The ecological integrity of India's urban river systems is deteriorating swiftly due to the unregulated discharge of solid waste, industrial effluents, and domestic sewage. This study examines the ecological, public health, and economic impacts of the physicochemical quality of the Nag and Pili River, a historically important waterway in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. The Nag and Pili River, previously a reliable source of water and habitat for migratory birds and aquatic life, is now severely polluted due to direct discharges from unregulated sewer and stormwater drainage systems. Four strategic locations along the river were selected for the collection of surface water samples due to their proximity to urban discharges and pollution hotspots. The factors investigated include Oil and Grease, Chloride, Sulfide, pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). To evaluate the risks to human health and the environment, these were juxtaposed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Findings indicate a pervasive level of national and international safety limits, especially for BOD, COD, sulfide, and petroleum-derived pollutants. The research use ecological risk assessment models utilizing Risk Quotients (RQ) to assess the toxicological burden. Recommendations include decentralized sewage treatment, ecological zoning, and citizen oversight. The results provide essential insights for urban river restoration and adaptive water management.
Meshram et al. (Tue,) studied this question.