In the heart of India, the Mahanadi River, a lifeline for millions, is under threat. A recent study led by Abhijeet Das, a Research Scholar at the Department of Civil Engineering, C.V. Raman Global University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, has shed light on the alarming state of the river’s water quality. The research, published in Desalination and Water Treatment, which translates to ‘Desalination and Water Purification’, combines advanced technologies to assess and manage water quality, offering a roadmap for sustainable water use and environmental stewardship.
The Mahanadi River Basin (MRB) in Odisha has been a hotspot for various human activities, from agriculture to industrialization, all contributing to the river’s contamination. Das and his team collected data from nineteen locations over three years, testing twenty physicochemical parameters. Their findings, published in Desalination and Water Treatment, reveal a stark reality: 31.58% of the tested sites fall under poor or very poor water quality categories. The primary culprits? Agricultural runoff and illegally deposited municipal solid waste.
Das emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, “The primary sources of the river’s water quality adulteration were agricultural runoff and illegally deposited municipal solid waste, which may have contributed to the decline of domestic water.” This contamination not only poses a threat to human health but also has significant commercial implications, particularly for the energy sector. Power plants, which rely heavily on water for cooling and other processes, could face operational challenges and increased costs due to water scarcity and poor water quality.
The study employed a suite of advanced technologies, including the Criterion Impact Loss (CILOS) based Water Quality Index (WQI), Multiple-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques, and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models. These tools enabled the researchers to create a comprehensive map of the area’s pollution potential and identify key contaminants influencing water quality. Das highlights the effectiveness of these methods, noting, “The strongest association between the best qualities and the WQI was shown by the ANN, which proved to be the most accurate prediction model.”
The research also underscores the importance of spatial planning and conservation efforts. Das suggests that immediate steps to restore and improve water quality should focus on controlling downstream activities in compliance with regional spatial planning requirements. This could involve implementing stricter regulations on industrial discharges, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and raising awareness among local communities about the importance of environmental management.
The findings of this study have far-reaching implications for water quality management in river basins worldwide. By integrating advanced technologies and decision-making tools, policymakers and stakeholders can gain a clearer understanding of water quality issues and develop targeted strategies to address them. This approach could pave the way for more sustainable water use practices, benefiting not only the environment but also the energy sector and other industries that rely on clean water.
As we look to the future, the integration of such technologies in water quality management could revolutionize how we approach environmental challenges. The Mahanadi River Basin serves as a case study, but the lessons learned here can be applied globally. By embracing these advanced tools and techniques, we can work towards a future where our rivers remain a source of life and prosperity, rather than a symbol of environmental degradation.