Dr. Jyothi Prasad is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Technology of G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. She will be presenting at the IUKWC Workshop on Enhancing Freshwater Monitoring Through Earth Observation from June 19-21, 2017 at the University of Stirling in Scotland. The document then provides background information on water availability and quality monitoring in India, including statistics on surface water resources, river basins, water quality criteria, identification of polluted stretches, and the objectives and activities of the national water quality monitoring program.

1. Dr. (Ms.) Jyothi Prasad
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
College of Technology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
Pantnagar-263145
Uttarakhand State, India
www.gbpuat.ac.in,
Email:jptce@gbpuat-tech.ac.in
IUKWC Workshop: Enhancing Freshwater Monitoring Through
Earth Observation 19th- 21st June 2017 at University of
Stirling, Scotland.

2.  India at glance
 India Water Maths
 India's Per Capita Annual Water Availability
 Surface water availability
 River Basin Classification
 River water Pollution
 National water quality policy
 Parameters
 Criteria for Selection of Monitoring Stations
 River Water Monitoring by CWC
 Identification Of Polluted River Stretches
 Constraints and Limitatons of Monitoring the net
work

3. Area 3.28 million sq km (2% of world’s total )
Population(2017) 1.34 billion (134 crores)
16% of world’s total
Coordinates 80 4’ and 3706’ North latitudes
680 7’ and 97025 East longitudes
Climate Tropical (Tropic of cancer divides India two
halves)
Land Frontier 15,200 km
Coastline 7,500 km
No.of States/UTs 29 States and 7 Union territories including
the National Capital Region of Delhi

5. Peculiarities of Water Availability in India
 Highly Uneven in Space and Time
 Nearly 80% of the annual rainfall takes place in only 3 to 4 months
 Precipitation in India is not uniformly distributed and varies from
less than 100 mm/year in Rajasthan to more than 2,500 mm/year in
Assam.
 On an average, there are only 40 rainy days (100 hours)
 Brahmaputra - Barak - Ganga System accounts for about 60% of
total surface water resources
 Western and Southern regions experience severe deficit in water
availability
 Drought - Flood - Drought Syndrome is witnessed years after years

7. The Past Future
Projections
1951 - 5177
2001 - 1820
2025 - 1341
2050 - 1140
India's Per Capita Annual Water Availability
(cu.m/capita/year)

8. SL.
NO
Based on Major
1 India WRIS (Water Resource Systems
of India)
25
2 CWC Basin (Central Water
Commission)
22
3 NCIWRDP (National Commission for
Integrated Water Resources
Development Plan)
24
4 AISLUS (All India and Land use survey
organization of the departments of
agriculture and co-operation
35
5 CGWB (Central Ground Water Board) 34

9. River Basin Catchment Area Sq.km (%)
No. of
Basins
Major More than 20,000 13
Medium Between 2000‐20,000
28
Minor Less than 2,000
52

10.  Water quality criteria are developed by
scientists and provide basic scientific
information about the effects of water
pollutants on a specific water use.
 They also describe water quality equirements
for protecting and maintaining an individual
use.
 Water quality criteria are based on variables
that characterise the quality of water and/or
the quality of the suspended particulate
matter, the bottom sediment and the biota.

12.  Increase in population, urbanization and
industrialization is causing an ever-
increasing threat to the quality of waters in
rivers, lakes and ponds in India.
 Each time water is used for some activity, its
quality is degraded.
 Unfortunately, the sacred(holy) attached to
rivers in the country does not ensure that the
rivers are clean.

13.  A river is defined as a large natural stream of
water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other
body of water and usually fed along its
course by converging tributaries.
 Rivers and streams drain water that falls in
upland areas. Moving water dilutes and
decomposes pollutants more rapidly than
standing water, but many rivers and streams
are significantly polluted all around the India.

14.  A primary reason for this is that all three
major sources of pollution (industry,
agriculture and domestic) are concentrated
along the rivers.
 Industries and cities have historically been
located along rivers because the rivers
provide transportation and have
traditionally been a convenient place to
discharge waste.
 Agricultural activities have tended to be
concentrated near rivers, because river
floodplains are exceptionally fertile due to
the many nutrients that are deposited in the
soil when the river overflows.

15.  Chemical waste products from industrial
processes are sometimes accidentally
discharged into rivers.
 Examples of such pollutants include cyanide,
zinc, lead, copper, cadmium and mercury.
These substances may enter the water in such
high concentrations that fish and other
animals are killed immediately.

