Unraveling Water Quality Degradation in Ramgarh Tal, Gorakhpur: A Geographical Study

Abstract

     The rising anthropogenic activities in this area have raised concerns about the quality of water in Ramgarh Tal of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The objective of this research is to determine Ramgarh Tal's water quality index (WQI) by a thorough evaluation of several physicochemical factors. A variety of parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), sulfate, nitrate, alkalinity, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and microbiological pollutants, were measured on water samples that were taken from various locations. The findings showed a considerable deterioration in the quality of the water, with increasing pollution levels above allowable limits established by ICMR/BIS guidelines. High nutrient levels, turbidity, and microbiological burdens in the water body have been attributed to the main causes of contamination and eutrophication, which have been identified as industrial discharge, home sewage, and agricultural runoff. A quantitative assessment of the total water quality was obtained by calculating the WQI using accepted techniques, which showed low to bad conditions at the sampled site.