mg/L in 2014 and a peak of 12.57 mg/L in 2015. BOD consistently exceeded permissible limits, with the highest value of 16.05 mg/L recorded in 2022, indicating persistent organic pollution. Conductivity levels rose significantly over the decade, reaching over 1100 µmhos/cm in 2016, suggesting increasing dissolved solids from effluents. Microbiological contamination was a major concern, as fecal and total coliform counts remained alarmingly high throughout the study period, with 2012 showing extreme levels and only partial declines by 2023. Overall, the results highlight persistent anthropogenic pressures, primarily from untreated sewage and industrial discharges, that continue to degrade the Yamuna’s water quality. Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches, including seasonal and site-specific monitoring, expansion of tested parameters, and adoption of advanced analytical tools to support sustainable river management and policy interventions.
Keywords:
Yamuna, Central Pollution Control Board, Physico-chemical, Permissible limits.
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