Maili Yamuna

Washer men on Bank of river yamuna in Delhi Tajewala in Reach-I is the benchmark where water quality is generally within the desired levels for bathing quality. Average Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels at this point are 1.2 mg/l and 11.7 mg/l respectively. Downstream of Tajewala, in Reach-II, domestic and industrial wastewater from urban and rural areas of Yamunanagar-Jagadhri, Karnal, Used offering to Yamuna – Lack of Awareness Panipat, Sonepat, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar etc. are discharged into the rivers. Also, a large quantity of wastewater from livestock rearing activities and surface runoff from agricultural farms enter the river. However, in this 224 km reach a certain extent of self-purification occurs and therefore, the water quality upstream of the Wazirabad barrage in Delhi is considered fairly good. Average BOD in this reach is observed to be in the range of 1.0 - 2.0 mg/l (with slightly higher values on some occasions). Nevertheless, the level of Coliforms and contamination from pesticides and industries is of concern.

Garbage in Yamuna River Reach-III & IV are essentially carrying wastewater and solid waste. The Delhi Reach (III) is in a unique situation, being located between two barrages and having no fresh water flows either from upstream or from lateral connections. These stretches have become extremely critical from a water quality and public health standpoint. The 490 km stretch downstream of the Okhla barrage up to the confluence with the Chambal River is characterized as an "open sewer". It is only downstream of Etawah in Reach-V that the Yamuna receives dilution water from tributaries bringing improvement in water quality.