Assessments of Water Quality and Plankton Diversity in the Baur Reservoir, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

The current investigation was conducted between January and December of 2022. During the study period water quality was studied in Baur reservoirs two spot, one spot is a barrage area, and the second one is four kilometers away from the first one. The present study is done in Baur Reservoir, which is switched to Gularbhoj in Udham Singh district. Reservoir water is used for irrigation and domestic purposes. Many villages are located near the reservoir, so due to human interaction, water quality may be affected. For this reason, the present study finds parameters of water so we can identify the present water quality status, as we know many similar work done all over India but in this study we find present condition which may be change from past condition and as we know climatic condition are change now days so we can find rainfall in every month and other parameters of reservoir. Various quality parameters are measured, including PH, water temperature, DO, CO2, total alkalinity, total solid, turbidity, total suspended solids and total dissolved solids. All the parameters are within the permissible limit and suitable for domestic use, pisciculture, and agriculture. Water quality parameters have been observed to vary and, with the exception of temperature, all show a positive correlation with the production of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the chosen reservoirs. These parameters include temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and total dissolved solids. The temperature varies from 240c+ 60c, the pH varies from 7.0 + 2, the dissolved oxygen range varies from 7+ 3, range of carbon dioxide varies from 6+ 5, the humidity range is 50+25, and rainfall throughout varying the all study period. All the physico-chemical parameters are the relation to plankton diversity. In this study, we also find plankton diversity status in Baur reservoir. Plankton diversity can also help to find out the water quality; healthy plankton growth may relate to water quality as well as fish diversity. In the following study, we find the groups Copepoda, Clyadocera, and Rotifera, each containing 6, 6 and 2 respectively. The groups Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophycae each contain 29 and 23, respectively, phytoplankton taxa. The study looked at the association between group variation in physico-chemical parameters for the Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Euglenophyceae. With the help of this study, we can find the pollutant status and water quality level in the Baur reservoir. All the water quality parameters are under safety level and are good for irrigation purposes and for domestic use. They can filtrate, and may relevant department may take action for tourist activity that causes pollution in reservoir water.