The present research work deals with the study of some of the important physico-chemical parameters of industrial waste water effluents collected from Taloja industrial belt of Mumbai. The study reveals that engineering, paper mill, fine chemical, dyes, paint, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and textile industries are some of the major industries responsible for polluting the surrounding aquatic environment. It was observed that pH values of effluent samples collected from paint, pharmaceutical and dyes industries were slightly above and below the limit of 6.5 to 8.5 by ISI and WHO. The effluent samples collected from textile industries shows extremely high Total Dissolved Soild (TDS) content of 12023.6 mg/L and correspondingly high Total Solid (TS) content of 13499.2 mg/L. The chloride content in the effluents from textile industries was 238.4 mg/L which was significantly high than acceptable limit of 200 mg/L set by WHO. The BOD values of effluent samples collected from pharmaceutical, dyes, engineering and paint industries were 1047.3, 776.2, 604.8 and 535.8 mg/L respectively which lie above the maximum permitted BOD content of < 100 to 300 mg/L. The COD values in the different industrial effluent samples were also very much higher than maximum permissible limit of 4.0 mg/L according to USPH Standard. The overall results highlight towards the discharge of highly polluted waste water effluent from industries of Taloja Industrial area of Mumbai. These industrial effluents have resulted in pollution of nearby Kasardi River thereby affecting the growth of vegetation and aquatic life. The results of the present investigation point out the need to implement common objectives, compatible policies and programmes for improvement in the industrial waste water treatment methods.

The area of study selected in the present investigation was Kasardi River which receives heavy discharge of waste effluent from the nearby Taloja industrial belt which is one of the fastest developing industrial belt of Mumbai. The study was performed to investigate the concentration of toxic heavy metals like chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and iron (Fe) in river. It was observed that concentration of most of these heavy metals were much higher than the maximum permissible limits. These heavy metals have created threat to the aquatic life and through biomagnifications may enter the food chain thereby affecting the human beings as well. The research work was extended further to study the physico-chemical properties like temperature, pH, solid content, chloride, oil / grease content, BOD and COD values of the river water. The authors point out that as India moves towards stricter regulation of industrial effluents to control water pollution, there is a need to implement common objectives, compatible policies and programmes for improvement in the industrial waste water treatment methods.