Water pollution along the Mahul Creek of Mumbai, India – Study of physico-chemical properties

The present study was performed for the period of one year from January 2013 to December 2013 in order to understand the physico-chemical properties of Mahul Creek water. From the results of our study it was observed that the annual average COD level was 362.09 ppm which was far higher than the maximum tolerable level of 250 ppm set for inland surface water as well as for marine coastal water. The annual average conductivity was found to be 6122.81 μS cm-1 which was very much above the conductivity limit for inland surface water of 1000 μS cm-1 set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for propagation of fisheries. The annual average total alkalinity level was recorded as 166.25 ppm, which according to the UN Department of Technical Cooperation for Development (1985) was found to be strongly alkaline. The annual average hardness level of the creek water was found to be 2488.65 ppm which was above the limit of 300 ppm set by ISI. From the results of the present investigation it seems that the time has come to implement proper effluent water treatment techniques and enforcement of pollution control by the regulatory authority on the indiscriminate discharge of industrial wastewater into water bodies.