Assessment of Limnological Parameters and Water Quality Indices of Harike Wetland (Ramsar Site), Punjab (India)

Onkar Singh Brraich¹, Navpreet Kaur^1, and Saima Akhter¹

¹Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala-147002, (Punjab), India

Cite this paper:
Onkar Singh Brraich, Navpreet Kaur and Saima Akhter. Assessment of Limnological Parameters and Water Quality Indices of Harike Wetland (Ramsar Site), Punjab (India). Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2021; 9(6):591-598. doi: 10.12691/aees-9-6-3

Abstract

Study on water quality parameters of Harike Wetland, Punjab was conducted from June 2018 to August 2019 at three representative sites: Site 1, Site 2, Site 3 and mean value was calculated. The study period was divided into various seasons: Rainy (June to August), Autumn (September to November), Winter (December to February), Spring (March to Mid April) and Summer (Mid April to end June). The different water quality parameters include: water temperature, pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, nitrates and phosphates. The average values of all parameters were compared with ISI, ICMR and WHO standards for drinking water quality. Correlation coefficient between various physico-chemical parameters was recorded using Pearson Correlation analysis. High Impact of pollution load from various sources on seasonal variations and water quality parameters were observed especially on pH, nitrates and phosphates. pH showed significant negative correlation with all other water quality parameters except phosphates. However, water temperature (except DO), alkalinity, TDS and nitrates represented significant positive correlation with all other physico-chemical parameters. The water quality values were observed to be 53.56 thus, it can be concluded that overall water quality at Harike wetland is “Poor” due to human activities and pollution load (industrial effluents) which affect its quality and quantity. The inadequate availability of freshwater resources can pose serious threat to aquatic biodiversity and render its unfit for human consumption.

