Dombivli city is one of the most industrialized cities situated near Mumbai. The increase in industries, has led to increase in the discharge of industrial waste effluents from the industrial belt into the Ulhas River, due to improper environmental planning. This day by day increasing tremendous pollution load has prompted us to carry the systematic and detailed study on the heavy metal content in water of Ulhas River. The study was conducted over a period of two years i.e. in 2012 and 2013. The study was carried out along the banks of Ulhas River, near the discharge of effluents from Dombivli Industrial belt Phase I and Phase II. The sampling points were identified accordingly. The analysis for the majority of the toxic heavy metals like Mercury (Hg), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) in water samples was done. The results of our study indicated that there is a need to conduct systematic and regular monitoring of pollution level along the Ulhas River with an intention to obtain the scientific data on heavy metal content in the river water. Such data will be useful to improve the industrial waste treatment technology adopted along the Dombivli industrial belt.

Ulhas River which is one of the most polluted rivers of Mumbai receives heavy pollution load from the nearby Dombivali industrial belt. Previous studies reported along the Dombivali industrial belt has indicated that the pollution level is so much alarming that it has created threat to nearby residential areas and also to the Ulhas River flowing in the outskirts of the Dombivali City. It is feared that the toxic chemicals present in the industrial waste might affect the sediment ecosystem of the river. Hence this has provoked us to carry the systematic and detailed study of physico chemical properties of the sediment samples collected along the Ulhas River. The study was done during the year 2012 and 2013, at the sites where the industrial discharge from Dombivli industrial belt Phase I and Phase II joins the Ulhas River. The study was performed to understand the physico chemical properties such as pH, alkalinity, chloride and phosphates. Results of the study reveal that there is an urgent requirement for systematic and regular monitoring of pollution level along the Ulhas River which will further help in improving the industrial waste treatment procedure adopted, along the Dombivli industrial belt. It is expected that such scientific studies will be useful to determine the extent of pollution control measures required in order to avoid long term irreparable damage to the Ulhas River ecosystem.

ABSTRACT. Ulhas River which is one of the most polluted rivers of Mumbai receives heavy pollution load from the nearby Dombivali industrial belt. Previous studies reported along the Dombivali industrial belt has indicated that the pollution level is so much alarming that it has created threat to nearby residential areas and also to the Ulhas River flowing in the outskirts of the Dombivali City. It is feared that the toxic chemicals present in the industrial waste might affect the sediment ecosystem of the river. Hence this has provoked us to carry the systematic and detailed study of physico chemical properties of the sediment samples collected along the Ulhas River. The study was done during the year 2012 and 2013, at the sites where the industrial discharge from Dombivli industrial belt Phase I and Phase II joins the Ulhas River. The study was performed to understand the physico chemical properties such as pH, alkalinity, chloride and phosphates. Results of the study reveal that there is an urgent requirement for systematic and regular monitoring of pollution level along the Ulhas River which will further help in improving the industrial waste treatment procedure adopted, along the Dombivli industrial belt. It is expected that such scientific studies will be useful to determine the extent of pollution control measures required in order to avoid long term irreparable damage to the Ulhas River ecosystem.

Dombivli city is one of the most industrialized cities situated near Mumbai. The increase in industries, has led to increase in the discharge of industrial waste effluents from the industrial belt into the Ulhas River, due to improper environmental planning. This day by day increasing tremendous pollution load has prompted us to carry the systematic and detailed study on the heavy metal content in water of Ulhas River. The study was conducted over a period of two years i.e. in 2012 and 2013. The study was carried out along the banks of Ulhas River, near the discharge of effluents from Dombivli Industrial belt Phase I and Phase II. The sampling points were identified accordingly. The analysis for the majority of the toxic heavy metals like Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) in water samples was done. The results of our study indicated that there is a need to conduct systematic and regular monitoring of pollution level along the Ulhas River with an intention to obtain the scientific data on heavy metal content in the river water. Such data will be useful to improve the industrial waste treatment technology adopted along the Dombivli industrial belt.