Integrated source water protection plan for an urban water body -A case study of Tapi river, India

Source water storage for Surat city and its adjoining industrial area was created in 1995 by constructing a causeway-cum-weir across the river Tapi at Surat that supplies water through 11 intake wells. At the time of study, about 15 km stretch upstream of the weir was full of floating, submerged and rooted macrophytes. The study helped in identification of sources of pollution and stakeholders that were not known or documented earlier. More than 15 km stretch of the stagnant river upstream of weir passes through the Surat city and receives about 5200 m³ of wastewater every day besides non-point waste loads like open defecation, dairy farm waste, and laundry waste increasing the nutrient levels and ultimately the primary productivity. This paper presents the findings of the study and delineates a river water quality management plan taking into consideration the interest of the stakeholders.