In which year, were the total faecal coliform levels from Gangothri to Diamond harbour, high?

Correct option is B

Coliform bacteria:

·        These are present in the environment and faeces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.

·        Coliform bacteria are unlikely to cause illness. However, their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system.

·        Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply.

·        There are three different groups of coliform bacteria; each has a different level of risk,

o   Total coliform,

o   fecal coliform, and

o   E. coli

·        Total coliforms include bacteria found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water, and inhuman or animal waste.

·        The level of total coliform bacteria was measured at 34000 MPN/100ML while the level of faecal coliform bacteria was 22000 MPN/100ML in the Ganga water.

·        Fecal coliform levels in the Ganga river from Gangotri to Diamond Harbour were high in 2011. The levels were increasing in places like Rudraprayag and Devprayag, even in stretches that were highly oxygenated. This suggested that there was not enough flow to dilute the water.