Have you ever wondered about the quality of the water flowing through the Musi River in Hyderabad? If you're from the city or have driven past the river, you’ve probably noticed the difference in how it looks in different areas, sometimes clean, often not. Well, a group of researchers from top Indian institutions decided to find out exactly what's going on with the Musi River by studying its water quality across different seasons and locations.
The Musi River, a tributary of the mighty Krishna, isn't just any river. It’s an important water source for Hyderabad and has played a big role in the city’s history. It once provided drinking water, helped with farming (irrigation), and supported the ecosystem. But with rapid urban growth, industrial development, and unplanned construction, things have taken a turn for the worse.
Today, the river is severely polluted in many parts, especially after entering the city. The water is often smelly, dark, and full of waste. So, the researchers, Iqbal Khan, Ajmal Koya Pulikkal, Mohammad Zakwan, and Ricky Lalthazuala, set out to understand how bad the situation really is and whether there’s still hope for the Musi.
Their recent study, "Spatial and seasonal assessment of water quality of Musi River, India" published in Cleaner Water (Volume 3, June 2025), is a comprehensive analysis that shows the river's water is currently unfit for human consumption and poses significant risks to public health and the environment.
The findings underscore a global environmental concern: the degradation of surface water quality, which contributes to the scarcity of potable water and has severe public health implications, including waterborne illnesses and chemical contamination.
The crisis unveiled: A deeper look at pollution
The researchers meticulously assessed twenty-seven water quality parameters by collecting samples from four key stations along the river—Osman Sagar (upstream), Bapughat, Musarambagh (middle stream), and Nagole (downstream)—during post-monsoon, monsoon, and pre-monsoon seasons from December 2020 to August 2021. They employed widely recognised indices such as the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI), Nemerow's Pollution Index (NPI), irrigation indices like Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Kelley's Index (KI), and Piper's trilinear diagram to judge the water's suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes.
The results are stark: while Osman Sagar, the man-made reservoir built in 1920 to control floods and provide water, consistently showed "good" water quality with WAWQI values ranging between 28 and 50, the situation drastically deteriorates downstream. At Bapughat, Musarambagh, and Nagole, WAWQI values soared well over 100, unequivocally classifying the water as "unfit for consumption" according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Even during the monsoon season, when dilution might be expected to improve conditions, Nagole's water quality was still deemed "very poor."
What is polluting the Musi River?
One of the biggest reasons the Musi River is in such bad shape is the uncontrolled dumping of untreated or only partially treated wastewater. This includes everything from household sewage to industrial chemicals and even runoff from farms. In simple terms, we’re putting way too much dirty water into the river without cleaning it.
The study's NPI analysis pinpoints Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) as major contributors to pollution across all stations and seasons, except Osman Sagar. High COD levels indicate a massive influx of oxidizable matter into the river, which in turn depletes dissolved oxygen (DO)—a critical parameter for aquatic life.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) was another significant pollutant, especially in the middle and downstream sections. Elevated BOD levels consume vital oxygen, threatening the survival of aquatic organisms and potentially causing unpleasant odours in the water. Other major pollutants identified include high concentrations of sodium, potassium, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), and Total Alkalinity (TA). Calcium and magnesium also contributed to pollution in certain areas and seasons, possibly due to geological factors like limestone rocks in the catchment.
The stark difference between upstream and downstream water quality can be attributed directly to human activities. Osman Sagar benefits from minimal anthropogenic impact in its catchment area. However, the higher population density downstream, particularly in Bapughat, Musarambagh, and Nagole, leads to the direct discharge of untreated domestic sewage and organic waste, exacerbating pollution levels.
This pollution is a direct consequence of Hyderabad's rapid urban expansion. A land use/land cover (LULC) analysis revealed a 48% reduction in water bodies, a 38% decrease in vegetation, and a 31% decline in agricultural land between 2000 and 2019, while built-up areas surged by almost 50%. This unsustainable growth has profoundly impacted the quantity and quality of the city's water resources.
Beyond drinking: The impact on agriculture
The Musi River's deterioration also has significant implications for agriculture in Telangana, where farming is a primary occupation, with farmers relying on river water for cash crops like rice, sugarcane, and cotton. The study assessed the water's suitability for irrigation using SAR and Kelley’s Index. High sodium content, for instance, can decrease soil permeability, hinder water and nutrient absorption by plants, and make the soil alkaline. While the specific findings for irrigation suitability are detailed in the full paper, the overall pollution trends indicate a looming threat to agricultural productivity and food security if the river's water quality continues to decline.
The call to action: Recommendations and the way forward
The study concludes with an urgent call for a long-term, integrated management plan and consistent monitoring to protect and restore the Musi River. The researchers emphasize the necessity of enhanced wastewater treatment facilities, stringent pollution control measures, and routine monitoring systems for effective water resource management.
Beyond technological solutions, the paper suggests exploring natural remedies such as bioremediation and artificial wetlands to aid in sustainable water quality restoration. Crucially, with heavy monsoons typical for Hyderabad (receiving approximately 810 mm of rain from June to September), stormwater management techniques must be prioritised to mitigate pollution loads during the wet season.
At a policy level, the study underscores the critical need for interagency cooperation and stronger enforcement of existing environmental laws. This includes drafting and implementing stricter regulations against illegal dumping and sewage discharge, which are currently rampant along the river. The insights provided by this research are vital for advancing scientific understanding of pollution's spatial and seasonal variations, thereby providing a foundational framework for successful river restoration projects and robust urban water management regulations.
The future of the Musi River, and by extension, the health and well-being of Hyderabad's residents, hinges on immediate and decisive action. As a city that has historically relied on this waterway, Hyderabad faces a critical juncture. Restoring the Musi is not merely an environmental endeavour but a crucial step towards ensuring a sustainable and healthy future for its growing population.