17. Total riverine length under different
levels of pollution in India
Severely
polluted
15%
Relatively
clean
66%
Moderatly
polluted
19%
Severely polluted
Moderatly polluted
Relatively clean

18. River basin-wise riverine length under
different level of pollution
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
Indus
G
anga
Bram
aputraSabarm
ati
M
ahiN
arm
ada
Tapi
SubernrekhaBrahm
iniM
ahanadiG
odavariKrishna
PennarC
auveryG
haggarM
edium
M
inor
River basin
Riverinelength,Km
BOD <3 mg/L
BOD 3-6 mg/L
BOD >6 mg/L

19. Designated best use Class Criteria
Drinking water source without
conventional treatment but after
disinfections
A *Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 50 or less.
*pH between 6.5 and 8.5 .
*Dissolved oxygen 6 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 2 mg/l or Less
Outdoor bathing (organised) B *Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 500 or less
*pH between 6.5 and 8.5
*Dissolved oxygen 5 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or Less
Drinking water source with
conventional treatment followed by
disinfection
C *Total coliform organisms MPN/ 100ml shall be 5000 or less
*pH between 6 and 9
*Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more
*Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or less
Propagation of wild life, fisheries D *pH between 6.5 and 8.5
*Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more
*Free ammonia (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less
Irrigation, industrial cooling,
controlled waste disposal
E *pH between 6.0 and 8.5
*Electrical conductivity less than 2250 micro mhos/cm
*Sodium absorption ratio less than 26
*Boron less than 2mg/l
Water Quality Criteria

20. river Polluted stretch Desired
class
Existing
class
Critical
parameters
Possible source of pollution
Chambal Downstream of Nagda
and downstream of
Kota
C D/E BOD, DO Domestic and industrial waste
from Nagda and Kota
Damodar Downstream of
Dhanbad
C D/E BOD,
Toxicity
Industrial wastes from Dhanbad,
Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia and
Burnpur
Godavari Downstream of Nasik
and Nanded
C D/E BOD Wastes from sugar industries,
distilleries and food processing
industries
Gomti Lucknow to
confluence with
Ganga
C D/E DO, BOD,
Coliform
Industrial wastes from distilleries
and domestic wastes from
Lucknow
Hindon Saharanpur to
confluence with
Yamuna
C D DO, BOD,
Toxicity
Industrial and domestic wastes
from Saharanpur and Ghaziabad
Kali Downstream of
Modinagar to
confluence with
Ganga
C D/E BOD,
Coliform
Industrial and domestic wastes
from Modinagar

21. river Polluted stretch
Desired
class
Existing
class
Critical
parameters
Possible source of pollution
Krishna Karad to Sangli C D/E BOD Wastes from sugar industries
and distilleries
Sabarmati Immediate upstream
of Ahmedabad up to
Sabarmati Ashram
B E DO, BOD,
Coliform
Domestic and industrial waste
from Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram
to Vautha
D E DO, BOD,
Coliform
Domestic and industrial waste
from Ahmedabad
Satluj Downstream of
Ludhiana to Harike
C D/E DO, BOD Industrial wastes from
hosieries, tanneries, electro-
plating and engineering
industries and domestic waste
from Ludhiana and Jalandhar
Downstream of Nangal C D/E Ammonia Wastes from fertilizer and
chloralkali mills from Nangal
Subarnarekha Hatia dam to
Bharagora
C D/E -do- Domestic and industrial waste
from Ranchi and Jamshedpur
Yamuna Delhi to confluence
with Chambal
C D/E DO, BOD,
Coliform
Domestic and industrial wastes
from Delhi, Mathura and Agra
In the city limits of
Delhi, Mathura and
Agra
B D/E DO, BOD,
Coliform
Domestic and industrial wastes
from Delhi, Mathura and Agra

22. Objective of Water Quality Monitoring

23. • Water quality monitoring in India started in 1978 under Global
Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) Programme.
• National programme of Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic
Resources started in 1984 with a total of 120 stations in 10
River Basins.
• During the year 2000 moitoring network comprising of 870
stations extended to 26 states & 5 Union Territories.
• The monitoring is done on monthly or quarterly basis in
surface waters and on half yearly basis in case of ground
water.
• The monitoring network covers 445 Rivers, 154 Lakes, 12
Tanks, 78 Ponds, 41 Creeks/Seawater, 25 Canals, 45 Drains,
10 Water Treatment Plant (Raw Water) and 807 Wells.
NATIONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME

