Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination due to Anthropogenic Activities in Shivganga Pond and Nandan Pahar Pond of Deoghar District, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly facing contamination of heavy metals due to unwarranted anthropogenic activities, particularly in urban and semi-urban regions of India. The present study investigates the seasonal variation in selected heavy metal concentrations—Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn)—in two culturally important ponds of Deoghar district, Jharkhand: Shivganga Pond and Nandan Pahar Pond, over four quarters: July 2024, October 2024, January 2025, and April 2025. Water samples were analyzed using standard APHA protocols, and the findings were compared across seasons to evaluate the degree of contamination and the potential influence of human activities such as holy dips, idol immersion, tourism, and domestic runoff. The results revealed elevated levels of Pb (3.33–31.1 µg/L), Cu (3.98–26.55 µg/L), and Mn (0.05–0.34 µg/L) in Shivganga Pond, particularly after major religious festivals, exceeding the BIS and WHO permissible limits of 0.01 mg/L for Pb, 1.0 mg/L for Cu, and 0.1 mg/L for Mn. In contrast, Nandan Pahar Pond showed comparatively lower or undetectable levels for most metals, with Pb ranging between 3.33–31.1 µg/L and Cu between 03.98–26.55 µg/L, reflecting reduced anthropogenic pressure. Seasonal analysis indicated a statistically significant variation (p < 0.05) in heavy metal concentrations between post-festival and pre-festival periods. The study highlights the urgent need for continuous monitoring and implementation of sustainable waterbody management strategies in religious and urban landscapes to mitigate anthropogenic contamination and safeguard aquatic ecology.