6 Aftermath of Industrial Pollution, Post COVID-19 …
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are the group of gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, or facultative anaerobes which
ferment lactose and produce acid and gaseous as their byproducts [34]. This group
of bacteria makes most of the microflora of fecal matter of warm-blooded animals
including humans as they add up to the major microflora of our gut. The coliforms
do not cause any kind of serious illness however their excessive presence in drinking
water is a strong indicator of contaminated or polluted water [34].
Lockdown has significantly changed the water quality standards of river Ganga.
Mukherjee et al. [44] reported that there was a sharp decrease observed in the number
of total coliforms values in the Ganges during COVID-19 lockdown period (April
2020) and this sudden drop is due to the non-functioning of industries, less traffic, and
closed tourism in conjunction with the reduced waste disposal activities. According
to Dutta et al. [19] river, Ganga has shown significant signs of revival and also other
improvements on different parameters. This change of impact can be noticed in
terms of increased dissolved oxygen (DO), reduction in numbers of total coliform
especially fecal coliform, nitrate (NO 3 ) concentration, etc., this data was observed
in many districts falling under the Ganga basin, during lockdown. Decline in the
concentration of nitrate was observed due to limited industrial activities and limited
agriculture runoff (Fig. 6.12). A sharp reduction was observed in the nutrient load of
phosphate and nitrate, confirming the constructive role of lockdown for the aquatic
system of river Ganga which leads to a balanced ecosystem of the river. Lockdown
also allowed aquatic life to revive and also reduced the strain from aquatic flora and
fauna [58]. The pH levels of the aquatic ecosystem of river Ganga has reduced due to
climate change, which results in increased dissolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ) and caused acidification (carbonic acid formation) of water, however during
lockdown there has been a uniform increase of pH confirming reversal process of
acidification [18, 19].
Fig. 6.12 Source of biggest untreated municipal wastewater in Ganga river a before lockdown
b during lockdown (Source [19])
159
are the group of gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, or facultative anaerobes which
ferment lactose and produce acid and gaseous as their byproducts [34]. This group
of bacteria makes most of the microflora of fecal matter of warm-blooded animals
including humans as they add up to the major microflora of our gut. The coliforms
do not cause any kind of serious illness however their excessive presence in drinking
water is a strong indicator of contaminated or polluted water [34].
Lockdown has significantly changed the water quality standards of river Ganga.
Mukherjee et al. [44] reported that there was a sharp decrease observed in the number
of total coliforms values in the Ganges during COVID-19 lockdown period (April
2020) and this sudden drop is due to the non-functioning of industries, less traffic, and
closed tourism in conjunction with the reduced waste disposal activities. According
to Dutta et al. [19] river, Ganga has shown significant signs of revival and also other
improvements on different parameters. This change of impact can be noticed in
terms of increased dissolved oxygen (DO), reduction in numbers of total coliform
especially fecal coliform, nitrate (NO 3 ) concentration, etc., this data was observed
in many districts falling under the Ganga basin, during lockdown. Decline in the
concentration of nitrate was observed due to limited industrial activities and limited
agriculture runoff (Fig. 6.12). A sharp reduction was observed in the nutrient load of
phosphate and nitrate, confirming the constructive role of lockdown for the aquatic
system of river Ganga which leads to a balanced ecosystem of the river. Lockdown
also allowed aquatic life to revive and also reduced the strain from aquatic flora and
fauna [58]. The pH levels of the aquatic ecosystem of river Ganga has reduced due to
climate change, which results in increased dissolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ) and caused acidification (carbonic acid formation) of water, however during
lockdown there has been a uniform increase of pH confirming reversal process of
acidification [18, 19].
Fig. 6.12 Source of biggest untreated municipal wastewater in Ganga river a before lockdown
b during lockdown (Source [19])