Hydrogeochemical Attributes of the Meltwater Emerging from Gangotri Glacier, Uttaranchal

The river at its origin known as "Bhagirathi" attains the title "Ganga" after its confluence with Alaknanda, originates from the snout of Gangotri glacier. Water samples were collected from the selected sites from Gaumukh to Haridwar (2000-2001) for two seasons (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon) and analyzed for various physico-chemical characteristics. The pH, nitrate (NO₃), conductance, chloride, alkalinity, total hardness, fluoride, sulphate and total dissolved solids were found to be in the ranges of 6.0-7.6, 0.225-10.6 mg/l, 73.0-978 μmhos, 5.0-70.0 mg/l, 15-90 mg/l, 10.0-250.0 mg/l, 0.23-1.60 mg/l, 12.0-150.0 mg/l and 37.0-190.6 mg/l respectively.