Choosing the right plant species is essential to their effectiveness when using phytoremediation procedures. A pot experiment was conducted under natural field conditions to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Datura stramonium L. for hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] contaminated soil and to assess the role of Cr (VI)-tolerant plant growth–promoting bacteria (PGPB) in enhancing plant performance. Plants were grown in soil amended with 0, 80, 160, and 320 mg Cr kg⁻¹ and assessed for morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses. The highest plant growth was observed at 80 mg/Kg Cr (VI) concentration. Cr (VI) stress reduced plant growth, water content, and membrane stability, with severe effects at 320 mg kg⁻¹; whereas bacterial inoculated sets showed significantly (p < 0.05) improved plant performance, resulting in an approximate 32

The review explores the innovative use of rice residue for developing Cellulose nanocrystals and reinforcement applications of CNCs for wastewater treatment. Rice residue, rich in lignocellulose components like cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, presents a sustainable resource for biocomposite fabrication. The review highlights the significant challenges of managing rice residue, particularly the environmental impact of its open field burning, which contributes to severe air pollution and health risks. By examining recent advancements in the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from rice residue, the review emphasizes their potential for enhancing water treatment technologies and contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research such as facts and challenges related to using CNCs for water treatment, and suggests future directions for developing eco-friendly, high-performance water filtration and its reinforcement perspectives, underscoring the importance of integrating waste valorization with sustainable practices.

In order to mitigate the risk posed by discharge of untreated wastewater and enhance the quality of wastewater prior to its release or reuse, it is important to adopt nature based treatment technologies. The current study was performed with objective to treat the primary treated sewage collected from a traditional Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) based Sewage treatment plant (STP) by using a two-stage French Type Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland (FVFCW). This pilot-scale study was undertaken in Banaras Hindu University Campus Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The wetland unit was a two-stage Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland system (VFCW) filled with two different filter media gravel sand and planted with two different macrophytes Canna indica and Typha latifolia which was operated for Sustainable treatment of primary sewage. The VFCW was operated at three different Hydraulic loading rate (HLR) i.e. 1800, 2700, 3600 L/day for nine months. The VFCW performed for the treatment of different physicochemical parameters at given loading rates. The maximum removal efficiency of 72.37, 76.47, 100, 87.23, 41.41, 40.77 27.07

Owing to the rapid industrial and socioeconomic development, the heavy metal concentration in the river is gradually increasing, it has the potential to threaten the aquatic environment and mankind. The present investigation deals with the quantification and fractionation of heavy metals from the sediments of the Narmada River. The presence of these heavy metals can be toxic to human health and aquatic life, therefore different pollution indices were evaluated to identify the degree of threat that might be imposed by these contaminants in the surface water and sediment. In this context, risk assessment code (RAC), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR) were calculated to examine the risk of heavy metal contamination on the human being. The important heavy metals and their concentration (in mg/kg, dry weight) have followed the following order, Fe > Al > Mn > Cr > Cu > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cd. Pollution indices classified the surface sediments under the uncontaminated to moderately contaminated category; the major responsible heavy metals for different pollution levels were Cr, Mn, Cu and Pb. The RAC identified Mn and Cd as potential heavy metals which may cause a high risk to aquatic organisms. HQ, HI and TCR values confirmed no human health risk. However, the Cr concentration present in surface sediments might cause cancer via ingestion in children. The insights obtained from this study shall aware and encourage the competent legislative bodies to plan an appropriate regular monitoring campaign and take necessary measures to improve the health of the river.

ABSTRACT This study includes groundwater quality data from 290 monitoring sites from 69 districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. The analysis of the data showed that 98.97, 24.48, 52.07, and 68.97% of groundwater samples had concentrations of electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), Mg2+, and HCO3−, respectively, higher than the maximum permissible limit. Groundwater quality index (GWQI) was calculated for these 290 monitoring sites which revealed that 21 sites (7.24%) had inappropriate GWQI for drinking water, and 18 sites (6.21%) had an unsuitable index for irrigation. Most of the sampling sites (98.97%) showed high EC contents in groundwater with a mean value of 999.33 μS/cm. Fluoride content was found within the permissible limits in 95.52% of the samples, while 4.48% had high concentrations. The use of hierarchical cluster analysis differentiated all the sites into two clusters: one with high pollution and the other with low pollution. Significant correlations exist between physicochemical and irrigation indicators in the correlation matrix. High loadings of EC, TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl−, and SO42− were identified in the first principal component, which are thought to be pollution-controlled processes from anthropogenic sources. According to the Chadha diagram, CaHCO3 and Ca–Mg–HCl were the two most prevalent chemicals in the water.

