A study of the impact of urban and industrial waste disposal on the bacteriological parameters of Tunia River, Bongaigaon, Assam

The municipal waste water and sewages cause pollution of river water, which is often reflected in bacteriological parameters like total coliform, faecal coliform and faecal streptococci of water. Major Indian Rivers have shown the presence of large numbers of total and faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci which indicates bacteriological pollution of the river water. This type of pollution is more in rivers of Assam mainly due to discharging of municipal waste water into nearby river systems without any treatment. Similar observation has been made in the Tunia River also. The water quality of this river is being gradually deteriorated due to adverse impact of urban and industrial development in Bongaigaon town. Various industrial and commercial units discharges their treated and untreated effluents into the Tunia River. Besides, the river also receives sewages and waste water from the railway junction, railway colony and Bongaigaon municipal area. Water samples collected from 9 sampling stations in Tunia and 2 in Champamati River on seasonal basis. Bacteriological parameters are evaluated and results show high numbers of total coliform, faecal coliform and faecal streptococci, indicating the presence of pathogens, which may initiate spread of water-borne diseases in the downstream area particularly after the floods.