A Review on Water Quality Assessment of Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan

Abstract

Water contamination poses a significant global threat, causing over 14,000 fatal diseases daily, with disproportionate impacts in developing nations like India. This review paper synthesizes existing literature on the pervasive issue of water pollution, detailing its primary sources (industrial, municipal, and agricultural discharges), diverse contaminants (heavy metals, dyes, organic pollutants), and devastating effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems. It explores various methodologies for water quality assessment, particularly the Water Quality Index (WQI), and highlights established water quality standards. Focusing on the Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan, as a case study, the paper contextualizes the local challenges within the broader global and national water crisis, drawing upon multiple studies that have investigated water quality parameters, pollution hotspots, and proposed management strategies. The review underscores the urgent need for comprehensive pollution control, continuous monitoring, and sustainable water resource management to safeguard present and future generations.

Introduction

Global and National Context
Water is essential for life, yet contamination is a critical 21st-century challenge. While 5.2 billion people have access to safe water, nearly 1 billion lack it, resulting in 2.2 million annual deaths from waterborne diseases in developing nations. In India, over 70% of freshwater is unsafe due to industrial and municipal waste discharge, with 80% of industrial waste left untreated. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and climate change intensify the problem.

Kota and the Chambal River Crisis
Kota, Rajasthan's industrial and educational hub, depends on the Chambal River for water. This river is increasingly polluted due to untreated industrial/domestic waste, solid waste dumping, encroachments, and illegal diversions, particularly near thermal power plants.

Sources of Water Contamination

• Point Sources: Clearly identifiable locations like wastewater plants, storm sewers, and mines.

• Non-Point Sources: Diffuse origins such as agricultural runoff, urban drainage, and failed septic systems.

Water Quality Index (WQI)

The WQI simplifies multiple water quality metrics into a single score to aid in monitoring and management. It was first developed in 1965 and evolved into different models:

• NSF-WQI

• Oregon-WQI

• WA-WQI

• CCME-WQI (used in this study)

Effects of Water Pollution

1. Ecosystems: Altered water composition threatens aquatic life.

2. Human Health: Linked to cancer, organ damage, and infectious diseases.

3. Chemical Hazards: Result from mining and industrial waste.

4. Marine and Atmospheric Impact: Includes oil spills and acid rain.

5. Agricultural Impacts: Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides adds to pollution.

6. Climate Change Linkages: Warmer waters harm aquatic ecosystems.

Water Quality Standards

India’s BIS 10500:2012 and WHO provide limits for:

• Physical Parameters (e.g., pH, turbidity)

• Chemical Parameters (e.g., arsenic, fluoride, heavy metals)

• Bacteriological Quality (e.g., E. coli must be absent)

Study Focus: Chambal River in Kota

• Location: Kota, Rajasthan (~240 km from Jaipur).

• Population: Over 1.5 million (2024).

• Study Plan: Water samples from five key sites near a thermal power plant will be tested monthly (Mar 2024 – Feb 2025) using the CCME-WQI, across pre-, post-, and monsoon seasons, analyzing 17 key water quality parameters.

Literature Review Highlights

• Multiple studies report serious contamination of Indian rivers (Yamuna, Ganga, Subarnarekha, etc.) due to urban, industrial, and agricultural sources.

• Specific Chambal River studies show relatively clean water upstream, but localized pollution near Kota, especially around the thermal power plant.

• Heavy metal contamination is a recurring concern, with health risks from lead, arsenic, chromium, and pesticides.

• WQI has been widely used, and the CCME-WQI method is supported for its adaptability to regional conditions.

• Broader issues such as climate change, poor waste management, and public health threats are consistent themes in global and Indian contexts.

