Analysis of Water Quality of Pongdam, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Suman Sharma¹, Y. K. Walia²

¹Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India

²Career Point University, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

ABSTRACT:

Present investigation was carried out at Pongdam, also called as Maharana Partap Sagar, a wetland declared at Ramsar convention situated on the river Beas in Himachal Pradesh in India during the year 2014-15. The analysis of important water quality parameters. Physical and aggregate parameters such as alkalinity, conductivity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, turbidity, metals and non metals such as calcium magnesium, potassium, sodium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, chloride, fluoride, nitrate and biological parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD),chemical oxygen demand ( COD), coliforms and E.coli were analyzed during monsoon, winter and summer seasons. The analysis of data reveals that all the parameters under investigation were within the acceptable limits prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), 2012 and World Health Organization (WHO), 2011, excepting iron and lead were found to be higher than acceptable limits prescribed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 The Cadmium content of water at Pong dam, during Summer Season was 0.008±0.001 mg/L which was higher than 0.003 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011.

KEYWORDS: Water quality, parameters, BIS, WHO, pollution, Pongdam

INTRODUCTION:-

Pongdam, Kangra, District, H.P.(Between 31˚59^ʹ15.1116 N & 31˚59^ʹ54.9456 N) & (Between 76˚6^ʹ46.5768 E and 76˚0^ʹ55.5624 E) was primarily envisaged for meeting the irrigation water requirements of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Pongdamis also called as Beas dam, is a earth filled embarkment dam on river Beas built in 1974. The dam is 133 meter high and 1951 meter long. It has installed capacity of 360 MW, which was later on up graded to 396 MW. The dam has created a reservoir named as Maharana Partap Sagar, having 260 km² surface area and 12560 km² catchment area. Maharana Partap Sagar is a famous wild life sanctuary and is one of the 25 international wetland sites declared in India by Ramsar convention. The mean water spread of Pongdam is 15622 hectare [1]. Kangra being hilly and mountainous, most of rainfall goes waste as runoff. River Beas forms the major drainage system in district Kangra. The major tributaries of Beas in Kangra are Banerkhad, Banganga, Gajkhad and Chakkikhad. Kangra, Dharamsala, Nurpur and Dehra are main townships having sewerage system and waste water of sewage treatment plants is drained in to river Beas and finally in to Pongdam (Figure:1,2 and3).

Figure 1:Pollution problems of Pongdam (Solid waste disposal, sewage and waste water drainage on tthe bank of Pongdam).

Figure 2: Pollution problem of Pongdam (Extensive agricultural activities).

Sampling Schedule:-

To obtain the reliable estimates of the parameters under consideration, integrated dip and grab water samples water samples were collected from Pongdam seasonally at regular intervals as per following schedule.

Table 1: Sampling schedule at Pongdam during year 2014-15

Sr.No.	Sampling Season	Date of Collection			Time of Collection
		1^ST SAMPLE	2^ND SAMPLE	3^RD SAMPLE
1	Monsoon	03-08-2014	18-08-2014	02-09-2014	11 am
2	Winter	13-11-2014	28-11-2014	13-12-2014	11 am
3	Summer	04-05-2015	19-05-2015	03-06-2015	11 am

Figure 3: Pollution problem of Pongdam (Migratory birds).

Chain of Custody Procedure:

All information related to sampling was recorded in chain of custody forms, containing information of method, date and time of collection, date and time of preservation and type of preservative used. Labels were used to prevent sample misidentification. Labels included unique sample number. Self adhesive cloth seals were used to seal the samples.

Sampling Technique:

Integrated dip and grab water samples using multiple dip and grab method were collected from sampling station (Figure:4) at about 15 cm depth at surface from three points i.e. 1/3^rd, 1/2 and 2/3^rd of water across section of Pongdam [2].

