Improvement in the Water Quality of Ganesh Idol Immersed Indrayani River in the Presence of AgNPs Immobilized Sodium Alginate Beads

Abstract

Now a days, water pollution is serious problem and after the Ganesh festival it becomes a serious problem because of immersion Ganesh idol in River water. It affects pH of water, level of dissolved oxygen, increases hardness of water and majorly affecting aquatic life. Government has suggested many solutions for that for example provided separate tanks for the immersion of Ganesh Idol. But later what we do of that water, are we giving proper treatment to that water? Because that water also contains some amount of POP, toxic chemicals, metal ion. This study investigates the impact of Ganesh idol immersion on the water quality of the Indrayani River at Alandi, Pune, during the period of August 2024 to January 2025. Key physicochemical parameters—pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total hardness—were analyzed before and after idol immersion. The results indicated a marked deterioration in water quality, with significant increases in BOD, COD, and hardness levels, and a sharp decline in DO. Additionally, immobilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were tested for their antimicrobial potential in treating contaminated samples. AgNPs-treated samples showed reduced microbial growth and improved water quality parameters, confirming their potential as an eco-friendly purification tool. The study highlights the urgent need for sustainable immersion practices and the exploration of nanotechnology-based interventions for safeguarding aquatic ecosystems.