Determination Of Heavy Metal Pollution In Lake Water During Festival Seasons Using Analytical Technique

Abstract

Monitoring and assessment of water has become an environmental issue and is of great concern due to its contamination by mankind. One of the most important crises of the 21st century is the availability of pure drinking water, a resource basic to our survival and growth. Most of the fresh water bodies all over the world are getting polluted thus decreasing the availability of fresh water. The area of the study, selected to estimate the levels of water pollution is the Varal Devi lake of Bhiwandi city, District Thane, (Mumbai-Agra Highway), Maharashtra, India. It receives domestic raw sewage from surrounding habitation and activities like washing of cattle, bathing, religious activities like idol immersion etc. which results in high concentration of harmful chemicals entering the lake. Water samples were collected from Varal Devi Lake, Bhiwandi city and the amount of lead in the water samples were measured before, during and after idol immersion by colorimetric method. It was found that the concentration of the heavy metal in the lake water substantially increased after the religious activities like idol immersion. This heavy metal has a marked effect on the aquatic flora and fauna which through bio magnification enter the food chain and ultimately affect the human beings as well.