We all know that self-purification of running water is a set of natural processes that are present in rivers and streams, enhanced by water turbulence that helps increase the amount of oxygen to dissolve in the water.
Most of the time the impurities in waste materials, that are disposed or discharged into the water bodies, get treated automatically by the self-purification process but it needs time, duration and less amount of pollutants.
I would like to know how we can best improve SPP for river Ganga?
As you wrote above "water turbulence" and I would suggest vegetation filters (not phytoplankton because it could cause anoxic conditions and moreover can be developed in turbulence conditions) and also activated carbon .
if the oxygen is being lowered, there can be an oxygen scavaging input that is causing this. there is always biological oxygen demand as well as chemical oxygen demand [BOD and COD] These needs must be met, or the input of these demands must be reduced.
Introducing more oxygen is best with moving water in contact with the air such as in water falls and or rapids (high turbulence)
We all know the Ganga river is the icon of India people. When all the people have the sense of belonging to this river, that is the base of people around the river side, we will be able to prevent impurities or other external pollutants to entering the river. there are many way to use, for increase the people awareness, start from the kids or kindergarten class to campaign of clean the river and how to live health and clean untill the high education from campus or college
Hi @ frywanto beny thanks for this nice suggestion.Adding to your comment i would like to say this awareness campaign should start from the 'Char Dham' area (Gangothri, Yamunothri, Kedar and Badri). Devotees are no civic minded, but I find locals are concerned about 'Ganga Mayya'
I agree, it is always difficult to change people's concepts, therefore approaching and educating the children is your best way to influence change. Even in the form of adopting rivers, dams etc, you may also consider introducing play acting in the form of productions to carry the message across.
It is true that self purification process including the flora and fauna acting naturally could be a good solution. But the oxygenation process could be enhanced by creating turbulence of water through installing series of water fountains along the river banks running by the flow of the river itself (does not require fuel or electricity to run the system) at the critical places which will be sustainable also.
A few thoughts for more scrutiny by experts in subject matters:
1.Prevent unabashed dumping of Pollutants, difficult to self-treat metallic and chemical pollutants do not vitiate the self-cleansing process or that reduce DO levels by increasing BOD to very high levels.
2.Ensure minimum Flows so that self-scavenging velocity gets maintained by and large and Pollutant Solids get transported downstream
3.Try best to enhance the self-cleaning properties by additional surface contact with air (Fountains, Mist, bubbling, non-removal of rounded stones that cause turbulence,etc) , Bioremediation utilising space along Flood Plains, Rejuvenation of River Waters by the addition of good waters where possible cost-effectively.
4.Research to enhance as to which factors (Composition, flow characteristics, Bio-diversity, DO levels, etc.) act and can be improved...
5. Prevent any big changes in the catchment area and conserve the land and substrate in the upper reaches.
It is the interplay of atoms/ molecules and there is nothing holy and unholy about water except Natural setting.
To have a self-purification process be working we must allow all natural processes including the flora and fauna to act naturally. The system is full proof if everything works together. But now to derive electricity starting from the flow to everything else is compromised in various states so unless the natural process is allowed I believe we must compromise one way or the other.
Growing Diatom Algae any river is the best way to improve the SPP. Diatoms are present in all rivers ( and lakes ) and they are the natural food for most fish. Diatoms consume nutrients and CO2 and produce Oxygen. So water becomes very clean when they grow. Since Diatoms are consumed by Zooplankton and Fish, they do not accumulate in the water, unlike Blue Green Algae, BGA is not consumed by zooplankton and fish, that is why it accumulates.
Thus when Diatoms are grown the Carbon in sewage flowing into a river ( or lake ) is converted into fish biomass and the water becomes clean and well oxygenated.
Self-purification and clean up of Ganga river has to start with many questions. Does all Water
Districts have same standards. Records are needed on flows,tests,goals. It may take five years to clean surface pollution and five years for Sewage Plants to even stop pollution from getting worst.
All records of river flows, river tests should go back to pre-WWII. Limited funds will always be a problem. U.N.E.P. funds have always been subject to change.
Workers need to be trained and goals set. It is too early to set standards. All Water Districts should have same standards. Progress on Ganga river clean will be very slow and take many workers and there may not be money to pay and keep all employees. Ganga River Clean Water Corps. should be formed. Made up of volunteers , school children and teachers. These volunteers would report to Water Districts. School children reporting to school teachers. Ganga river clean-up and monitoring will take many years to even start to make project.
In addition to School children and teachers other important stakeholders like farmers community, agriculture scientists, Industry representatives shall be involved to address non -biodegradable waste entering the river.
In addition reliegious clerics preaching dumping of leftover from any religious ceremony, ashes from cremation ground shall be involved and make them aware of reality and absorption capacity of river rather than following what was done century back when discharge and absorbing capacity was matching.
Yes, but soil and water conservation and integrated nutrient management and recycling along the watershed will also help solv the problems at the source before sewage get so mixed up so it is hard to recycle safely. In addition to conventional methods, we developed reliable low-cost solutions for recycling ash nutrients, ensuring nitrogen-fixing plants germinated in time and fixed nitrogen (sometimes more manageable than N-fertilizer), direct seeded multipurpose hedges became more useful and effective for soil-and-water conservation etc. I discussed the innovations with many Indian scientists liking the ideas, and briefly presented them on Indian TV, but I think they have nit yet been used in india. I am interested in collaboration and am a flexible freelance agronomist.
Natural self-purification of large rivers such as the Ganga river can be restored and supported primarily by unloading it from oxygen consuming organic and nitrogenous pollutants (BOD, COD, TKN) carried with insufficiently treated sewage and agro-industrial wastewaters. This can be achieved by retrofit upgrading existing sewage treatment plants (STP's) as to meet the new 10/10/10 (ppm BOD/TSS/TKN) standard applicable in India.
Further improvements will be achieved by aeration (adding air oxygen) and/or by a variety of aquatic plants (carried on floating structures with roots in the river water).