Affiliations: Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, IIT Roorkee –
247667, Uttar Pradesh, India | Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee – 247667,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract: Rivers are under increasing stress due to urbanization and other
anthropogenic activities, leading to their over-exploitation and degradation.
Godavari originates near Triambak in the Nasik district of Maharashtra, and
flows through Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Although
its point of origin is just 80 km away from the Arabian Sea, it journeys 1465
km to fall into the Bay of Bengal. Like most other rivers, domestic pollution
is the biggest polluter of the river Godavari, accounting for 82% of total
pollution, whereas industrial pollution accounts for about 18%. The study
covers 78 km of the river starting from the Kaigaon Toka to Shahagad. Six
locations were selected for collection of water samples from the river and were
analysed for water quality parameters in the environmental laboratory of
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Aurangabad. This data as well as
the data from the Central Pollution Control Board were used to compute the
National Sanitation, Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), which is
generally applicable in USA and India. The results of the NSFWQI of Godavari
River indicates its water quality as bad-medium over the stretch. Based on the
results, the existing conservation measures have been reviewed and additional
measures are suggested. The study concludes that major stress is industrial
effluents and domestic pollution.
Keywords: Water quality management, assessment of surface water quality, water quality parameters
