APPROACHING WATERSHED CONSERVATION WITH WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS AND RELIGIOUS ETHOS IN INDIA

The Ganges River spans 2510 km across India and supplies water to nearly 400 million people and is considered to be the most populated basin in the world. Although fed by pure glacial meltwater of the Himalayan Mountains, the water quality assessments conducted near the headwaters in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand (Rishikesh) describe a severely contaminated system. This field-based project measures eight parameters (pH, temperature, fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, total phosphates, turbidity) needed to assign a watershed quality index (WQI) value. Overall, the WQI for the systems surveyed reflect poor water quality. Results compared with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards indicate detrimental levels of contamination with elevated signatures of nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, and fecal coliform at most sites.

The importance of this river is not only a life-source that provides drinking water, it also holds heavy spiritual significance in the Hindu religion. In collaboration with the Global Interfaith Water and Sanitary Health Alliance, strategically designed materials were created and disseminated for worshipers and ashram visitors. This unique conservation approach combines education and symbolism to promote protector of the watershed.