Hydrochemistry of Dissolved Metals in Yamuna River Around Industrial hub of Himachal Pradesh, India Kashyap Rachit*, Verma K.S.1, Bhardwaj S.K., Sharma J.K. Department of Environmental Science, College of Forestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230, Himachal Pradesh, India 1College of Forestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230, Himachal Pradesh, India *e-mail: rachit198@gmail.com
Online published on 27 November, 2015. Abstract The Yamuna river flows through Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh (India) and receives domestic and industrial effluents from different villages and Ponta-sahib industrial hub situated on its bank. Ninety six surface water samples were collected from eight sites from the river during 2014 and 2015. Water quality with respect to 9 heavy metals (Cr, Cu, As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn, Zn & Fe) and 3 non-metals (NO3, Mg & Ca) was assessed for their variations, source apportionment and pollution indexing. Principal component analysis (PCA) outcome of different factors indicated natural and anthropogenic activities as contributing factors for metals profusion in the river. During 2014, three principal components were identified to be responsible for river water deterioration and accounted for 94.73% of overall total variance. PCA1 in 2014 accounted for 70.16% of total variance and was characterized by high loading for Cr, Cu, NO3, As, Mn, Zn, Fe, Mg and Ca. River stretch during 2015 showed high pollution load and two principal components were identified responsible for the impairment of river water which accounted for 88.67% of the overall total variance. PCA1 in 2015 accounted for 75.74% total variance and registered high loading for Cr, Cu, As, Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, Mg and Ca. Based on pooled pollution index, in river water Cr, As and Zn were seriously (24.74), moderately (0.616) and slightly (0.380) polluting metals, respectively. Although river quality does not pose any serious threat to human health still various activities domiciledatdownstreamneedtobediscontinuedto restore water quality. Top Keywords Dissolved metals, pollution index, principal component analysis, Yamuna. Top |