26-Aspects of reservoirs water quality : Monitoring and assessment of pollution level

Abstract

The water quality of lakes and reservoirs is an important subject with respect to environmental pollution and community development. Lakes and reservoirs, being convenient water bodies of surface water are vulnerable to carious problems including eutrophication as they are used for variety of purposes like agriculture, domestic, industrial etc. Municipal waste water, industrial effluents and runoff from fertilized agricultural lands add nutrients that stimulate algal growth and degrades the water quality. The amount of light available is related to the transparency of water which is a function of level of eutrophication. Water quality Lab. Level-II, Nagpur established under Hydrology Project (Surface Water) is monitoring the water quality of four reservoirs viz. Upper Wardha, Pench, Katepurna & Chapdoh since 2006 for major physical, chemical & biological parameters like solids, nutrients ( N, P, etc ), minerals ( Na, K, CI etc ), organic load ( BOD ) and microbial parameters ( coliforms ) The paper includes water quality data collected, analysed & interpreted in the context of seasonal variations in the water quality of reservoirs and the assessment of pollution level with suitability of the water for various intended uses. The suggestions for preserving the water quality of the reservoirs with reference to the parameters under consideration are also included in the paper.