24. Water quality & waste water management –vision 2012-17 (CPCB)

26. Baitarni (5) 5
Brahmani (11)
Tributaries-Karo (1), Koel (2), Sankh (2)
Brahmaputra (6)
Tributaries-Burhidihing (1), Dhansiri (6), Disang (1), Jhanji (1), Subansiri (1), Bhogdoi (1), Bharalu (1), Borak (1), Deepar Bill (1), Digboi (1),
Mora Bharali (1), Teesta (4), Dickhu (1), Maney (2), Ranchu (2)
Cauvery (20)
Tributaries-Arkavati (1), Amravati (1), Bhawani (5), Kabini (4), Laxmantirtha (1), Shimsa (2), Hemavati (1), Yagichi (1)
Ganga (39)
Tributaries-Barakar (1), Betwa (3), Chambal (7), Damodar (5), Gandak (1), Saryu-Ghaghra (3), Gomti (5), Hindon (3), Kali (West) (2), Kali Nadi
(2), Khan (1), Kshipra (3), Mandakini (Madhya Pradesh) (1), Parvati (2), Ramganga (1), Rapti (1), Rihand (2), Rupanarayan (1), Sai (1), Sone (5),
Tons (Madhya Pradesh) (2), Yamuna (23),Sind (1), Johila (1),Sankh(1), Gohad (1), Kolar (1), Sai(1), Churni (1), Tons (Himachal Pradesh)
(1),Sikrana (1),Daha (1), Sirsa (1), Dhous (1), Farmer (1)
Godavari (11)
Tributaries- Manjira (2), Maner (2), Nira (I), Wainganga (4), Wardha (1), Kolar (1), Kanhan (1), Purna (1), Karanja (1), Indravati (2), Shankhani
(1)
Indus
Tributaries-Beas (18), Chenab (1), Jhelum (3), Larji (1), Parvati (1), Ravi (3), Sutlej (21), Tawi (1), Gawkadal (1), Chuntkol (1), Sirsa
(3), Swan (1)
Krishna (19)
Tributaries- Bhadra (3), Bhima (10), (Ghataprabha (2), Malprabha (3), Muneru (1), Musi (2), Nira (1), Paleru (1), Tunga (1),
Tungabhadra (6), Panchganga (3), Chandrabhaga (2)
Mahi (9)
Tributaries-Anas (1), Panam (1)
Mahanadi (18)
Tributaries-Ib (4), Hasdeo (2), Kathajodi (1), Kharoon (4), Kuakhai (2), Sheonath (3), Birupa (1), Arpa (1), Kelo (2)
Narmada (14)
Tributaries-Chhota Tawa (1)
16
31
36
127
28
55
54
11
38
15
RIVER BASIN WISE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS
Contd. On Next Page

