Idol immersion and Physico-Chemical properties of South Gujarat Rivers, India

Abstract

Ganesh chaturthi is one of the main festivals celebrated in India, it is the most celebrated in western India. After predetermined time idol is immersed in water bodies every year. As the extent of idol immersion increases with increasing population with limited water bodies hence water pollution increases, which is alarming situation. In present study total five sampling stations which were assessed in 2009 are assessed again in 2010 for its physico-chemical characteristics with respect to idol immersionsites from different cities of South Gujarat i.e. Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Autl-Pardi and Vapi. All the samples collected by means of composite sampling to know the physico-chemical quality of all river water. The analysis was carried out for pH, temperature, color, DO, COD, chloride, hardness, SS, TDS, conductivity, and phosphate parameters. The results obtained reveals that Tapi and Purna river water becomes acidic after idol immersion. Parameters like hardness, chloride, color, SS, TDS increases slightly after idol immersion in all rivers except Tapi river for TDS and SS. DO is decreasing drastically after the next day of idol immersion at all the rivers which is indication of pollution. The trend of increasing such parameters indicates that idol immersion affect the water quality to the extent with respect to self purification of water and flow of stream of the river. Overall water quality of all rivers before and after idol immersion found very good with respect to last year data.