Freshwater resources, specially surface water are under threat due to over extraction, discharge of pollutants and improper waste disposal. This study investigates the present status of water quality of the River Ganga at Varanasi, India and further predict its future status using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Entropy water quality index (EWQI) and Stochastic models. To begin with, water quality data of 37 variables for eleven years were acquired followed by which PCA was applied which reduced the number of water quality variables from 37 to 13. EWQI of River Ganga was calculated for drinking and bathing purposes by using these 13 variables. Most of the physico-chemical variables were within the permissible limit. The EWQI values were calculated for all the samples indicated that none of the water sample was suitable for drinking without treatment. However, 74.24

The present research focuses on the evaluation of selected heavy metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) in the upper stretch of the Narmada River in central India to detect the pollution status, degree of heavy metals contamination, and threat to human health. The concentration of the selected heavy metals was in the order of Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd and Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season respectively. Further indices like the heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) indicated that the water of the Narmada River was medium polluted, heavy metal pollution index (HPI) categorized the water as moderately to heavily polluted. The nemerrow pollution index (NPI) classified 8

Under the present study the detailed hydro chemical characterization and human health risk assessment of ground water in Narmada basin was done. The study was performed based on data collected from 305 groundwater sample stations from Narmada basin. Hydro chemical evaluation illustrated that cationic ion in upper and middle Narmada basin was dominated by Ca2 thorn however, in lower basin it was dominated by Na thorn ion. Similarly, the anionic ion was dominated by HCO3- throughout the basin. Chadha plot drawn from the collected data inferred that maximum groundwater belonged to recharge water category (Ca-Mg-HCO3 type). Base-exchange indices of the collected data confirmed the presence of Na thorn -SO42-type of groundwater. Meteoric genesis indices indicated deep meteoric percolation type of groundwater. Further, Gibbs plot categorized groundwater samples in rock dominance section, while chloro-alkaline indices confirmed direct as well as reverse ion-exchange reactions governing groundwater quality. Water Quality Index values showed that groundwater ranged from excellent to very poor category. Human health risk of the Narmada River confirmed the non-carcinogenic risk for Nitrate (NO3-) and Fluoride (F-) ions. However, several indices justified that groundwater was ideal for irrigation. However, a treatment of groundwater is recommended before direct consumption like drinking.

Surface water chemistry of the upper Narmada River was investigated at 13 different locations for 4 consecutive years (2017 to 2020) during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The main objective of the study was to identify the processes governing the water chemistry of Narmada River and evaluate its suitability for irrigation. The physical parameters estimated were; pH (7.9 +/- 0.4 for pre- and 8 +/- 0.4 for post-monsoon seasons), EC (322.8+93.3 mu S/cm for pre- and 312.1+80.2 mu S/cm for post-monsoon) and TDS (203.4 +/- 41.5 mg/L for pre-and 213.4 +/- 48 mg/L for post-monsoon). The obtained concentration of cations and anions were in the order of Ca++ > Na+ > Mg++ > K+ and HCO3->Cl->SO4->NO3->PO4- respectively. Thus, the water of Narmada was found to be alkaline in nature. Piper diagram inferred that the water was dominated by Ca-Mg-HCO3- type of hydrochemical faces. Gibb's plot clarified that rock-water interaction regulates the ion chemistry of the Narmada. Various indices like sodium percentage (Na%), sodium absorption ration (SAR), Kelly index (Ki), permeability index (PI), magnesium hazard (MH) was calculated which showed that the surface water was suitable for irrigation. Lastly, one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) confirmed no significant differences in water quality except for temperature, EC and SO4-, for pre- and post-monsoon season.