27. Pennar (5) 5
Sabarmati (6)
Tributaries- Shedhi (1), Khari (1)
Subarnerekha (6) 6
Tapi (11)
Tributaries-Girna (2), Rangawali (1)
Medium rivers
Ambika (1), Ulhas (2), Ulhas-Bhatsa (1), Ulhas-Kalu (1), Imphal (4), Mandovi (2), Palar (1), Pamba (3), Pariyar (3), Rushikulya (2),
Tambiraparani (7), Achankoil (2), Chalakudy (1), Damanganga (6), Ghaggar (21), Kallada (1) , Kali-Karnataka (1), Manimala (2), Mindhola
(1), Nagavalli (3), Amlakhadi (1), Chaliyar (2), Iril (2), Kharkhala (1), Karmana (1), Kolak(2), Kundalika(1), Meenachil(1), Muvattupuza(1),
Patalganga(2), Umtrew(1), Vamanpuram(1), Zuari(2), Gumti(2), Kalna(1), Valvant(1), Madai(1), Khandepar(1), Asanora(1), Neyyar(1),
Ithikkara(1), Kadalundy(1), Kuttiyady(1), Mahe(1), Kuppum(1), Neelsvaram(1), Karingoda(1), Chandergiri(1), Chitrapuzha(1), Nambul(2),
Ganol(1), Simsang(1), Myntdu(1), Arasalar(1), Kodra(1), Haora(1), Markanda (2), Sukhna (1), Baleshwar Khadi (1), Netravati (1), Kumardhara
(1), Purna (1), Kaveri (1), Dhadar (1)
Lakes (55)
Hussainsagar (1), Saroornagar (1), Himayatsagar (1), Pulicate (1), Salaulim (1), Kankoria (1), Ajwah (1), Sursagar (1), Brahamsarovar (1),
Govindsagar (1), Pongdam (1), Renuka (1), Wuller (1), Dal (1), Ulsoor (1), Hebbala Valley (1) Oruvathikotta(1), Sasthamcotta(1),
Ashthamudi(1), Paravur(1), Vembanad(1), Periyar(1), Kodumgallor(1), Kayamkula(1), Punnamadakayal(1), Pookotekayal(1), UpperLake(1),
LowerLake(1), MultaiLake(1), Loktak(4), Umiam(1), Ward(1), Thadlaskena(1), Osteri(1), Bahour(1), Harike(2), Pichola(1), Udaisagar(1),
RamgarhJaipur(1), Pushkar(1), Fatehsagar(1), Kalyana(1), Nakki(1), Udhagamadalam(1), Kodaikanal(1), Yercaud(1),
LakshminarayanBaridigh(1), Rudrasagar(1), Ramgarh-UttarPradesh (1), Naini(1), Rabindrasarovar (1)
Tanks (4)
Dharamsagar (1), Bibinagar (1), Kistrapetrareddy (1), Goysagar(1)
Ponds (2)
Elangabeel System (1), Lakshadweep (1)
Creeks, Canals, Tanks, Ponds, Drains,
Creeks (3), Agra Canal (1), Agartala Canal (1), Gurgaon Canal (1), Western Yamuna Canal (9), Drains (10)
Groundwater 218
Total 870
117
61
25
8
14
Contd. From Pre-Page

28. River/Stream
• Water intake point - community water supply.
• Large/medium polluting industries or cluster of SSI.
• Religious bathing.
• Source of river – pristine quality.
• Filling up long distance between existing stations.
• D/S of large irrigated areas.
• Low flow stretches.
• D/S of big cities.
• U/S and D/S of confluence of rivers.
• Inter-state boundaries.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF MONITORING STATIONS

29. Canal
• Irrigation offtake.
• D/S of wastewater outfall.
• Intake point – drinking water.
Lake/Reservior/Pond/Tank
• Water abstraction point.
• Organised bathing.
• Vicinity of significant outfall.
• Recreational purpose.

30. Groundwater
• Drinking water source located in insanitary condition –
sewage cesspool, septic tank, garbage dump, shallow
aquifer.
• Tube-wells, hand-pumps or dugwells in industrial area.

31.  Central Water Commission (CWC) is monitoring water
quality at 371 key locations covering all the major
river basins of India.
 CWC is maintaining a three tier laboratory system for
analysis of the parameters. The level‐I laboratories are
located at 258 field water quality monitoring stations
on various rivers of India
 Physical parameters such as temperature, colour,
odour, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH
and dissolved oxygen of river water are observed.

32.  There are 23 level –II laboratories located at
selected division offices to analyze 25 nos.
physico‐chemical characteristics and bacteriological
parameters of river water Quality Assessment.
 4 level‐III / II+ laboratories are functioning at
Varanasi, Delhi, Hyderabad and Coimbatore where
41 parameters including heavy metals / toxic
parameters and pesticides are analysed.
 The following procedure is followed in CWC for
classification of stations, sampling frequency,
identification of parameters and their analysis,
which is based on

33.  Stations are classified as Base, Trend and Flux
Stations. CWC has
 164 Base stations,
 179 Trend stations
 28 Flux stations.

34.  Base Station: One sample is collected every two
months and totals six samples in a year.
 Trend Stations: Sample is collected once in every
month.
 Flux Stations: Samples are collected thrice in a
month, however toxic and trace metal are analyzed
once in a month.

