NEW DELHI: Fecal levels, indicating untreated sewage and high levels of pollution in Yamuna, reached an all-time high in Sept. This occurred even as dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand, slightly improved, thanks to the surplus rain in Aug.
However, even the Aug rain couldn't boost fecal coliform level, which, at its peak, was a staggering 4,900,000 MPN (most probable number)/100 ml. This is 1,959 times higher than the standard of 2,500 units and 9,800 times the desired limit of 500 units. This was the worst pollution in the river, in terms of fecal coliform, since Feb 2022, when the fecal level at Agra Canal (one of the stations at the river stretch in the city) had reached 6,300,000 units.
The fecal level in the river was assessed by Delhi Pollution Control Committee for Sept, a report of which was released on Oct 4, with samples collected on Sept 4. The report comes at a time when certain stretches of the river are already showing heavy frothing, a visible proof of pollution when mixed pollutants like surfactants and phosphates are churned out to reveal their presence. DPCC doesn't test these parameters.
Due to the surplus monsoon, which retreated on Oct 2 this year, Yamuna managed to have a good flow as additional water was released from upstream. This, however, improved the status of dissolved oxygen, which depicts the presence of life in the river, or potential, throughout its stretch. As per standards, BOD must not exceed 5 mg/l, and DO must not go below 5 mg/l, which is the standard for outdoor bathing. While BOD depicts the capacity of water to clean itself, as it is the amount of oxygen required for water to treat organic matter in it, fecal coliform represents the presence of untreated sewage in the water.
According to the report, at its entry at Palla, the DO level was 8 mg/l, while the BOD was 3 mg/l, and the fecal level was 1,600 units-all within the standards. However, as the river traversed further, the pollution load increased. By the time the river reached Wazirabad, DO and FC were within standards; however, BOD had already breached the mark. As the river reached Nizamuddin, FC reached 1,100,000 units, worsening further to 3,500,000 units at Okhla, 1,100,000 units at Agra Canal, and 4,900,000 units at the city's exit after the confluence of Shahdara and Tughlakabad drains.
However, even the Aug rain couldn't boost fecal coliform level, which, at its peak, was a staggering 4,900,000 MPN (most probable number)/100 ml. This is 1,959 times higher than the standard of 2,500 units and 9,800 times the desired limit of 500 units. This was the worst pollution in the river, in terms of fecal coliform, since Feb 2022, when the fecal level at Agra Canal (one of the stations at the river stretch in the city) had reached 6,300,000 units.
The fecal level in the river was assessed by Delhi Pollution Control Committee for Sept, a report of which was released on Oct 4, with samples collected on Sept 4. The report comes at a time when certain stretches of the river are already showing heavy frothing, a visible proof of pollution when mixed pollutants like surfactants and phosphates are churned out to reveal their presence. DPCC doesn't test these parameters.
Due to the surplus monsoon, which retreated on Oct 2 this year, Yamuna managed to have a good flow as additional water was released from upstream. This, however, improved the status of dissolved oxygen, which depicts the presence of life in the river, or potential, throughout its stretch. As per standards, BOD must not exceed 5 mg/l, and DO must not go below 5 mg/l, which is the standard for outdoor bathing. While BOD depicts the capacity of water to clean itself, as it is the amount of oxygen required for water to treat organic matter in it, fecal coliform represents the presence of untreated sewage in the water.
According to the report, at its entry at Palla, the DO level was 8 mg/l, while the BOD was 3 mg/l, and the fecal level was 1,600 units-all within the standards. However, as the river traversed further, the pollution load increased. By the time the river reached Wazirabad, DO and FC were within standards; however, BOD had already breached the mark. As the river reached Nizamuddin, FC reached 1,100,000 units, worsening further to 3,500,000 units at Okhla, 1,100,000 units at Agra Canal, and 4,900,000 units at the city's exit after the confluence of Shahdara and Tughlakabad drains.
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