Water quality and eutrophication status of the Renuka lake, district Sirmaur (H.P.)

Abstract

The regular monitoring and assessment of lake water quality and its eutrophication is very important for proper conservation and management purposes. Water quality monitoring and analysis of the Renuka lake was carried out for various physico-chemical, bacteriological and trace elements during 2006 to 2008. The principal component analysis of 26 water quality parameters was performed which reveals seven principal components (eigen values greater than 1) explaining 86% of variability. These components are: (i) TDS, (ii) Hardness, (iii) Bacteriological (FC & TC), (iv) Eutrophication (Phosphate, Nitrate), (v) Dissolved Oxygen, (vi) Cadmium, and (vii) BOD, respectively. The lake water quality was assessed as per BIS standards for drinking purpose, which has shown the mean concentration of total coliform, faecal coliform, iron, manganese, lead and cadmium beyond the permissible limits for drinking purpose. The eutrophication of the Renuka lake follows a decreasing trend from hypertrophic to eutrophic indicating necessity of regular measures for conservation and restoration.