Figure 4: Sample collection and Temperature recording at Pongdam.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

To obtain the reliable estimates of the parameters under consideration, water samples were collected from Pongdam seasonally at regular intervals.For monsoon season integrated dip and grab water samples were collected during the months of August and September 2014. For winter season integrated dip and grab water samples were collected during the months of November and December 2014. For summer season integrated dip and grab water samples were collected during the months of May and June 2015. The objective of sampling is to collect representative samples. Representative sample means, a sample in which relative concentration / proportion of all relative components are same as in the material being sampled. The samples were handled in such a way that no significant changes in composition occur before tests are undertaken. The sampling was small enough so that it can be transported easily and large enough for analytical purposes. Integrated dip and grab water samples using multiple dip and grab method were collected at about 15 cm depth at surface from three points i.e. 1/3^rd, 1/2 and 2/3^rd of water across section of Pongdam [3]. Some parameters such as Temperature, Turbidity, pH and Conductivity are affected by sample storage, hence these parameters were determined on the spot using appropriate instruments/equipments (Figure:3). To prevent/minimize the volatilization and biodegradation, samples were stored in thermo cool boxes at 4⁰C using ice packs. The samples were preserved with 3 ml Conc. HNO₃ /L for analysis of various parameters in the laboratory. For estimation of Iron, water sample were filtered through 0.45 micron membrane before preservation with 0.5 ml Conc. HCl /200ml of sample water [4]. The physico-chemical and biological analysis of the water samples was undertaken following the procedure described in Standard Methods, for examination of water and waste water (APHA, 2012) and other methods at Environtech Laboratory, Mohali, Punjab, India [5,6]. The laboratory is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing Calibration Laboratories. The analysis of water sample was broadly classified in to following four sections, Physical and Aggregate Properties, Metals, Non Metals and Biological parameters.

RESULTS:

The results of observations of monsoon season, 2014 i.e. from 03-08-2014 to 02-09-2014 in respect of Pongdam for each parameter under investigation is recorded in Table 2. The results of observations of winter season, 2014 i.e. from 13-11-2014 to 13-12-2014 in respect of Pongdam for each parameter under investigation is recorded in Table 3. The results of observations of summer season, 2015 i.e. from 04-05-2015 to 03-06-2015 in respect of Pongdam for each parameter under investigation is recorded in Table 4. The comparitive data of monsoon, winter and summer season along with comparision with BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 is presented in Table 5 [7,8]. The data of Pong dam, presented in Table 2 and the Conductivity and Temperature was found to be 203±2.828 µS/cm and 23.2±0.216⁰C respectively. Iron content was 1.14±0.008 mg/L, higher than 0.3mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and the Lead content was 0.0368±0.001 mg/L higher than 0.01 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011. The Coliforms and E. coli were present in water sample, where as BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 has proposed nil presence in drinking water. All other parameters under investigation were within the acceptable limits proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011. The data presented in Table 3 clearly exhibits that various parameters under investigation during Winter Season at Pong dam, were within the acceptable limits proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 for drinking water, excepting Lead. The Lead content recorded was 0.0259 mg/L, which was higher than 0.01 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011. The Coliforms and E. coli were present in water sample, where as BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 has proposed nil presence in drinking water.

Table 2: Water analysis results during Monsoon Season at Pongdam.

Sr.No.		Parameter	Unit	Time of collection	Date of collection			Mean Value	S.D.
					3/8/2014	18/8/2014	2/9/2014
(A) Physical Parameters and Aggregate Properties
1		Alkalinity	mg/L	11am	95	94	96	95	±	0.816
2		Conductivity	µS/cm	11am	201	201	207	203	±	2.828
3		pH	-	11am	7.05	7.07	7.09	7.07	±	0.016
4		Temperature	^°C	11am	23.4	23.3	22.9	23.2	±	0.216
5		TDS^*	mg/L	11am	129	130	131	130	±	0.816
6		Total Hardness	mg/L	11am	103	105	107	105	±	1.633
7		Turbidity	NTU	11am	0.4	1	0.7	0.7	±	0.245
(B) Metals
8	Calcium		mg/L	11am	31	32	32	31.67	±	0.471
9	Magnesium		mg/L	11am	5.9	6.1	6.3	6.1	±	0.163
10	Potassium		mg/L	11am	2.2	2.4	2.3	2.3	±	0.082
11	Sodium		mg/L	11am	5.4	5.3	5.5	5.4	±	0.082
12	Cadmium		mg/L	11am	0	0	0	0	±	0.000
13	Copper		mg/L	11am	0.0029	0.003	0.0031	0.003	±	0.000
14	Iron		mg/L	11am	1.13	1.14	1.15	1.14	±	0.008
15	Lead		mg/L	11am	0.0361	0.0363	0.038	0.0368	±	0.001
(C) Non Metals
16	Chloride		mg/L	11am	4.3	4.2	4.4	4.3	±	0.082
17	Fluoride		mg/L	11am	0	0	0	0	±	0.000
18	Nitrate		mg/L	11am	14	10.5	8.5	11	±	2.273
(D) Biological Parameters
19	BOD at 27^°C for 3 days**		mg/L	11am	0.9	0.7	0.5	0.7	±	0.163
20	COD***		mg/L	11am	2.1	1.9	1.7	1.9	±	0.163
21	Coliforms		P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P		-
22	Escherichia coli		P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P		-

