Level of ammonia in Yamuna water

High levels of ammonia (3 ppm) were recently detected in the Yamuna River.
The acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water, as per the Bureau of Indian Standards, is 0.5 ppm.
Ammonia is a colourless gas and is used as an industrial chemical in the production of fertilisers, plastics, synthetic fibres, dyes and other products.
- It consists of hydrogen and nitrogen. In its aqueous form, it is called ammonium hydroxide.
- This inorganic compound has a pungent smell.
- Occurrence: Ammonia occurs naturally in the environment from the breakdown of organic waste matter.
- It is lighter than air.
- If the concentration of ammonia in water is above 1 ppm it is toxic to fishes.
The river Yamuna is a major tributary of river Ganges.
Originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
It meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.