35. Water body-wise & Frequency-wise Distribution
of Water Quality Monitoring Stations
STATE RIVER WELL LAKE OTHER TOTAL MONTHLY
HALF
YEARLY
QUARTERLY YEARLY TOTAL
ANDHRA PRADESH 28 24 4 3 59 14 24 21 - 59
ASSAM 17 10 - 2 29 6 10 13 - 29
BIHAR 16 20 - - 36 8 20 8 - 36
CHHATISSGARH 23 4 - - 27 7 4 16 - 27
DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI 2 - - - 2 1 - 1 - 2
DAMAN 2 1 - - 3 2 1 - - 3
DELHI 5 - - 9 14 13 - 1 - 14
GOA 10 - 1 - 11 10 - 1 - 11
GUJARAT 36 3 3 - 42 20 3 19 - 42
HARYANA 8 - 1 10 19 4 - 15 - 19
HIMACHAL PRADESH 31 20 3 - 54 - 20 33 1 54
JAMMU & KASHMIR 7 - 2 - 9 - - 9 - 9
JHARKHAND 9 - - - 9 - - 9 - 9
KARNATAKA 43 - 2 - 45 23 - 22 - 45
KERALA 30 15 10 - 55 10 15 30 - 55
LAKSHDWEEP - 15 - 1 16 - 15 1 - 16
Continued on Next Page ..

36. .. Continued from Previous Page
STATE RIVER WELL LAKE OTHER TOTAL MONTHLY
HALF
YEARLY
QUARTERLY YEARLY TOTAL
MADHYA PRADESH 40 5 3 - 48 22 4 22 - 48
MAHARASHTRA 45 - - 3 48 27 - 21 - 48
MANIPUR 8 - 4 - 12 - - 12 - 12
MEGHALAYA 5 5 3 - 13 - 5 8 - 13
NAGALAND 5 - - - 5 - - 5 - 5
ORISSA 39 15 - - 54 15 15 24 - 54
PONDICHERRY 1 7 2 - 10 - 7 3 - 10
PUNJAB 35 6 2 - 43 - 6 37 - 43
RAJASTHAN 7 18 7 - 32 4 18 10 - 32
SIKKIM 9 - - - 9 - - 9 - 9
TAMIL NADU 27 2 3 - 32 20 2 10 - 32
TRIPURA 3 7 2 1 13 - 6 7 - 13
UTTAR PRADESH 45 25 1 1 72 40 25 7 - 72
UTTRANCHAL 13 1 1 - 15 2 1 9 3 15
WEST BENGAL 18 15 1 - 34 9 15 10 - 34
TOTAL : - 567 218 55 30 870 257 216 393 4 870

37. .. Continued from Previous Page
STATE RIVER WELL LAKE OTHER TOTAL MONTHLY
HALF
YEARLY
QUARTERLY YEARLY TOTAL
MADHYA PRADESH 40 5 3 - 48 22 4 22 - 48
MAHARASHTRA 45 - - 3 48 27 - 21 - 48
MANIPUR 8 - 4 - 12 - - 12 - 12
MEGHALAYA 5 5 3 - 13 - 5 8 - 13
NAGALAND 5 - - - 5 - - 5 - 5
ORISSA 39 15 - - 54 15 15 24 - 54
PONDICHERRY 1 7 2 - 10 - 7 3 - 10
PUNJAB 35 6 2 - 43 - 6 37 - 43
RAJASTHAN 7 18 7 - 32 4 18 10 - 32
SIKKIM 9 - - - 9 - - 9 - 9
TAMIL NADU 27 2 3 - 32 20 2 10 - 32
TRIPURA 3 7 2 1 13 - 6 7 - 13
UTTAR PRADESH 45 25 1 1 72 40 25 7 - 72
UTTRANCHAL 13 1 1 - 15 2 1 9 3 15
WEST BENGAL 18 15 1 - 34 9 15 10 - 34
TOTAL : - 567 218 55 30 870 257 216 393 4 870

38.  Level I Laboratory:
 Temperature
 Colour
 Odour
 Electrical Conductivity/ Total Dissolved
Solids
 pH
 Dissolved Oxygen

39. SL
NO
TESTS SL NO TESTS
1 Temperature 14 Carbonate
2 Electrical 15 Bi Carbonate
3 Conductivity 16 Fluoride
4 pH 17 Chloride
5 Dissolved Oxygen 18 Sulphate
6 Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD)
19 Nitrate
7 Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD)
20 Silicate
8 Sodium 21 Phosphate
9 Calcium 22 .Total Plate count
10 Magnesium 23 Total Coliform
11 Potassium 24 F. coliform
12 Iron 25 . E. Coliform

40.  In addition to the parameters as indicated for level‐II
laboratory, the following additional parameters are
analyzed.
 Total Kjeldhal Nitrogen
 Cyanide
 Ammonia Nitrogen
 Pesticides (6 nos.)
 Total Organic Carbon
 Toxic Elements(Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury,
Chromium, Lead, Zinc)(total 41 parameters analyzed)

