Seasonal Limnological Assessment of the Kho River in Bijnor, Western Uttar Pradesh (India): Evaluating River Health through Physicochemical Parameters and Pollution Indicators

Abstract

Rivers are vital freshwater resources, but industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural runoff increasingly threaten their quality. This study assessed seasonal variations in 16 physicochemical parameters of the non-perennial Kho River in Bijnor district, Western Uttar Pradesh, and evaluated water quality against Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Monthly samples were collected from four sites, Benipur Kopa, Sherkot Kho Beraj, Sherkot Atmali, and Dhampur, from February 2023 to January 2024. Parameters including temperature, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), hardness, chloride, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, iron, fluoride, nitrate, and sulphate were analyzed using standard American Public Health Association (APHA) methods. Turbidity and nitrate peaked during the monsoon at 508.1 NTU and 13.50 mg/L, respectively, likely due to runoff and soil erosion, while summer showed elevated BOD (6.3 mg/L) and COD (21.69 mg/L), indicating increased organic loading. Overall, pH ranged from 5.73 to 7.85, TDS from 88 to 288 mg/L, and DO from 6.8 to 8.11 mg/L. Most parameters remained within BIS and WHO limits, indicating generally acceptable water quality. However, seasonal deterioration underscores the need for continuous monitoring and effective pollution-control measures to protect the ecological health of the Kho River.