A Case Study on Investigation of Physico-chemical Properties of Dal Lake, Kashmir, India

Abstract

Water quality is a key factor in determining the current condition of the freshwater ecosystem. The current analysis was conducted to assess the water quality status of Dal Lake. The lake was researched for 12 months, from March 2021 to February 2022, and a total of 17 physicochemical parameters were analysed at seven distinct sites at monthly intervals using established methodologies. The measured characteristics included air temperature (6.1°C-37.5°C) and water temperature (1.41°C-28.3°C), depth (1.1-3.1m), Secchi Disc transparency (0.3m-1.9m), specific conductivity (201 μScm-1-364 μScm-1), pH (7-7.9), Dissolved oxygen (4.4-9.2 mg/l), chloride (10-35 mg/l), free carbon dioxide (1.5-18.9 mg/l), total hardness (112-180 mg/l), calcium hardness (27.4-54.9 mg/l), magnesium hardness (17.4-31.8 mg/l), ammonia nitrogen (125-497 μg/l), nitrate-nitrogen (324-782 μg/l), nitrite-nitrogen (10-72 μg/l), orthophosphate (58-194 μg/l), and total phosphorus ranged from 193-568 μg/l. The investigation revealed that almost all of the above parameters indicate that the pollution load is increasing due to anthropogenic pressure, untreated sewage and solid garbage from residential areas, and fertilisers containing nitrates and phosphates, all of which have contributed to the lake's eutrophic condition. As a result, prompt protective measures should be implemented to prevent further depletion.