Effect of Mass Bathing on Water Quality of the Ganga River at Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Abstract

The Ganga River, revered as one of the holiest rivers in the world, is facing significant degradation due to urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. Despite its sacred status and origin from the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayas, it accumulates pollutants from various sources including domestic, industrial, and agricultural. Over-abstraction for irrigation has further reduced its dry weather flow. Mass bathing during religious rituals contributes to pollution load. This study analyses the changes in the water quality of the Ganga after Purnima Mass Bathing in 2013. The focus is on assessing how mass bathing impacts water quality specifically during this event at Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

Introduction

• Water is vital for life, but clean water access is declining due to shortages and pollution.

• Water purification, sustainable use, and the political aspects of water control are growing global concerns.

• India's river systems, especially the Ganges, are culturally and ecologically crucial, but are affected by pollution.

• Mass bathing events, particularly at Haridwar, have been shown to degrade water quality significantly.

II. Ganga River and Haridwar Study Area

• Ganga River at Haridwar is an iconic site of religious significance and mass gatherings.

• The study covered a 1,000-meter stretch of the river from Cable Bridge (upstream) to Gau Ghat (downstream).

• The surface area of the studied stretch: 220,000 m², with a volume of 1.76 million m³.

• Haridwar has a temperate climate and is undergoing urbanization, which impacts both surface runoff and groundwater quality.

• Land surface temperatures and aerosol concentrations are rising, attributed to climate change.

III. Study Objective and Methodology

• The goal was to analyze changes in water quality before and after mass bathing during a religious event.

• Upstream (Cable Bridge) and downstream (Gau Ghat) points were chosen for comparative sampling.

• Flow speed was measured using a stopwatch and floating ball (average travel time between sites: 9.01 minutes).

• Water samples were collected hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from both points for physicochemical analysis.

IV. Parameters Measured

• On-site measurements:

  • Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), TDS, Conductivity, Turbidity, Transparency.

• Lab-tested parameters (using APHA and Trivedi & Goel methods):

  • BOD, Chloride, Hardness, TSS, Total Solids (TS).

• All samples were analyzed at the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee.

• Results were compared with WHO and IS 10500 standards for drinking water.

V. Key Findings from Literature and Study

• Multiple studies confirm that mass bathing reduces Ganga’s water quality, increasing:

  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

  • Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

  • TSS, Ammonia, and Coliforms

• Simultaneously, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels drop.

• Water becomes unsuitable for drinking or bathing, posing risks of waterborne diseases.

Conclusion

The systematic study conducted on the Ganga River during the Purnima Mass Bathing in Haridwar on 26th March 2013 provides valuable insights into the impact of mass bathing on water quality. Two key sampling points, Cable Bridge (Upstream) and Gau Ghat (Downstream), were chosen to assess changes in water quality as the river passes through bathing ghats in Har-ki-pauri. The analysis of physico-chemical parameters, including pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Hardness (TH), Alkalinity, Chlorides, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K+), Nitrate, and Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), revealed several noteworthy findings. The results indicate that the water quality of the Ganga River during mass bathing remains within acceptable limits set by Indian standards and World Health Organization (WHO) [25,26] guidelines for most parameters. pH values ranged from 6.7 to 8.1, demonstrating the water\'s neutral to slightly alkaline nature. EC, indicative of water salinity, fluctuated between 164 and 193 ?s/cm. The TH values, an important aspect of water hardness, fell within the range of 62 to 92 mg/L. Alkalinity ranged from 60 to 92 mg/L, while chloride levels remained minimal, between 1 and 2 mg/L. The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were within acceptable limits, indicating the absence of excessive mineral content. Nitrate levels, though generally within Indian standards, slightly exceeded WHO guidelines in a few samples. BOD values, representing organic pollution, ranged from 0.8 to 9.2 mg/L. While most values were within Indian standards, one sample exceeded the WHO guideline. In conclusion, despite the practice of mass bathing, the water quality of the Ganga River at Haridwar during the Purnima Mass Bathing event remains relatively stable and within acceptable limits for the majority of parameters. Continuous monitoring and proactive measures are essential to ensure the preservation of this sacred river\'s ecological integrity and safeguard the health of those participating in religious rituals.

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Copyright © 2025 Abhishek Ranjan, Abhinav Sahay, Umesh Kumar, Kundan Kumar . 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.