Biochemical Oxygen Demand Levels in Haryana

• 02 Jan 2025

Why in News? 

Recently, the release of untreated waste has significantly raised the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels in the Yamuna river and irrigation canals in Faridabad and Palwal districts of Haryana. 

 Key Points 

• Alarming BOD Levels: 
  • According to the district administration BOD levels are 400-500% higher than permissible limits due to ineffective monitoring and insufficient preventive measures. 
  • As per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, the BOD standard for water is 10 milligrams per litre. Recent samples show levels between 35 and 40, with some locations in the Yamuna reaching 50 milligrams per litre. 
• Environmental Impact: 
  • Untreated waste not only raises BOD levels but also reduces dissolved oxygen (DO) levels to zero. This results in the destruction of aquatic life and a strong stench. 
  • High BOD levels indicate a failure in wastewater treatment and sewage management systems. 
• Challenges in Implementation: 
  • Poor enforcement of regulations and rising pollution levels have worsened the situation. 
  • Experts call for stricter monitoring, improved sewage management, and robust implementation of pollution control measures to mitigate the crisis. 

 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) 

• BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms in the biological process of metabolizing organic matter in water. 
• The more organic matter there is (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the greater the BOD; and the greater the BOD, the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for higher animals such as fishes. 
• The BOD is therefore a reliable gauge of the organic pollution of a body of water.