25-Water Quality and Suspended Sediment Concentration Analysis of the Gangotri Glacier Melt Water

Abstract

Availability of freshwater resources is essential for the survival of society and for the maintenance of natural ecosystems. Himalayas store a large quantity of fresh water in the form of snow and glaciers. Melt water from snow and glaciers is a valuable resource, which is utilised for drinking, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation and other industrial uses. Glacierised basins represent an ideal environment to study the water-rock interaction, chemical weathering processes and depositions from the atmosphere because anthropogenic impacts are minimal in the high altitude area (>4000m). Melt water quality and concentration of suspended sediment depends upon the configuration and dynamic nature of the sub-glacial hydrological system. Limited studies have been carried out to understand the water quality and sediment concentration in the melt water available in the high altitude region. The present analyses were made to determine the suspended sediment concentration and water quality parameters like pH, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, total solids, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate nitrogen, sulphate and potassium in the melt water near the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. The results show that concentration of suspended sediment changes significantly over the melt period. A comparison of the water quality parameters obtained at near Gomukh and Hardwar indicates a significant variation in few parameters.