Pollution studies of Kabul River and its tributaries for the assessment oforganic strength and Fecal coliform

Thirty eight samples of water from Kabul River and its tributaries starting from Warsak Reservoir to the confluence point of Kabul and Indus Rivers co vering a stretch of about 90 km and the waste water being discharged by dif ferent drains into the river were collected systematically and analysed for total organic strength as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and degradable orga nics as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) using standard methods. River water samples from different locations were also analysed bacteriologically for F ecal coliforms. All the waste water samples and river water at a few locati ons were found to be high in COD, BOD and Fecal coliform rendering it unfit for irrigation and human consumption The results also suggest that the eff luents from Khazana Sugar Mills, Colony Sarhad Textile Mills, Amarjee Paper and Paper Board Mills and from different tanneries are the main sources of organic pollution in the Kabul River. Reduction in fish crop in Kabul Rive r could be referred to the increased organic pollution.