Wetlands deliver a bunch of ecosystem services but are under continuous threat due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study has been carried out to examine the suitability of Kusheshwar-Asthan wetland's water for agriculture. Total 57 water samples were analyzed for various water quality parameters like electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, DO, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), and major anions (PO43-, SO42-, N-NO3-, Cl-, HCO3-). Overall, the water of the wetland was found to be alkaline. The pre-monsoon samples had a relatively higher concentration in most of analyzed parameters except for pH, DO, NO3-, PO(4)(3- )and Cl-. The concentration of cations follows the order of Na+ > Ca2+> Mg2+ > K+ in both seasons and for anions it is HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > NO3- > PO(4)(3-)for pre-monsoon and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > PO(4)(3-)for post-monsoon. According to Piper diagram and Durov plot, Na-K-HCO3 was the major hydro-chemical facies of the surface water. The various irrigation quality parameters showed that wetland water falls in good to excellent quality. As a result, this finding can aid in the long-term sustainable use of the wetland water with regulated anthropogenic interventions. The study will be beneficial in designing longterm extensive management plans for the conservation of the wetland.

This study was performed to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of major ions in water samples of a newly designated Ramsar site, namely Kabar Tal (KT) wetland of Bihar. Samples were collected during summer, monsoon, and winter seasons. The analytical and GIS results show that concentration of electrical conductivity, chloride, and nitrate are higher in summer than monsoon and winter. However, the concentration of major cations such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are higher in winter than monsoon and summer. In addition, major anions like sulphate and phosphate concentration is higher during monsoon than summer and winter. Multivariate statistical tool (discriminant analysis) results suggest that temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, sulphate, and potassium are the major parameters distinguishing the water quality in different seasons. The study confirms that seasonal variations are playing a major role in the hydrochemistry of KT wetland. Overall, this work outlines the approach towards proper conservation and utilization of wetlands and to assess the quality of surface water for determining its suitability for agricultural purposes. Overall, this work highlights the approach towards estimating the seasonal dynamics of chemical species in KT wetland and its suitability for irrigation purposes.

Researchers are paying increasing attention to emerging contaminant (EC) residues as potential pollutants because they often have physicochemical behavior that is similar to that of other harmful xenobiotics, which can produce adverse effects. Due to their pseudo-persistence and its biological activity, the ECs (including pharmaceuticals and personal care products) are a major concern for the environment. These contaminants are found in very low concentrations, which renders conventional treatment methods inappropriate. However, many other technologies can be used for the treatment of wastewater (WW), one of which is discussed in this chapter. During the past few years, the planned use of wetlands for meeting WW treatment and water-quality objectives has been seriously studied and implemented in a controlled manner. A constructed wetlands (CW) system for a WW treatment facility involves the use of engineered systems that are designed and constructed to use natural processes. These systems mimic natural wetlands systems by using wetlands plants, soils, and associated microorganisms to remove contaminants from WW effluents. Various research carried out during the last few decades on the performances of the wetlands in treating WW has provided quantitative information that has been used to improve the process's efficiency through design and operation measures. The removal of emerging pollutants in these wetlands systems relies on a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes that naturally occur in wetlands that are associated with vegetation, sediments, and their microbial communities. CW systems for WW treatment have been proven to be effective, low-cost, and sustainable alternatives to conventional WW treatment technologies.

Water is vital for life on Earth, and its unavailability or poor quality has severe consequences for all aspects of human life, including food, health, and environment. Anthropogenic activities have caused widespread pollution of water resources worldwide. Although some remediation methods and techniques have been developed, considering the extent, quantity, and varied nature of pollutants, new and sustainable technologies are urgent needed to remediate polluted water and wastewater. In recent times, the use of nanomaterials for the treatment of wastewater has gained considerable importance owing to their high accuracy and precise remediation. Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit enhanced chemical reactivity, high surface area, lower costs and energy requirements, and efficient regeneration for reuse, making them ideal materials for wastewater treatment. The conventional method of NP production is hazardous, and application of volatile chemicals results in secondary pollution, yet biogenic NPs are inexpensive and environmentally safe. Plants, bacteria, algae, and fungi produce a range of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, polymers, proteins, and numerous antioxidants that are effectively used as capping and stabilizing agents in NP synthesis. In this chapter, we discuss the synthesis of biogenic NPs from different organisms and their potential applications in wastewater remediation. Moreover, to supplement the existing research gaps, different strategies are also recommended.