Conclusion

Water contamination presents a severe, multifaceted crisis with profound implications for global public health, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The extensive literature reviewed underscores the pervasive nature of this issue, driven by uncontrolled industrial, municipal, and agricultural discharges, leading to a myriad of harmful pollutants in vital water sources. Developing nations, particularly India, bear a disproportionate burden of water-borne diseases and inadequate access to safe drinking water. The Water Quality Index (WQI) has emerged as an invaluable tool for synthesizing complex water quality data into a digestible format, aiding decision-making and highlighting critical areas of concern. Various WQI methodologies, alongside detailed physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameter assessments, are crucial for effective monitoring. The case of the Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan, exemplifies the localized challenges within this global crisis. While some studies historically indicated good water quality in certain segments of the Chambal, more recent investigations point to the increasing pressure from urbanization, industrial activities, and thermal power plants, leading to localized contamination concerns, particularly related to heavy metals and organic pollutants. The collective findings from the literature emphasize an urgent and continuous need for: • Effective Pollution Control: Implementing stringent regulations and advanced treatment technologies for industrial and municipal wastewater, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to reduce runoff. • Continuous Monitoring: Regular, comprehensive assessment of water quality parameters across diverse locations and seasons to identify pollution trends and hotspots. • Integrated Water Resource Management: Adopting holistic approaches that consider both point and non-point sources of pollution, taking into account land use, climate change impacts, and the specific needs of aquatic ecosystems and human populations. • Public Awareness and Education: Engaging communities in water conservation efforts and promoting hygienic practices to minimize contamination. Addressing water contamination demands a concerted global effort, integrating scientific understanding with robust policy frameworks and community engagement to secure safe and clean water for present and future generations.

