Impact of Major Pollution Sources on the Water Quality of the Yamuna River: An Assessment of Remediation Strategies and Public Perception
Khushi Chahal
31/08/2026
The Yamuna River is one of the most polluted rivers of India. It is facing severe environmental degradation due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. Levels of pollution continue to rise despite substantial financial investments and initiatives like the Yamuna Action Plan, posing a significant threat to human health, biodiversity, and water security.
This study reviews the major sources of pollution affecting the quality of Yamuna water. Along with that, it also addresses both current remediation strategies and public perceptions towards the crisis. Additionally, it tracks decadal water quality trends and community awareness using secondary environmental data and a survey of 55 respondents.
The analysis has used secondary data from various environmental reports and websites, government publications, and other research studies. However, the data are correlated with people's perception. It demonstrates severe environmental failure between 2015 and 2025, in which Dissolved Oxygen (DO) decreased to 0.0 mg/L, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) increased from 35 mg/L to 70 mg/L, and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) increased by more than 123%, indicating severe deterioration in water quality and oxygen depletion in the studied river stretch. Survey results strongly reflect these scientific trends, with the public perceiving the river as very polluted, therefore lacking confidence in government efforts due to poor enforcement and monitoring of infrastructure.
Ultimately, these findings have highlighted that the recovery of the Yamuna relies heavily on reconciling the gap between best practices and policy. It can be achieved through strict disciplinary enforcement, improved sewage infrastructure, and collective community awareness and participation.