*TDS - Total Dissolved Solids;   ** BOD - Biological Oxygen Demand; *** COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand; P/A - Present/Absent; S.D. – Standard Deviation

Table 3: Water analysis results during Post Monsoon Season (Winter) at Pongdam.

Sr.No.	Parameter	Unit	Time of collection	Date of collection			Mean Value			S.D.
				13/11/014	28/11/014	13/12/014
(A) Physical Parameters and Aggregate Properties
1	Alkalinity	mg/L	11am	71	74	77	74	±			2.449
2	Conductivity	µS/cm	11am	178	178	181	179	±			1.414
3	pH	-	11am	8.15	8.17	8.1	8.14	±			0.029
4	Temperature	^°C	11am	16.3	16	15.7	16	±			0.245
5	TDS^*	mg/L	11am	118	121	121	120	±			1.414
6	Total Hardness	mg/L	11am	75	76	77	76	±			0.816
7	Turbidity	NTU	11am	0.3	0.5	0.9	0.567	±			0.249
(B) Metals
8	Calcium	mg/L	11am	21	22	23	22	±			0.816
9	Magnesium	mg/L	11am	5	5	5.3	5.1	±			0.141
10	Potassium	mg/L	11am	1.8	1.8	2.1	1.9	±			0.141
11	Sodium	mg/L	11am	8.5	8.9	8.7	8.7	±			0.163
12	Cadmium	mg/L	11am	0	0	0	0	±			0.000
13	Copper	mg/L	11am	0.0007	0.0009	0.0011	0.0009	±			0.000
14	Iron	mg/L	11am	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.2	±			0.082
15	Lead	mg/L	11am	0.0257	0.0257	0.0263	0.0259	±			0.000
(C) Non Metals
16	Chloride	mg/L	11am	14.5	14.5	16	15		±		0.707
17	Fluoride	mg/L	11am	0.68	0.68	0.71	0.69		±		0.014
18	Nitrate	mg/L	11am	0.6	0.6	0.9	0.7		±		0.141
(D) Biological Parameters
19	BOD at 27^°C for 3 days**	mg/L	11am	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.8		±		0.082
20	COD***	mg/L	11am	2.2	1.9	1.6	1.9		±		0.245
21	Coliforms	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P				-
22	Escherichia coli	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P				-

*TDS - Total Dissolved Solids;   ** BOD - Biological Oxygen Demand; *** COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand; P/A - Present/Absent; S.D. – Standard Deviation

Table 4: Water analysis results during Pre Monsoon Season (Summer) at Pongdam.