References

[1] Karn, Sunil Kumar, and Hideki Harada. \"Surface water pollution in three urban territories of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.\" Environmental management 28 (2001): 483-496. [2] Bordalo, A. A., W. Nilsumranchit, and K. Chalermwat. \"Water quality and uses of the Bangpakong River (Eastern Thailand).\" Water Research 35, no. 15 (2001): 3635-3642. [3] Simeonov, V., J. A. Stratis, C. Samara, G. Zachariadis, Dimitra Voutsa, A. Anthemidis, Michail Sofoniou, and Th Kouimtzis. \"Assessment of the surface water quality in Northern Greece.\" Water research 37, no. 17 (2003): 4119-4124. [4] Y. Ouyang, P. Nkedi-Kizza, Q.T. Wu, D. Shinde, C.H. Huang “Assessment of Seasonal Variations in Surface Water “ Water Research,Volume 40, Issue 20,(2006 ) Pages 3800-3810,ISSN 0043-1354. [5] Saksena, D. N., R. K. Garg, and R. J. Rao. \"Water quality and pollution status of Chambal river in National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.\" Journal of environmental biology 29, no. 5 (2008): 701-710. [6] Agrawal, Anju, Ravi S. Pandey, and Bechan Sharma. \"Water pollution with special reference to pesticide contamination in India.\" Journal of water resource and protection 2, no. 5 (2010): 432-448. [7] Osibanjo, Oladele, Adegbenro P. Daso, and Adewole M. Gbadebo. \"The impact of industries on surface water quality of River Ona and River Alaro in Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan, Nigeria.\" African Journal of Biotechnology 10, no. 4 (2011): 696-702. [8] Gangwar, Ravi Kumar, P. Khare, Jaspal Singh, and A. P. Singh. \"Assessment of physico-chemical properties of water: River Ramganga at Bareilly, UP.\" Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 4, no. 9 (2012): 4231-4234. [9] Purandara, B. K., N. Varadarajan, B. Venkatesh, and V. K. Choubey. \"Surface water quality evaluation and modeling of Ghataprabha River, Karnataka, India.\" Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 184 (2012): 1371-1378. [10] Amadi Akobundu, N. \"Quality Assessment of Aba River Using Heavy Metal Pollution Index.\" American Journal of Environmental Engineering 2, no. 1 (2012): 45-49. [11] Giri, Soma, and Abhay Kumar Singh. \"Assessment of surface water quality using heavy metal pollution index in Subarnarekha River, India.\" Water Quality, Exposure and Health 5, no. 4 (2014): 173-182. [12] Yadav, Naresh Singh, Amit Kumar, Saurabh Mishra, and Shubhra Singhal. \"Assessment of water quality using pollution-index in the study stretch of river Chambal, India.\" Integrated Research Advances 5, no. 1 (2018): 20-25. [13] Kumar, Amit, M. P. Sharma, and Naresh Singh Yadav. \"Assessment of water quality changes at two locations of Chambal River: MP.\" J. Mater. Environ. Sci 5, no. 6 (2014): 1781-1785. [14] Puri, Anjali. \"How Kota became India’s capital for educational coaching.\" Business Standard.[Internet]. Available from: http://www. businessstandard. com/article/current-affairs/india-s-garish-free-market-in-education-115123100033_1. html. Retrieved on 11 June 2017 (2015). [15] Halder, Joshua Nizel, and M. Nazrul Islam. \"Water pollution and its impact on the human health.\" Journal of environment and human 2, no. 1 (2015): 36-46. [16] Khan, Mohd Yawar Ali, Khalid Muzamil Gani, and Govind Joseph Chakrapani. \"Assessment of surface water quality and its spatial variation. A case study of Ramganga River, Ganga Basin, India.\" Arabian Journal of Geosciences 9 (2016): 1-9. [17] Sharma, Aparna, and Anil K. Mathur. \"Chambal River Water Quality Assessment at Kota Metropolis Through the Irrigation Water Quality Indices from 2017-2021.\" In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1084, no. 1, p. 012051. IOP Publishing, 2022. [18] Naubi, Irena, Noorul Hassan Zardari, Sharif Moniruzzaman Shirazi, Nurul Farahen Binti Ibrahim, and Lavania Baloo. \"Effectiveness of Water Quality Index for Monitoring Malaysian River Water Quality.\" Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 25, no. 1 (2016). [19] RamyaPriya, R., and L. Elango. \"Evaluation of geogenic and anthropogenic impacts on spatio-temporal variation in quality of surface water and groundwater along Cauvery River, India.\" Environmental earth sciences 77 (2018): 1-17. [20] Venkatramanan, S., S. Y. Chung, T. Ramkumar, R. Rajesh, and G. Gnanachandrasamy. \"Assessment of groundwater quality using GIS and CCME WQI techniques: a case study of Thiruthuraipoondi city in Cauvery deltaic region, Tamil Nadu, India.\" Desalination and Water Treatment 57, no. 26 (2016): 12058-12073. [21] Wagh, V. M., D. B. Panaskar, A. A. Muley, and S. V. Mukate. \"Groundwater suitability evaluation by CCME WQI model for Kadava river basin, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.\" Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 3 (2017): 557-565. [22] Liyanage, Chamara P., and Koichi Yamada. \"Impact of population growth on the water quality of natural water bodies.\" Sustainability 9, no. 8 (2017): 1405. [23] Bharathi, H. R., S. Manjappa, T. Suresh, and B. Suresh. \"Evaluation of water quality index of water bodies Channarayapatna taluk, Karnataka region, India.