Assessment of Agricultural Runoff and Its Impact on Riverine Water Quality near Ubali Village, Nagpur District

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of agricultural runoff on riverine water quality near Ubali Village, located in Kalmeshwar Taluka of Nagpur District, Maharashtra. Agricultural intensification in this rural region, characterized by unregulated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has led to concerns over nutrient and microbial pollution in adjacent water bodies. Systematic water sampling was conducted during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons at three key locations: upstream (control), midstream (adjacent to agricultural fields), and downstream. Standard methods as prescribed by APHA were employed for physico-chemical and microbial analysis. The results revealed elevated levels of nitrate (up to 38 mg/L), phosphate (up to 6.2 mg/L), BOD (up to 80 mg/L), and total coliforms (as high as 2100 MPN/100mL) at downstream sites during monsoon, exceeding CPCB standards. The study proposes integrated watershed management, vegetative buffer zones, and constructed wetlands as viable mitigation strategies. This paper contributes to international discussions on rural water quality management and sustainable agriculture.

Introduction

1. Background

Agricultural runoff from fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock waste is a major non-point source of freshwater pollution worldwide. In Ubali Village, Maharashtra, this issue is intensified due to unregulated discharge into local rivers, leading to:

• Eutrophication

• Hypoxia

• Waterborne diseases

The study aims to quantify pollution levels and recommend sustainable water management solutions.

2. Study Area and Sampling

• Location: Ubali Village near the Kanhan River; crops include soybean, cotton, and paddy.

• Sampling Sites:

  • Upstream (US): Control site, above runoff entry

  • Midstream (MS): Adjacent to discharge points

  • Downstream (DS): 500m after runoff entry

• Seasons Studied: Pre-monsoon (April) and monsoon (August)

3. Key Findings

• BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) levels increased sharply at midstream and downstream, exceeding CPCB limits by over 160% in monsoon.

• Nutrient loading (nitrates and phosphates) spiked during monsoon due to fertilizer runoff.

• Coliform counts suggest contamination from animal waste.

4. Pollution Attribution

• Monsoon runoff is the primary driver of increased pollutants.

• Fertilizers and livestock waste are the main sources of organic and microbial contamination.

5. Proposed Solutions

The study recommends eco-engineering interventions to mitigate runoff effects:

• ???? Grass buffer strips

• ???? Bioretention cells

• ???? Constructed wetlands

These nature-based solutions can help filter pollutants before they reach rivers.

6. Limitations & Future Work

• Limited to two seasonal samples and a few water quality parameters.

• Did not include GIS mapping or continuous monitoring.

• Future studies should:

  • Use remote sensing to correlate land use and pollution.

  • Include pesticide and sediment analysis.

  • Pilot nature-based treatment systems.

  • Explore community engagement and cost-effectiveness of interventions.

Conclusion

This research confirms that agricultural runoff near Ubali significantly impairs river water quality, particularly during the monsoon. Elevated levels of BOD, nutrients, and microbial indicators pose risks to public health and aquatic ecosystems. Integrated management involving farmers, engineers, and policymakers is necessary to protect rural water resources sustainably.

References

[1] APHA, \"Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,\" 23rd Ed., 2017. [2] CPCB, \"Effluent Standards,\" Govt. of India, 2020. [3] Carpenter, S.R. et al., \"Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen,\" Ecological Applications, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 559-568, 1998. [4] Bolan, N.S. et al., \"Agricultural Runoff and Water Quality,\" Water Encyclopedia, Wiley, 2005. [5] Reddy, K.R. and D’Angelo, E.M., \"Biogeochemical indicators to evaluate pollutant removal efficiency in constructed wetlands,\" Water Science & Technology, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 1-10, 1997. [6] Singh, K.P. et al., \"Monitoring and assessment of runoff water quality using multivariate statistical techniques,\" Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 101, pp. 17-40, 2005.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Nakul Rajesh Shenode, Dilip Budhlani, Avinash Zode. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.