Monitoring Urban River Water Quality Using Macroinvertebrate and Physico-Chemical Parameters: Case study of Penchala River, Malaysia

Abstract Water quality assessment relies mostly on physico-chemical based characterization however, eutrophication and climate change advocate the abundance of toxic microcystins (MCs) producing cyanobacteria as emerging bio-indicator. In the present study, a spatial-temporal analysis was carried out at ten sampling sites of Prayagraj and Varanasi during June 2017 and March 2018 to determine the Ganga River water quality using physico-chemical parameters, cyanobacteria diversity, detection of MCs producing strains and MC-LR equivalence. Coliform bacteria, COD, NO3-N and phosphate are the significant contaminated parameters favoring the growth of putative MCs producing cyanobacteria. National Sanitation Foundation WQI (NSFWQI) indicates water quality, either bad or medium category at sampling points. The morphological analysis confirms the occurrence of diverse cyanobacterial genera such as Microcystis, Anabaena, Oscillatoria, Phormidium etc. PCR amplification affirmed the presence of toxic microcystin (mcy) genes in uncultured cyanobacteria at all the sampling sites. The concentration of MC-LR equivalence in water samples by protein phosphatase 1 inhibition assay (PPIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods was observed in the range of 23.4–172 ng/L and 13.2–97.5 ng/L respectively which is lower than the harmful exposure limit by World Health Organization (WHO). Ganga isolate 1 was identified as Microcystis based on partial 16S rDNA sequence and its toxicity was confirmed due to presence of mcy genes and MCs production potential. These findings suggest the presence of MCs producers as new emerging parameter to monitor water quality index and identification up to species level will be valuable for restoration strategies of river Ganga.

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Analysis of water pollution and evaluation of purification measures in an urban river basin

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1996.0297 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 34 (12) ◽

pp. 33-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Y. Hosoi ◽

Y. Kido ◽

H. Nagira ◽

H. Yoshida ◽

Y. Bouda

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

River Water ◽

River Basin ◽

Urban Areas ◽

River Flow ◽

Sea Water ◽

Water Quality Management ◽

River Water Quality ◽

Urban River ◽

Pollutant Load

The inflow of pollutant load from urban areas and the stagnation of water due to sea water intrusion cause the deterioration of river water quality in tidal zone. In order to improve water quality, various measures such as the reduction of pollutant load by sewage systems, discharge control from sewage treatment plants considering river flow, nutrient removal by aquatic plants, and the dredging of bottom sediments have been examined. The choice of these measures depends on the situation of the river environment and finances. In this study, a field survey was carried out in a typical urban river basin, first. Secondly, on the basis of this survey, a mathematical model was formed to simulate flow and water quality. Several purification alternatives designed for the investigated river basin were comparatively evaluated from the viewpoint of the effect of water quality improvement and their cost. Finally, they were prioritized. Through this case study, a planning process of river water quality management was shown.

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