Abstract:
A hydrochemical study of the Hindon river system in western Uttar Pradesh (India) has been
carried out with the objective to examine variation in water quality characteristics within the
river system, and to establish water quality-quantity relationships to provide a proper basis for
establishing water quality objectives for the basin. The river receives considerable amounts of
municipal and industrial wastes which contaminate the receiving water, especially immediately
downstream of the outfalls. Agricultural runoff also contributes to river pollution. The
river shows annual chemical cycles for most parameters, with elevated values in summer and
minimum values in the monsoon season. Nitrate concentration did not show a seasonal
variation. Most constituents decreased with increasing discharge, and dissolved oxygen
concentration increased. The overall low value of r2 between water quality constituents and
discharge may be attributed to the irregular discharge of industrial effluents of different kinds,
climatic and physiographic controls including temperature, seasonality, the rainfall/runoff
ratio, rock type and vegetation.