Wastewater treatment utilizes a huge amount of energy which we get from the grid. From last many years many research have been done to reduce or minimize the energy consumption and to increase the renewable energy from the wastewater treatment. This review presents the aspects which can guide technologists to move towards low energy or no energy wastewater treatment. This review is to present systematic approaches to achieve energy neutral condition in wastewater treatment. This review contains methods for reducing energy consumption and increasing the energy recovery to supplement with the extra external

This study was performed to assess water quality in the Narmada River, the third-longest river in India. Water samples were collected from 6 major sampling stations with 17 sampling points. Nine water quality parameters were analyzed to calculate the water quality index (WQI), followed by multivariate statistical evaluation. The results indicated that water quality in the upper Narmada varied from excellent to very poor – comprising excellent for approximately 12%, good for 17%, poor for 59%, and very poor for 12% of pre-monsoon samples, but excellent for 17%, good for 12%, and poor for 71% of post-monsoon. While the general water quality in the Narmada was poor, anthropogenic inputs such as domestic sewage and agricultural runoff influenced some parameters – e.g. BOD, nitrate, and total coliform. More studies are required for completing water quality evaluation.

Under the present investigation, vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSFCWs) planted with macrophytes treated domestic sewage in an environmentally sustainable manner. Treatment of domestic sewage with wetlands is an alternative method that decreases energy consumption and economic costs involved in the treatment of environmental contaminants. This study evaluates the potential efficiency of VSSFCWs using two different macrophytes,Acorus calamusandCanna indicafor the treatment of domestic sewage. To perform this study, two chambers of VSSFCWs of dimensions 2.48 m x 1.24 m x 1.54 m were built. The wetland was fed with the primary treated sewage at a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 0.67 m(3)/h (hours) in a batch flow. Treatment of primary sewage was observed from day 1 to day 6; once a day (i.e. 24 h to 144 h). The treatment of sewage was found to be significant up to day 6 (144 h); beyond this time, no significant removal was observed. The results revealed that both the wetland setups performed significant removal of TDS, BOD5, total nitrogen, and phosphate. The wetland planted withCanna indicawas a better performer for the removal of TDS (22.31%), BOD5(81.79%), total nitrogen (60.37%), and phosphate (80%).

The removal of contaminants from sewage wastewater through constructed wetlands is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Constructed wetland (CW) is a man-made structure for wastewater treatment that uses natural processes associated with wetland vegetation, soils, and their associated microbial combinations. This study investigated the performance of experimental vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) cells to remove heavy metals (HMs) from primary treated sewage. The primary treated sewage was collected from the sewage treatment plant (STP) in the campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, India. Sewage wastewater samples were collected from all cells of the experimental VFCW and analyzed for four heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cr). The plant species results show that the removal efficiency of the Canna indica L. for Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cr was 95%, 92%, 96%, and 93 % and Acorus calamus L.were 89 %, 80 %, 91 %, and 47 % respectively. These macrophytes with the substrate (gravel and sand) have presented a wide range of tolerance to all the selected metals and therefore can be used for field-scale constructed wetland removal of heavy metals from sewage wastewater.

The current study discourses the impact of variation in PM2.5 concentration on the ambient air quality of Delhi. The 24-hourly PM2.5 concentration dataset was obtained from air quality measurement site (Anand Vihar) of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for the duration of April 2015 to December 2018. The annual and seasonal variability in the trend of ambient PM2.5 along with cumulative impact of meteorological parameters have been analyzed. The overall percentage increase in annual PM2.5 concentration, compared to National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) guidelines, is observed to be 286.09%. The maximum concentration of fine particulate matter was recorded to be 788.6 µg/m3 during post-monsoon season and it was found to be associated with lower ambient temperature of 21.34°C and wind speed of 0.33 m/sec. Further, PM2.5 concentration was found to be correlated with CO (R = 0.6515) and NH3 (R = 0.6396) indicating similar sources of emission. Further, backward trajectory analysis revealed contribution in PM2.5 concentration from the states of Punjab and Haryana. The results indicated that particulate pollution is likely to occur in urban atmospheric environments with low temperatures and low wind speeds.

During past few decades, the technological revolution has brought about the new technologies for water and soil remediation from various contaminants. Researches during this period focused on methods of cleanup which are inexpensive, sustainable, energy-efficient, and less complicated technology to remove organic contaminants from soil. Among various technologies for remediation of organic contaminants from the soil, rhizoremediation has been proven efficient and capable technology for the same. Rhizoremediation is a specific type of phytoremediation which involves the application of plant root and their associated rhizospheric microbes for the treatment of pollutants from the soil. The soil microflora can be contaminant degraders or can promote plant growth under stress conditions that promote the degradation of organic pollutants from the soil. Plant–microbe interaction plays very important role in removing contaminants from the soil. This chapter is focused on the potential and challenges of rhizoremediation of organic pollutants from the soils.