Research Journal of Recent Sciences _________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502 Vol. 4(IVC-2015), 1-2 (2015) Res. J. Recent. Sci. International Science Congress Association       
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Short Communication Analysis of Water after Holi Festival Vartak Sheetal Viva College, Virar, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 31st March 2015, revised 22nd April 2015, accepted 28th May 2015 AbstractIn the past, the use of natural colours such as Haldi, Kumkum, Sandal Powder, etc to celebrate Holi festival had a medical significance. However, now a day chemically produced industrial dyes have been used to take their place in the most parts of India. Lack of control over the quality and content of these synthetic colours leads to an adverse effect on all living beings. These colours are highly structured polymers and are very difficult to decompose biologically. The use of heavy metal based colour pigments is reported to cause water pollution. Many times, this polluted water gets mixed with sea water or other water resources. All these combined together is proving to be a substantial environmental threat. This study was taken up with an initiative to determine the extent of effects that the Holi colours have on water and to suggest the alternatives in order to save our environment. In this study the sample of waste water after Holi was tested in the laboratory for different physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, colour, turbidity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, heavy metal using standard methods. The results obtained were verified with permissible limits of World Health Organisation (WHO) in order to determine the effect of Holi colours on water and the calculated risk for all living beings. Keywords: Hoil, natural colours, synthetic colours, water pollution, substantial environmental threat, physico-chemical parameters, permissible limits of WHO. Introduction 
India is a nation of festivals. In the month of March people 
celebrate Holi all over India. It is also known as festival of 
colours. There is Holika Bonfire in the evening of a day before 
Holi. The next day morning people play and colour each other 
with dry powder and coloured water. 
 
Traditional Holi was celebrated with natural colours. But now a 
day chemically produced industrial dyes are used to celebrate
Holi. These colours are openly sold without any information 
about their nature, purity, toxicity, etc. They cause water 
pollution and environmental problems. They are very harmful 
for human beings as well as for plants because these colours 
interfere with passage of sunlight into stream and hence reduce 
photosynthetic activity. They also prevents absorption of 
oxygen into water. Perceptible colours caused more problems 
because of invisible contamination. When these synthetic 
colours get mixed with river water or any surface water system, 
it results in inhibition of microbial activity and consequent 
reduction in the rate constant of biological processes. The 
ground water systems are also affected by these pollutions 
because of leaching from the soil. Water is the basic need for all 
living beings on the earth. It is indispensable for human beings. 
 
The aim of this study was to create an awareness among people 
regarding hazardous effects of synthetic colours used to 
celebrate Holi and also to suggest healthier practices for a safe 
and eco friendly Holi. Method and Materials The water sample was collected in a plastic bottle, a day after celebration of Holi festival from a pit to which drained all the waste water from a building in Mumbai. Some colours might have absorbed into the soil. The sample of waste water was analysed in the laboratory for different physico-chemical parameters such pH, total hardness, total dissolved solids, turbidity, colour and heavy metal using standard methods. The sophisticated and validated instruments like pH meter, Colorimeter, Nephelometer, Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer, etc. were used to perform this analysis. The calibrated apparatus and chemicals of analytical reagent grade were used to get more accurate results. The results are depicted in table-1. pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water. It was measured using a digital pH meter. 
Total hardness of water depends on the concentration of 
multivalent cations in the water especially calcium and 
magnesium ions. It was determined by titrating a known volume 
of sample water against 0.01N EDTA solution using 
Eriochrome Black T as an indicator. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) content in water is also an 
important parameter. It was determined by filtering a known 
volume of sample water and evaporating it to dryness in a 
Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502Vol. 4(IVC-2015), 1-2 (2015) Res. J. Recent. Sci.  International Science Congress Association           
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previously weighed evaporating dish. It was then dried in a 
drying oven at 180 degree for 1 hour to get a constant weight. 
Turbidity is the cloudiness of a fluid caused by large numbers of 
particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye. The 
measurement of turbidity is a very importantant test of water 
quality. It was measured using Nephelometer. 
The colour of water is also an important property. The colour of 
sample water was determined by using colorimeter. The 
wavelength of maximum absorbance for sample water was 
determined by measuring the absorbance values at different 
wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm. The concentration of heavy metal Chromium (Cr) in sample water was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The standards of concentration 5 mg/l to 20 mg/l were used for measurement. Table-1 Parameter Sample reading Method 
Ph 6.36 Digital pH meter 
Total Hardness 720ppm Titration 
TDS 2400 mg/l Filteration & Evaporation 
Turbidity 11.7 NTU Nephelometer 
Colour Violet Colorimeter 
Heavy metal(Cr) 0.200 mg/l Atomic Absoption Spectrophotometer(AAS)  
ResultS and Discussion This study showed the impact of synthetic colours used during Holi on water. The physico-chemical parameters of sample water were studied extensively. pH is an extremely important parameter. The pH of sample water was 6.36. According to WHO guidelines the permissible limit for drinking water is 6.5 to 8.5. The decrease in pH also affects the chemical reactions in aquatic environment. The total hardness of sample water was calculated as 720 ppm which is quite higher than the permissible limit of 10-500 ppm for drinking water. A variety of diseases are correlated with the 
hardness of water, including various types of cancer. Total 
hardness of water is also very important to fish culture. The TDS of sample water was found to be 2400 mg/l which is exceeding the permissible limit of 500-1000 mg/l for drinking water and 2000 mg/l for irrigation water. As TDS of water increases, it causes increase in the density of water, decrease in the solubility of gases (like oxygen) and hence decrease in utility of water for drinking, irrigational, and industrial purposes. The turbidity of sample water was recorded to be 11.7 NTU whereas according to WHO guidelines the turbidity of drinking 
water should not exceed 5 NTU. As the turbidity level in 
drinking water increases, the risk that people may develop 
gastrointestinal diseases also increases. In water bodies like 
lakes, rivers, the amount of light reaching lower depths gets 
reduced due to higher turbidity level of water. This in turn can 
reduce growth of submerged aquatic plants and consequently 
the species which are dependent on them, such as fish and 
shellfish are affected. The ability of fish gills to absorb 
dissolved oxygen is also affected by higher turbidity. The colour of sample water was found to be violet. Colour interferes with passage of sunlight into stream and hence reduces photosynthetic activity. It also prevents absorption of oxygen into water. The concentration of heavy metal Chromium in the sample water was 0.200 mg/l which is again high and may cause serious health hazards. Conclusion Thus due to the synthetic colours of Holi in sample water the physico-chemical parameters of the water collected for this analysis purpose were changed cosiderably. Synthetic colours prove to be polluting water and creating environmental problems. Hence there is an urgent need to put a control on manufacturing and quality of these colours. Safe natural colours derived from natural sources such as vegetables, leaves and flowers should be used. The large scale wastage of water during Holi celebration is also an issue of concern. Therefore people should be encouraged to play dry Holi. References  1.Joy Joseph Gandner and Deepanjali Lal, Impact of Holi on the environment: A scientific study (2012)2.Environmental pollution Rajogopalan S., (2012)3.WHO, World Health Organisation Guidelines for drinking water quality (2012)4.True colours of herbal Holi Lalchandani N., (2012)