Sr.No.	Parameter	Unit	Time of collection	Date of collection			Mean Value			S.D.
				4/5/2015	19/5/2015	3/6/2015
(A) Physical Parameters and Aggregate Properties
1	Alkalinity	mg/L	11am	69	68	67	68	±			0.816
2	Conductivity	µS/cm	11am	187	189	191	189	±			1.633
3	pH	-	11am	7.61	7.62	7.6	7.61	±			0.008
4	Temperature	^°C	11am	21.7	22.1	22.2	22	±			0.216
5	TDS^*	mg/L	11am	125	126	127	126	±			0.816
6	Total Hardness	mg/L	11am	72	74	73	73	±			0.816
7	Turbidity	NTU	11am	0.4	0.5	0.9	0.6	±			0.216
(B) Metals
8	Calcium	mg/L	11am	18.5	17.7	20.8	19		±		1.314
9	Magnesium	mg/L	11am	5.7	6.1	5.9	5.9		±		0.163
10	Potassium	mg/L	11am	0.3	0.1	0.2	0.2		±		0.082
11	Sodium	mg/L	11am	15.5	16	16.5	16		±		0.408
12	Cadmium	mg/L	11am	0.009	0.008	0.007	0.008		±		0.001
13	Copper	mg/L	11am	0.0002	0.0002	0.0002	0.0002		±		0.000
14	Iron	mg/L	11am	0.31	0.3	0.32	0.31		±		0.008
15	Lead	mg/L	11am	0.0164	0.0165	0.0166	0.0165		±		0.000
(C) Non Metals
16	Chloride	mg/L	11am	19.3	18.7	19	19		±		0.245
17	Fluoride	mg/L	11am	0.31	0.3	0.29	0.3		±		0.008
18	Nitrate	mg/L	11am	0.13	0.12	0.11	0.12		±		0.008
(D) Biological Parameters
19	BOD at 27^°C for 3 days**	mg/L	11am	1.3	1.5	1.1	1.3		±		0.163
20	COD***	mg/L	11am	3	3.3	2.7	3		±		0.245
21	Coliforms	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P				-
22	Escherichia coli	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P				-

*TDS - Total Dissolved Solids;   ** BOD - Biological Oxygen Demand; *** COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand; P/A - Present/Absent; S.D. – Standard Deviation

Table 5: Comparison of various parameters during pre monsoon, winter and summer seasons with BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 at  Pongdam.

Sr. No.	Parameter	Unit	Time of collection	Seasons			Average Value	BIS 2012	WHO 2011
				Monsoon	Winter	Summer
(A) Physical and Aggregate Properties
1	Alkalinity	mg/L	11am	95	74	68	79	200	NGVP
2	Conductivity	µS/cm	11am	203	179	189	190.3	NGVP	NGVP
3	pH		11am	7.07	8.14	7.61	7.6	6.5-8.5	NGVP
4	Temperature	^ºC	11am	23.2	16	22	20.4	NGVP	NGVP
5	TDS^*	mg/L	11am	130	120	126	125.3	500	NGVP
6	Total Hardness	mg/L	11am	105	76	73	84.6	200	NGVP
7	Turbidity	NTU	11am	0.7	0.567	0.6	0.62	1	NGVP
(B) Metals
8	Calcium	mg/L	11am	31.67	22	19	24.22	75	NGVP
9	Magnesium	mg/L	11am	6.1	5.1	5.9	5.7	30	NGVP
10	Potassium	mg/L	11am	2.3	1.9	0.2	1.46	NGVP	NGVP
11	Sodium	mg/L	11am	5.4	8.7	16	10.03	NGVP	NGVP
12	Cadmium	mg/L	11am	0	0	0.008	0.002	0.003	0.003
13	Copper	mg/L	11am	0.003	0.0009	0.0002	0.0013	0.05	2
14	Iron	mg/L	11am	1.14	0.2	0.31	0.55	0.3	NGVP
15	Lead	mg/L	11am	0.0368	0.0259	0.0165	0.0264	0.01	0.01
(C) Non Metals
16	Chloride	mg/L	11am	4.3	15	19	12.76	250	NGVP
17	Fluoride	mg/L	11am	0	0.69	0.3	0.33	1	1.5
18	Nitrate	mg/L	11am	11	0.7	0.12	3.94	45	50
(D) Biological Parameters
19	BOD at 27^º^0C for 3 days**	mg/L	11am	0.7	0.8	1.3	0.93	NGVP	NGVP
20	COD***	mg/L	11am	1.9	1.9	3	2.26	NGVP	NGVP
21	Colliform	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P	0	0
22	Escherichia coli	P/A'	11am	P	P	P	P	0	0

*TDS -Total Dissolved Solids,   **BOD -Biological Oxygen Demand,  ***  COD Chemical Oxygen Demand,  1 P/A-   Present/Absent,  NGV - No guideline value proposed, BIS -Bureau of Indian Standards, WHO - World Health Organization.

