Yamuna water worsens, faecal coliform 6,400 times safe level

The water quality in the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna has worsened significantly in the past month, with faecal coliform levels and biological oxygen demand (BOD) reaching alarming heights in February, according to a report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

NEW DELHI:

The report, dated February 28, found that faecal coliform levels at Asgarpur, where the river exits Delhi, reached 16 million units per 100 millilitres — 6,400 times the permissible limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks the highest recorded contamination since December 2020, when it was 1.2 billion/100ml.

The findings highlight the river's prolonged struggle with untreated sewage and industrial waste, that have plagued the river for decades with no clear solution in sight.

Faecal coliform, a measure of bacteria from human waste in water, are an indication of sewage polluting the river. Faecal coliform levels have been rising steadily in the last few months, jumping from 8.4 million units per 100 ml in December to 16 million units/100ml in February.

Meanwhile, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, which indicate the oxygen required for aquatic life, also saw a significant worsening. The higher the BOD, the more difficult it is for aquatic life to survive.