Keywords:
wetland water quality index seasonal variation pollution status

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Clarkson, B.R., Ausseil, A.E. and Gerbeaux, P, Wetland ecosystem services: Ecosystem services in New Zealand- conditions and trends, (Ed. Dymond, J.R.) Manaaki Whenua press, Lincoln, New Zealand, 2013.
[2]	Joyce, C, “Preface: Wetland services and management”, Hydrobiologia, 692: 1-3. 2012.
[3]	Bassi, N., Kumar, M.D., Sharma, A. and Saradhi, P.P, “Status of wetlands in India: A review of extent, ecosystem benefits, threats and management strategies”, Journal of hydrology: Regional studies, 2: 1-19. 2014.
[4]	Chopra, R., Verma, V.K. and Sharma, P.K, “Mapping, monitoring and conservation of Harike Wetland ecosystem, Punjab, India through remote sensing”, International Jornal of Remote Sensing, 22: 89-98. 2001.
[5]	Pappa, J.S.S., Lenin, T., Sundaram, A.A and Kumar, S.P, “Biochemical Changes in estuarine fish Mugil cephalus exposed to industrial effluent”, International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, 3(1): 46-49. 2016.
[6]	Halls, A.J, Wetlands biodiversity and Ramsar convention: The role of convention on wetland in the conservation and wise use of biodiversity. Ramsar convention Bureau, Gland, Switzerland, 1997.
[7]	Ladhar, S.S, “Status of ecological health of wetlands in Punjab, India”, Aquatic Ecosystem Health Management, 5: 457-465. 2002.
[8]	Brraich, O.S. and Jangu, S, “Some aspects of reproductive biology on effect of heavy metal pollution on the histopathological structure of gonads in Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan) from Harike wetland, India”, International. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 7: 9-14. 2015.
[9]	Jaidka, A, “Impact of Buddha Nullah pollution on reproductive health of fish in river Sutlej”, M.Sc. Thesis, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, 2017.
[10]	Mabwoga, S.O. and Thukral, A.K, “Characterization of change in the Harike Wetland, a Ramsar Site in India, using landsat satellelite data”, Springer plus, 3(576): 1-11. 2014.
[11]	Tivedi, R.K. and Goel, P.K, Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies, Environmental Publications, India, 1984.
[12]	APHA, Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 21st (ed.). New York: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association & Water Environment Federation, 2012.
[13]	WHO, International Standards for Drinking Water, Geneva, World Health Organization, 1992.
[14]	ISI, Indian standard methods for sampling and test (physical and chemical) for water used in industry, Mank Bhawan, Indian Standard Institute, India, 1973.
[15]	ICMR, Manual of standards of quality for drinking water supplies, New Delhi: ICMR, 1975.
[16]	Brown, R.M., Mc Cleiland, N.J., Deininger, R.A. and Connor, M.F, A water quality index- crossing the psycho- logical barrier, (Ed. Jenkis, S.H.), in International Conference on water Pollution Research, Jerusalem, 6: 787-797.1972.
[17]	Barman, D., Ray, B. and Roy, S, “Seasonal variation of physico-chemical characteristics of wetland in the West Gharo Hill, Meghalaya, India”, International Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4(1): 60-65. 2015.
[18]	Ansari, N.A, “Seasonal variation in the physico-chemical characteristics of water samples of Surajpur wetland, national capital region, India”, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 971-987.2017.
[19]	Barot, C. and Patel, V, “Comparative study of seasonal variation in physico-chemical properties of selected wetlands of Mehsana districts, north Gujrat, India”, Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(7): 44-47.2014.
[20]	Ora, A.E.L., Abuom, P.O., Owiti, D.O. and Malala, J.O, “Influence of artisanal fishing gears on physico-chemical parameters of Ferguson’s Gulf in lake Turkana, Kenya”, Scholar Academic Journal of Biosciences, 3(12): 1005-1013. 2015.
[21]	Naili, S., Boucheker, A., Gherib, A., Djelloul, R. and Lazli, A, “Seasonal variation in physico-chemical characteristics and load contamination of lake Tonga and their effects on waterbird populations”, Ukarainian Journal of Ecology, 11(1): 103-112. 2021.
[22]	Kumar, S.R., Radhakrishnan, K., Aanana, S. and Rajaram, R, “Influence of physico-chemical water quality on aquatic macrophyte diversity in seasonal wetlands”, Applied Water Science, 9(12): 2-8. 2019.
[23]	Vidya, V., Sumathy, K. and Prasad, G, “The effect of Sea-food processing discharge on nearby wetland in Cherthala, Aroor- Edakochi coastal belt of Kerela, India”, Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 13(2): 235-244.2014.
[24]	Tadesse, M., Segaye, T. and Girma, G, “Assessment of the level of some physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of Rebu river in Oromia region, Ethopia”, Biology and Medicine, 3(3): 99-118. 2018.
[25]	Chatanga, P., Ntuli, V., Mugomeri, E., Keketsi, T. and Chikuwore, N.V.T, “physico-chemical, biochemical and microbiological quality of water along Mohokare river, Lesotho”, Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 45(1): 45-51. 2019.
[26]	Rout, K.S., Shinde, S.E. Pathan, T.S. and Sonawane, D.L, “Seasonal variation in physico-chemical characteristics of Ravivar Peth lake at Ambajogai district Beed Marathwada region, India”, Journal of Research in Biology, 4: 258-262. 2011.
[27]	Akhter, S. and Brraich, O.S, “Saptial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton from Ropar Wetland (Ramsar Site) Punjab, India”, Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 8(1): 25-33. 2020.
[28]	Akhter, S. and Brraich, O.S, “Physico-chemical analysis of fresh water of Ropar Wetland (Ramsar Site), India”, Current World Environment, 15(1): 117-126. 2020.
[29]	Brraich, O.S. and Kaur, R, “Assessment of physico-chemical parameters and water quality index of Nangal Wetland, Punjab (India)”, Journal of Environment Bio-Science, 29(1): 33-39. 2015.
[30]	Brraich, O.S. and Saini, S.K, “Water quality index of Ranjit Sagar Wetland situated on the Ravi river of Indus river system”, International Journal of Advanced Research, 3(12): 1498-1509. 2015.
[31]	Sen, S., Paul, M.K. and Borah, M, “Study of some Physico-Chemical Parameters of Pond and River water with reference to Correlation Study”, International Journal of. ChemTech Research, 3(4): 1802-1807. 2011.
[32]	Kamboj, N. and Kamboj, V, “Water quality assessment using overall index of pollution in riverbed-mining area of Ganga-River, Haridwar, India”, Water Science, 33(1): 65-74. 2019.
[33]	Dhembare, A.J, Statistical approaches for computing diversity and density of zooplankton with water factors in Mula Dam, Rahuri, MS, India, European Journal of Experimental Biology, 1(2): 68-76. 2011.
[34]	Parmar, K. and Parmar, V, “Evaluation of water quality index for drinking purposes of river Subernarekha in Singhbhum District”, International Journal of Environment Sciences, 1(1): 77-81. 2010.
[35]	Sharma, S., Dixit, S., Jain, P., Shah, K. W. and Vishwakarma, R, “Statistical evaluation of hydrobiological parameters of Narmada River water at Hoshangabad City, India”, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 143, 195-202. 2008.
[36]	Nollet, L.M.L, Handbook of Water Analysis, Marcel Dekker, New York, Basel, 2000.
[37]	Khadade, S.A. and Mule, M.B, “Studies on physicochemical parameter of pundit water reservoir from Tasgaon Tashil”, International Journal of Environmental Protection, 23(9): 1003-1007. 2003.
[38]	Chatterji, C. and Raziuddin, M, “Determination of water quality index (WQI) of a degraded river in Asanol Industrial area, Raniganj, Burdwan, West Bengal”, Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 1(2): 181-189. 2002.
[39]	Jindal, R. and Sharma, C, “Studies on water quality of Sutlej river around Ludhiana with reference to physico-chemical parameters”, Environment Monitoring Assessment, 174: 417-425. 2011.