The data presented in Table 4 clearly exhibits that various parameters under investigation during Summer Season at Pong dam, were within the acceptable limits proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 for drinking water, excepting Cadmium, Iron and Lead. The Cadmium content of Beas river water at Pong dam, during Summer Season was 0.008±0.001 mg/L which was higher than 0.003 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011. Lead content was 0.0165 mg/L, which was higher than 0.01 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011. The Iron content was 0.31±0.008 mg/L, slightly higher than 0.3mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012.  The Coliforms and E. coli were present in sample where as BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 has proposed nil presence in drinking water.

DISCUSSION:

As it is evident from Table 5 that iron was found to be higher than the acceptable limit proposed by BIS, 2012, and Lead was found to be higher than the acceptable limit proposed by BIS, 2012, and WHO, 2011. The higher concentration of iron in Pongdam water can be attributed to presence of hematite and quartzite deposits in Kullu district, GSI, 2012 [9] and surface water runoff in the catchment area. The catchment area of Pongdam was characterized by solid waste / garbage dumps in Dehra. (Figure:1). The drainage of sewage in to the river Beas also resulted in high mean value of iron, above the BIS, (2012) proposed limit of 0.3 mg/L. The daily requirement of iron in humans depends upon age, sex, physiological status and iron bioavailability and range from 10-50 mg/day and WHO, (2011) has not proposed any guideline limit for iron in drinking water. The presence of high lead content during monsoon and summer seasons can be attributed to leaching of Galena rocks in the catchment area and excessive motor vehicular traffic using lead as a lubricating and ant knocking agent in vehicular fuels. Galena rocks have been reported in Sangthan, Kamand, Chong and Manikaran area of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh by GSI, 2012 [9].  Lead is nonessential for plants and animals and is toxic by ingestion. It is a cumulative poison and is not excreted and stored for many years in tissue, chiefly in the bone marrow from which it is released back in to the blood stream. Cadmium content was found to be 0.008±0.001 mg/L, higher than acceptable limit of 0.003 mg/L proposed by BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011, during summer seasons. Cadmium is an extremely toxic element which accumulates in kidney and liver of the humans and animals. After absorption it is accumulated in soft tissue and prolonged exposure results in low bone marrow density and nephrotoxicity, Lu et al., 2006 [10]. The cadmium content of Pongdam can be attributed to vegetation, horticultural activities phosphate fertilizers, batteries, sewage sludge and electroplating. The solubility of cadmium is controlled ion natural waters by carbonate equilibrium. The Colliforms and E. coli were present in water sample, where as BIS, 2012 and WHO, 2011 has proposed nil presence in drinking water and can be attributed to human and animal activity in the area (Figure1,2 and 3). These findings of present investigation are in agriment with the findings of Kumar et. Al., 2012 [11].

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9. GSI, (Geological Survey of India).  Geology and Mineral Resources of Himachal Pradesh. Miscellaneous Publication No. 30: Part-XVII (2nd Revision Edition), Govt. of India. 2012.

10. Lu, H.; Yan, C.; Liu, J. Low-molecular-weight organic acids exuded by Mangrove (Kandelia candel (L.) Druce) roots and their effect on cadmium species change in the rhizosphere. Environmental and Experimental Botany,Volume 61, Issue 2, November 2007, Pages 159–166.

11. Kumar, A.; Rawat, S. ; Srivastva, M.; Bhushan, V.  Physico-Chemical Analysis and Isolation of Bacteria from Water Samples of Maharana Pratap Sagar, Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh.Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation . 2012,  Vol. 7 Issue 3, 161-166.

Received on 21.11.2016       Modified on 28.11.2016

Accepted on 05.12.2016      ©A&V Publications All right reserved

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2017.00033.X

Research J. Science and Tech. 2017; 9(1):195-200.