Self Purification of a Freshwater Stream

Running water is capable of purifying itself with distances This is the ability of rivers to purify itself of sewage or other wastes naturally Processes which work as rivers move downstream can be
in the form of dilution of polluted water with influx of surface and groundwater through certain complex hydrologic, biologic and chemical processes such as
Sedimentation Coagulation Volatilization Precipitation

biological uptake of pollutants

Factors affecting the extent of self purification

level of river river velocity amount of inorganic compound distribution and types of aquatic weeds

Effect of seasonal variation

Owing to the increased rate of oxidation of organic matter due to greater bacterial activity, and the removal of ammonia due to plant development, the process of purification will operate more rapidly during the warmer months On the other hand, if the river-water be overcharged with sewage, the nuisance may be greater in the summer months than in the winter, as the increased rate of oxidation may lead to deoxygenation of the water