IntroductionHeavy metals are considered as primary pollutants due to its toxicity and mobility in natural water system. Among the various heavy metals, cadmium is considered as extremely toxic and carcinogenic to human beings. Cadmium is non-biodegradable heavy metal persists in environment for a long time causing harmful effects to aquatic ecosystem even at a very low concentration in water [1,2]. In natural water bodies, the major anthropogenic sources of cadmium contamination that include discharge of wastes and effluent from industries such as metallurgical processes, electroplating, plastics manufacturing, battery manufacturing, pesticide and fertilizer industry and mines [3,4]. Past events like Itai-Itai disease at Toyama Prefecture in Japan showed the extent of health effects due to the contamination of cadmium in water [5]. The cadmium contamination also causes the health effects for instance high blood pressure, bone fraction, destruction of RBCs, reproductive toxicity, hepatic effects and immunological effects [6,7]. The permissible limit of cadmium in drinking water is 0.003 mg/L as guided by World Health Organization (WHO) [8].Several treatment technologies are available for removal of cadmium from water like chemical precipitation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, membrane filtration, electrolysis etc.[9] but these treatment technologies have found to be expensive, high chemical demanding and least efficient to remove cadmium at low initial concentration. In recent years, biosorption is found to be a promising method than that of other methods as it is non-expensive, easily operational, regenerable and ecofriendly method [10][11][12][13]. Removal of cadmium at low initial concentration has wide applications for treatment of cadmium contaminated water and can effectively acts as a finishing treatment in effluent treatment plants to reduce cadmium level bellow discharge limits of stipulated standards.Various types of agricultural waste materials like rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, saw dust, brazil nutshell, grape stack, mango peels and coconut copra meal etc. are studied as an adsorbent for removal of cadmium and other heavy metal ions from water and waste water [5,12,14]. In literature, it is reported that functional groups like carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphate, thio and amino present on the walls of agricultural waste AbstractThe use of Dried banana peels as an adsorbent for removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions has been studied. Batch experiments have been conducted at different concentrations to evaluate the maximum adsorption capacity of Dried banana peels. The influence of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose was investigated at room temperature. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models used to test equilibrium of adsorption. The process of adsorption was found to be fast and equilibrium has been reached in within 2 hours. The maximum adsorption capacity of cadmium on Dried banana peels is 5.91 mg/g, evaluated by Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-...

Water quality evaluation of Kanhan river and its tributaries viz. Pench and Nag rivers was carried out in order to assess the qualitative changes and possibility of point and non-point pollution loads in these rivers for the post monsoon and summer seasons. pH, turbidity, conductivity, total alkalinity and total hardness were found in the range 7.18.7, 0.835 (NTU), 227970 (microScm(-1)), 7.18.7, 158486 (mg/L) and 142246 (mg/L), respectively. Ca, Mg, Na and K were in the range 2462, 1328, 15183 and 333 mg/L, respectively. The respective ranges of Cl, SO(4), NO(3) and PO(4) were observed between 19102, 823, 332 and 0.11.4 mg/L. DO and COD in the rivers ranged between nil to 8.5 and 7172 mg/L, respectively. Absence of DO and higher COD in Nag river is due to its sewage content from Nagpur city. Nag river showed higher bacterial counts than Kanhan and Pench rivers. The temporal and spatial variability in the river water quality may be attributed to catchment characteristics, agricultural and urban activities in catchment and on the bank of the river. The values of RSC, ESP and SAR indicated that the water of Kanhan and Pench rivers are suitable, whereas that of Nag river is unsuitable for irrigation purpose.

The water treatment plant at the Hingna industrial area receives raw water from Ambazari Lake and supplies drinking water to industrial area, after conventional treatment. The treated water was found to have a pungent odour and yellow colour, which in turn changed from a brown to black precipitate. The water becomes aesthetically unacceptable to consumers. It was observed that a blackish precipitate formation was due to the presence of iron and manganese in lake water, which was not completely removed during treatment. To remove iron and manganese from drinking water, treatment studies were carried out with chlorine and KMnO 4 as oxidants. Alum and lime were added for coagulation and pH correction. Jar test studies revealed that treatment with potassium permanganate at pH 7.7-8.0 was effective in the removal of iron, manganese and organics, which were responsible for causing colour and odour to water. The studies helped in improvements in water quality for safe drinking water supply.

Water and soil are the most essential natural resources for socioeconomic development and sustenance of life. A study of soil and water dynamics at a watershed level facilitates a scientific approach towards their conservation and management. Remote sensing and Geographic Information System are tools that help to plan and manage natural resources on watershed basis. Studies were conducted for the formulation of catchment area treatment plan based on watershed prioritization with soil erosion studies using remote sensing techniques, corroborated with Geographic Information System (GIS), secondary data and ground truth information. Estimation of runoff and sediment yield is necessary in prioritization of catchment for the design of soil conservation structures and for identifying the critical erosion-prone areas of a catchment for implementation of best management plan with limited resources. The Universal Soil Loss Equation, Sediment Yield Determination and silt yield index methods are used for runoff and soil loss estimation for prioritization of the catchments. On the basis of soil erosion classes, the watersheds were grouped into very high, high, moderate and low priorities. High-priority watersheds need immediate attention for soil and water conservation, whereas low-priority watershed having good vegetative cover and low silt yield index may not need immediate attention for such treatments.

An assessment of the water quality has been carried out to explore the water quality index (WQI) of Chenab river and its tributaries in Jammu Kashmir (India). Fourteen water samples from Chenab river and its tributaries at various locations were collected and analyzed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. Nine parameters i.e. BOD, DO, fecal coliforms, nitrate, pH, temperature change, TDS, total phosphate and turbidity were considered for calculating the WQI based on National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) information system. The WQI showed good water quality, except Bichleri stream water indicating that water of Chenab river and its tributaries are least polluted and is suitable for drinking after conventional treatment. The WQI rating of Bichleri stream water is medium as it carries wastewater and may not be useful for domestic use without treatment.