5-Water balance study water quality analysis and management plan for Sagar Lake

Abstract

The Sagar lake is situated in the heart of Sagar city of Madhya Pradesh and is two hundred years old with an artificial origin. Today, this lake is facing the same problems being faced by other lakes in India such as deterioration in the water quality, diminishing lake life, spreading of water borne diseases, encroachment of lake area and inflow of pollutants. In this paper, the water balance study of Sagar lake is carried out using the mass balance equation to account for various input and output components. The lake has periphery of 5230 m with maximum length 1247 m and width 1207 m. Mean depth of the lake is 2.69 m and maximum depth is 5.0 m at its full tank volume of 389 ha-m. The water quality study is carried out through physico-chemical analysis of the lake water by collecting samples from 21 locations of the lake at three different depths. The analysis of water quality parameters indicates the deteriorating condition of Sagar lake. The management plan for Sagar lake includes suggestions for diversion of wastewater, laying sewer line and treatment plant, lake aeration, minimizing nutrient input, partial dredging, sluice gate operation and construction of silt traps, cattle entry control, fencing of shoreline, catchment treatment plant to reduce sedimentation in lake, aquatic plant control and vegetation restoration, fish removal, restocking and wildlife habitat enhancement, development of institutional capability and public awareness.