Water Characteristics of Dibrugarh Town Protection Drain: its impact on Aquatic Organisms and Human Health

Abstract

Water pollution is a serious problem in India, as about 70 percent of its surface water resources and a growing percentage of its groundwater reserves are contaminated by biological, toxic, organic and inorganic pollutants. In many cases, these sources have been rendered unsafe for human consumption as well as for other activities such as irrigation and industrial needs. The existing DTP drain for a length of about 22.40 km to drain out sewage water of the urban areas of Dibrugarh Town in Assam (NE India) from Paltan Bazar in the north east to Larua-Jamirah in the south west was studied for the present investigation. The physico-chemical characteristics of water with degradable changes were observed. It is marked by decrease in dissolve O2; total alkalinity; shifting down of freshwater and presence of fewer nutrients for aquatic organisms. Primary production of the drain was also less affected by poor sewage system and solid waste management. Sewage effluents cause substantial reduction in the fish food organisms and consequent reduction in fish fauna. The air all along the drain spreads foul odour of the sewage water vis-à-vis pollutants affected fish inhibited in the drain are often consumed by the poor has become a threat to their general health.