Evaluation of surface water quality using water quality indices (WQIs) in Lake Sukhna, Chandigarh, India

Meenu Wats,Rajinder Jindal,Maansi Maansi

doi:10.1007/s13201-021-01534-x

Abstract

To assess the surface water quality of Sukhna Lake, 13 physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, transparency, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, chloride, total Aalkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate were investigated on monthly basis for a period of two year (July 2016–June 2018) by using standard procedures. The results were compared with the values or ranges mentioned by standard organizations (WHO and BIS) for assessing the water quality and these revealed that the lake water was turbid and under DO distress. Various water quality indices like water quality index (WQI), Canadian Council Ministry of Environment (CCME)-WQI and comprehensive pollution index (CPI) were used to assess the water quality status in the Sukhna Lake. The range of WQI (59.74–83.49) indicated that the water quality status of the lake belonged to good category while those of CCME-WQI (52.4–81.61) revealed that water quality fallen from marginal to good category and those of CPI (0.4–0.7) indicated fair state of water in the lake. Overall the water quality in Sukhna Lake has been found deteriorated during second year in comparison the first year during the study time.

Highlights

Lakes are considered as one of the most fertile, productive, diverse and interactive aquatic ecosystems in the world
Variety of methods and techniques, to assess the water quality, have been proposed and adopted by workers throughout the world of which the most effective approach is the use of water quality indices (WQIs) of different types (APHA, 2005)
The surface water temperature of Sukhna Lake ranged from 15.2—33.4 °C throughout the study period

Summary

Introduction

Lakes are considered as one of the most fertile, productive, diverse and interactive aquatic ecosystems in the world. These are important freshwater resources which in-house numberless threatened and endangered aquatic flora and fauna. The quality of water in these aqua-resources depends upon many factors which in turn governs the type of life these can support (Qureshimatva et al 2015). The decline in surface water quality poses a threat to its aquatic life and impairs underground water quality thereby effecting human health too (Wats et al 2019) it becomes imperative to have a regular check on the health status of these natural valued resources by evaluating their physico-chemical and biological parameters (Venkatesharaju et al 2010). Variety of methods and techniques, to assess the water quality, have been proposed and adopted by workers throughout the world of which the most effective approach is the use of water quality indices (WQIs) of different types (APHA, 2005)

Methods

Results

Conclusion