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PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF RIVER THE GANGA AROUND SHEORAPHULI, HOOGHLY, W.B., INDIA

Abstract

Physicochemical properties and bacterial load in the river Ganga at Sheoraphuli, Hooghly, West Bengal, India were studied. The water temperature fluctuated depending on aerial temperature viz. 15oC (December) to 32oC (May). Mean pH of the water was 7.2, alkalinity was 42-185 mg/L and changed throughout the year. The BOD and dissolved oxygen were maximum (3.4 mg/L and 9.8, respectively) in the winter and minimum (7.3 mg/L and 3.8, respectively) in the summer. Total suspended material varied from 104 mg/L in winter (Check?) to 725 mg/L in summer. Total hardness increased gradually from 49.5-74.5 mg/L from October to June. The chloride (15-19 mg/L) and iron (0.37-0.50 mg/L) contents of the river Ganga fluctuated in different seasons. MPN index of the coliform bacteria was more than 920 bacteria/100 mL. Coliform count (cfu /mL) ranged from 5.8 x105 to 4.7 x105/ mL during the study period i.e. the mean number was 6.9 x 105/ mL. Nevertheless, higher coliform load revealed that the water of the Ganga river at Sheoraphuli region is not potable.

S.N. CHATTERJEE , D. DAS , T.S. GHOSH1, T. SEN , K. DAS AND T.K. DANGAR

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