\" International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 4, no. 4 (2016): 475-482. [24] Chandra, D. Satish, S. S. Asadi, and M. V. S. Raju. \"Estimation of water quality index by weighted arithmetic water quality index method: a model study.\" International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology 8, no. 4 (2017): 1215-1222. [25] Kumar, Parveen & Ranjan, Manju & Srivastava, Prateek & Tripathi, Ashutosh & Balachandran, Srinivasan.” (Assessment of the level and impact of selected physiochemical parameters of Kota super thermal power plant’s effluent on Chambal River, Kota, Rajasthan India.” International Journal of Current Advanced Research. 7. 9021-9024. 10.24327/ijcar.2018.9024.1475. [26] Jayaswal, Komal, Veerendra Sahu, and B. R. Gurjar. \"Water pollution, human health and remediation.\" Water remediation (2018): 11-27. [27] C?lmuc, Valentina Andreea, M?d?lina C?lmuc, Maria C?t?lina ?opa, Mihaela Timofti, C?t?lina Iticescu, and Lucian Puiu Georgescu. \"Various methods for calculating the water quality index.\" Analele Universit??ii” Dun?rea de Jos” din Gala?i. Fascicula II, Matematic?, fizic?, mecanic? teoretic?/Annals of the” Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. Fascicle II, Mathematics, Physics, Theoretical Mechanics 41, no. 2 (2018): 171-178. [28] Prasad, Satish, Ridhi Saluja, Varun Joshi, and J. K. Garg. \"Heavy metal pollution in surface water of the Upper Ganga River, India: human health risk assessment.\" Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 192, no. 11 (2020): 742. [29] S K Garg - Environmental Engineering Vol-1 [30] Nayak, Saroj Kumar, and Chitta Ranjan Mohanty. \"Influence of physicochemical parameters on surface water quality: a case study of the Brahmani River, India.\" Arabian Journal of Geosciences 11 (2018): 1-9. [31] Sharma, Rohit, Raghvendra Kumar, Suresh Chandra Satapathy, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Krishna Kant Singh, Rajendra Prasad Mahapatra, Anuj Kumar Agarwal, Hiep Van Le, and Binh Thai Pham. \"Analysis of water pollution using different physicochemical parameters: A study of Yamuna River.\" Frontiers in Environmental science 8 (2020): 581591. [32] Ighalo, Joshua O., Adewale George Adeniyi, Jamiu A. Adeniran, and Samuel Ogunniyi. \"A systematic literature analysis of the nature and regional distribution of water pollution sources in Nigeria.\" Journal of Cleaner Production 283 (2021): 124566. [33] Standard, Indian. \"Bureau of Indian Standards drinking water specifications.\" BIS 10500 (2012): 2012.. [34] Tan Pei Jian, Brenda, Muhammad Raza Ul Mustafa, Mohamed Hasnain Isa, Asim Yaqub, and Yeek Chia Ho. \"Study of the water quality index and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon for a river receiving treated landfill leachate.\" Water 12, no. 10 (2020): 2877. [35] Adelagun, Ruth Olubukola Ajoke, Emmanuel Edet Etim, and Oko Emmanuel Godwin. \"Application of water quality index for the assessment of water from different sources in Nigeria.\" Promising techniques for wastewater treatment and water quality assessment 267 (2021): 25. [36] Zamora-Ledezma, Camilo, Daniela Negrete-Bolagay, Freddy Figueroa, Ezequiel Zamora-Ledezma, Ming Ni, Frank Alexis, and Victor H. Guerrero. \"Heavy metal water pollution: A fresh look about hazards, novel and conventional remediation methods.\" Environmental Technology & Innovation 22 (2021): 101504. [37] C. K. Tay, “Integrating water quality indices and multivariate statistical techniques for water pollution assessment of the Volta Lake, Ghana,” Sustain. Water Resour. Manag., vol. 7, no. 5, 2021, doi: 10.1007/s40899-021-00552-6. [38] Chauhan, Roopali, Sulekha Joshi, Manoranjan Singh, And Shivali Chauhan. \"Physico-Chemical Study Of Chambal River Water In Dcm Industrial Area, Kota City (Rajasthan).\" Journal of Phytological Research 34, no. 2 (2021). [39] Sharma, Aparna, and Anil K. Mathur. \"Chambal River Water Quality Assessment at Kota Metropolis Through the Irrigation Water Quality Indices from 2017-2021.\" In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1084, no. 1, p. 012051. IOP Publishing, 2022. [40] Gupta, Mukesh Kumar, Rahul Kumar, M. K. Banerjee, Naveen Kumar Gupta, Tabish Alam, Sayed M. Eldin, and Mohd Yawar Ali Khan. \"Assessment of Chambal River water quality parameters: a MATLAB simulation analysis.\" Water 14, no. 24 (2022): 4040. [41] Ainapure, Bharati, Nidhi Baheti, Jyot Buch, Bhargav Appasani, Amitkumar V. Jha, and Avireni Srinivasulu. \"Drinking water potability prediction using machine learning approaches: a case study of Indian rivers.\" Water Practice & Technology 18, no. 12 (2023): 3004-3020. [42] Kumari, Pooja, and Mohan Singh Jangra. \"Status of River Water in India: A Review.\" International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 13, no. 11 (2023): 2049-2059. [43] Sharma, Naresh, and Rohit Sharma. \"Real-time monitoring of physicochemical parameters in water using big data and smart IoT sensors.\" Environment, development and sustainability 26, no. 9 (2024): 22013-22060.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Bablu Ram Meena, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Sharma. 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.