Water Quality Determination and Modelling of Natural Lakes

Abstract

Water is an essential commodity for humans, plants and animals. Many civilizations have settled along the banks of rivers; confirming water to be an important part of daily requirements. There are large numbers of water resources available on earth but not all are fit for consumption. The qualities of the available water resources are dependent on natural as well as on different anthropogenic factors. These factors affect the quality of water, which in turn are affected both spatially and temporally; hencean enhanced quality determination is the need of the hour. In this context, the current study focusses on determination of Designated Best Use representing current usage status, pollution source identification, quantification of existing water quality through conventional and proposed Water Quality Indices, evaluation of characteristics of water, soil and sediments through spectroscopic analysis, determination of complete water quality status spatially and temporally through modelling techniques and evaluation of best remediation techniques for Tehsil for two study lakes of Panchkula district in State of Haryana. The main aim of the study is to generatebaseline information about the current practices at the study sites leading to the problem of pollution and suggest suitable remediation techniques after evaluation of the complete scenario. newlineThe evaluation of the present usable status of the water was done using the Designated Best Use (DBU) technique based on guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The main aim of the technique was to evaluate the usage of the water body based on certain set of predefined parameters and their comparison with standards prescribed for usage by CPCB. The twin lakes considered for the study were found to be fit for usage with treatment, for fisheries and development of wildlife, for irrigation and bathing but were unfit for direct usage mainly due to slightly high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) concentrations of 2.1 mg/L to 2.3 mg/L which exceeded the values of 2 mg/L