Ganga Water In Haridwar Is Unsafe For Drinking But Suitable For Bathing, Says Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board on Wednesday found that water from the Ganga River in Haridwar is unsafe for drinking. During their monthly water check, they found the river water is in the ‘B’ category, making it unsuitable for drinking. Scroll on to learn more about this report.

State Pollution Board Tests Ganga Water In Haridwar ‘Unsafe’ For Drinking

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board tests the water of Ganga River every month in Haridwar. According to NDTV, this test is conducted at eight places around Haridwar along the Uttar Pradesh border. Now, the quality test results for November revealed that the Ganga water in Haridwar has been classified under the ‘B’ category. This means that the river water is unsafe for drinking but safe for bathing.

These monthly water checks help the state pollution board to monitor the river’s water quality. These new results are quite concerning and according to priests in Haridwar, the water quality of the holy river is being affected due to human waste. They believe that the river’s water has medicinal value that can cure many diseases. This latest report is a result of human disturbance and the authorities need to take actions that can change this for the better.

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Categories Of Water Quality Check

As per the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, water quality is divided into five classes. This ranges from ‘A’ to ‘E’ based on four parameters – pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen, and total coliform bacteria. Category ‘A’ means the least toxicity. Water under this category is suitable for drinking after disinfection. Water under the ‘E’ category is the most toxic and should be avoided completely. Meanwhile, Ganga River water in Haridwar has been classified under the ‘B’ category, which means that the water is suitable for bathing. However, it is still not safe to drink.

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This result underscores the growing issue of river pollution in India and the challenges of maintaining water quality. Share your two cents on this in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)