41.  Monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 30 mg/l
has been considered as it is the standard of sewage
treatment plant and in river it appears without
dilution.(River locations having water quality exceeding
discharge standards for BOD to fresh water sources)
 All monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 6
mg/l on all occasions.
 Monitoring locations exceeding 3 mg/l BOD are not
meeting desired water quality criteria but does not affect to
Dissolved Oxygen level in water bodies. If BOD exceeds
6mg/l in water body, the Dissolved Oxygen is reduced
below desired levels.
 The raw water having BOD levels upto 5 mg/l are does not
form complex chemicals on chlorination for municipal
water supplies. Hence the water bodies having BOD more
than 6 mg/l are considered as polluted and identified for
remedial action.

42.  Criteria for Priority 2
 Monitoring locations having BOD between 20-30
mg/l.
 All monitoring locations exceeding BOD
concentration 6 mg/l on all occasions.
Criteria for Priority 3
 Monitoring locations having BOD between 10-20
mg/l.
 All monitoring locations exceeding BOD
concentration 6 mg/l on all occasions

43. .
Criteria for Priority 4
 Monitoring locations having BOD between 6-10
mg/l.
Criteria for Priority 5
 Monitoring locations having BOD between 3-6
mg/l.
 The locations exceeding desired water quality of
3mg/l BOD.

45.  Sustainability of infrastructure and maintenance of
instruments and equipments.
 Financial as well as Manpower resources are
inadequate and reducing due to policy shift.
 Travel to long distances for monitoring and
preservation of samples in warm weather conditions
adversely affect the results.
 Analysis results needs in-depth validation and
repeated interaction with laboratories.
 Improper reporting of units, variation in analysis
methods and quality control of chemicals are cause of
concern.
 Lack of training for laboratory and field staff.
 Lack of software to analyse the data for trend analyses
and data validation.
Constraints in Maintaining the Network

46.  Problems in data validation due to fluctuation in water
quality.
 Flow in many rivers dwindles due to short period of
monsoon.
 Environmental flows are not maintained, hence only
urban wastewater flows in the rivers after major
abstraction points.
 Removal of outliers during validation of data may
devoid valuable information related to flushing of
Industrial effluents responsible for episodal pollution
and fish kill.
 Need of software for processing, validation/trend
analyses and format data storage.
 Priorities for water quality management varies widely
from developed countries to developing countries.
Limitations of Monitoring Programme

49. :27th State Republic of
India.
:Geographical area of
53,483 km2
:No District:13
:Population: (1.01
Crores)
(2011 census)
:0.84% population &
1.69% of land of India
Uttarakhand State is
well endowed with
86%: Mountainous
area
:65% Forest area
:8 major rivers & More
than 12,000 glaciers
act as the lifeline for
the entire hydrological
system of Indo-
Gangetic plain.

50. The state possesses a very assorted hydrogeological set-up
and can be divided in two hydrogeological regimes as
Gangatic Alluvial Plain and Himalayan Mountain Belt.
Gangatic Alluvial Plain
This zone is further divided into 3 parts as:
(i) Axial Belt (Alluvial Plains):
The aquifers of this zone are of unconfined to confined
nature and in general ground water potential in this zone
is good.
(ii) Tarai:
Several potential aquifers with good quality of ground water
occur in this zone due to the presence of highly porous
and permeable nature of the sedimentary derived
constituting material.
(iii) Bhabar:
It has a potential hydrogeological unit but the ground water
occurs at much deeper levels (> 100 m below ground
level).

51. Himalayan Mountain Belt
This regime constitutes a major part of whole geographical
area of the state and can be studied in to following units:
 (i) Outer Himalaya (Siwalik Mountain Range):
 This part has potential ground water holding units with
highly fractured or jointed rocks.
 (ii) Lesser Himalaya:
 Springs as a major source of groundwater occurs in this
part. Many hand pumps have been installed satisfactorily
and some tube wells in river valleys also.
 (iii) Central Himalaya:
 There are cold water and hot water springs (i.e. thermal
springs) in this zone.
 (iv) Tethys Himalaya:
 Usually this is an appropriate zone for ground water
development because of the presence of porous and
permeable nature of the litho structures present in the
zone.

