The Ganga water at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is currently unsafe for bathing. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has detected highevels of faecal coliform bacteria in Ganga waters.
The CPBC has submitted a report to National Green Tribunal ( NGT) regarding presence of high level of faecal bacteria in Ganga water at Sangam.
Besides this, it exceeds the prescribed limit for biological oxygen demand (BOD), a key parameter to determine water quality, according to government data.
BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic material in a water body. A higher BOD level indicates more organic content in the water.
River water is considered fit for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams per litre.
What is Faecal Coliform Bacteria
Faecal coliform bacteria are organisms found in the faeces or waste produced by all warm-blooded animals and humans. They are generally found human intestines. One possible way of water contamination due to this bacteria is the presence of human and animal excreta in water.
With inputs from PTI