A study on the effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on the water quality and fish diversity of Hooghly River for determination of its ecological health.

Mr. Dip Mukherjee; Dr. Nimai Chandra Saha

Volume : IV, Issue : VI, June - 2015

A study on the effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on the water quality and fish diversity of Hooghly River for determination of its ecological health.

Mr. Dip Mukherjee, Dr. Nimai Chandra Saha

Abstract :

A seasonal study was conducted on water quality and fish diversity of six different stations adjacent to a paper mill along a small stretch of the Hooghly River at Chakdah, Nadia, West Bengal to determine its ecological health. During the study period, the temperature of the six stations varied between 26.6–32.4?C and the pH was slightly alkaline in nature (7.5–8.4). The free carbon dioxide value at the outfall (station 3) was markedly reduced compared to other stations (0.0–6.0 mg/l). Dissolved Oxygen, alkalinity and hardness ranged from 4.08–6.60 mg/l, 150–228 mg/l and 115–155 mg/l respectively. The lowest diversity of fishes was observed in station 3 and this was due to the entry of pollutants coming from the pulp and paper mill effluents. The present findings also suggest that special care should be taken in the treatment of the effluents before their final discharge to the riverine ecosystem especially during hot summer.