52.  A heavy rain fall occurs in monsoon season and snowfall
during January to March.
 Approximately, 1606 mm annual rainfall in state is
enough to accomplish the water demand of the state
 but unfortunately, 95% of the total precipitation flows as
runoff due to high slopes of hills.
 However, the seventy years data from 1901 to 1970 of
nine districts of the state for normal monthly and annual
describes that maximum rainfall occurs in July and August
and the annual precipitation varies from 1256 mm to 2426
mm in Haridwar and Pithoragarh district of state,
respectively
 Presently, there is 23% less annual precipitation in Almora
in comparison to its 53 years record while Manora peak of
Nainital is receiving 16% less rainfall than last 39 years
(1964-2003).

53.  In the beginning, peoples of hilly areas of the
state utilized the water from the local sources
fed by water from hilly slopes.
 Later on, they have developed the art that
how to tap the water in hilly parts.
 Traditionally in hilly areas of the state naula,
gul, dhara, lake, kund, khal, water mill
(Gharat) are the main water harvesting
structures and are also in trend in rural parts
to fulfill the water needs of the local people

54.  Uttarakhand is a hilly state, therefore there are
several natural as well as manmade water sources.
 Rivers, lakes, springs or gadheras, tube wells, dug
wells, Uttaranchal Koops, River Bank Filtration units
etc. are the major drinking and irrigation water
sources.
 Moreover, “chal and khal” are also supplying water for
rural areas. Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) which is a
key water supply department of the state has
rejuvenated 1804 khals from 2000 to 2008.
 Out of these, Pauri district has a maximum number of
khals [27]. After, the study of year-wise discharge data
of gadheras and springs of the state for the year
2005, 2006 and 2008, UJS has reported that Almora
district of Kumaun region has maximum number of
this type of water sources [28].

55.  Uttarakhand is an origin place of several Indian rivers
including glacial fed rivers, non-glacial fed rivers and
rainfed rivers.
 Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Kali, Koshi rivers and their
tributries constitute surface water bodies.
 The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources
Development (NCIWRD, 1999) [29] has estimated the basin-
wise average annual flow in Indian river systems as 1953
km3 and the utilizable annual surface water of the country
as 690 km3.
 However, an attempt has been made to capture and
present the best possible data available.
 The total catchment area of 12 major river basins of India
is more than 20000 km2.
 The total catchment area of these rivers is about 25.3 lakh
km2. Uttarakhand possess three main river basins as
Bhagirathi (Alaknanda basin and Ganga basin), Yamuna
(Tons basin) and Kali system.

56.  In addition of these rivers, glaciers, lakes,
numerous streams, springs etc. also
contribute as a major part of surface water
resources.
 A total 968 Himalayan glaciers are also
important which have 213.74 km3 total ice
volume and cover 31449.3 km2 basin area
and 2883.37 km2 (i.e. 9.17%) glaciered area
including Chorbani, Gangotri, Khatling,
Nandadevi glaciers etc

57.  The tals such as Bhimtal, Sat tal, etc. of Nainital
district of Kumaun region are important sources
for drinking and irrigation purposes.
 Besides this, Hemkund, Rupkund and Vasukital
are some of the glacial lakes whereas
Nachiketatal, Nainital, Dodital, Bhimtal and
Naukuchiatal are the renowned lakes of middle
Himalaya.
 The total high altitude wetlands area in the state
is 103882 ha including 231 ha of high
altitudinal lakes i.e. 0.22% of total wetland area
for 118 lakes which covers <1% of total wetland
area of the state [31].
 The lakes and tals in upper parts and middle
Himalaya form an important part of total
drainage system.

58.  The Ganga River has been declared as the
"National River" of India in November, 2008 by
Govt. of India.
 The Ganga basin is the biggest river basin in
India which covers the whole of the state, and is
bound in the north by the Himalayas and in the
south by the Vindhyas.
 Yamuna River, which is also a major and holy
river, is the largest tributaries of river Ganga.
 This river originates from Yamunotri Glacier of
Uttarkashi district and merges with Ganga at
Triveni Sangam in Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh

61.  Deploying of framework for integrated river monitoring for
simulating river water quality for estimation of Waste Load for
major discharges in
 Upper Reaches (U/S of Haridwar)
 Developing the available mobile/GPS/Sensor based monitoring
systems on test beds.
 Piloting rapid monitoring technology for appropriate pathogen
indicator Assessment on identified river stretches
 Monitoring for assessment of Arsenic pathways in a selected
basin stretch.
 River water quality assessment using Bio-monitoring and
Toxicological Studies in selected stretches of River basin.