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Water‟- one of the “five tatvas”, is the most important physical resource for all living beings (Pattanaik, 2015) and providing basis for social, cultural, political, economic and religious development. Fresh water bodies are very essential for existence of dynamic ecosystem contributing immensely in shaping and evolving the biotic and abiotic system. As a matter of fact, water resources, one of the important life support systems on the earth, cover about 70 percent of the planet, but very limited quantity (0.00192%) is available and suitable for sustenance of fresh water dependent life (Sawyer et al., 1994). On a global scale, total water quantity is not the problem; the main problem is of water availability in the right place at the right time in the right form. Although we as human recognize this fact, we disregard it by polluting our water resources. Subsequently, we are steadily ruining this wealth to the point where the sustenance of life becomes doubtful. India is known to have community-managed conservation plans to protecting and managing various natural resources such as forests, water bodies etc. In India, sustainable and equitable use of water in the past has been ensured by cultural and social advocacy and adaptation to water availability through water conservation technologies, agricultural practices adapted to different climatic zones. But in last few decades, the consequences of population growth, progressive industrialization and urbanization, rehabilitation of arid areas, rising living standards, increasing food supply, drive for development disturbed the quality and the natural cleansing capacity of water. In last few decades, increased anthropogenic meddling, irrational use, widespread negligence for conservation among various stakeholders change in community perception,paralyzed management and disregard to socio-cultural values lead to nutrient enrichment or eutrophication (Edmondson, 1991). As comprehend the importance and scarcity of available freshwater planning, development, management and conservation of this most precious resource is necessary. Therefore, monitoring of water quality is necessary so that appropriate preventive and remedial measures can be undertaken. It is expected that the proposed study will contribute to a more informed evaluation and response to water quality deterioration and negligence of surface water systems and is relevant to present day interest in pollution control.

Bhatnagar (2010) observed seasonal variations in the physico-chemical parameters of Bir Lake and found alkaline status of the lake and attributed low average value (20.70 mg/l) of chloride and BOD (6.34 mg/l) to low level of pollution or less human intervention in the lake. Koli and Ranga (2011) studied the physicochemical characteristics and primary productivity of Ana Sagar Lake, Ajmer (Rajasthan), India and found higher values, mainly due to discharge of sewage and the agricultural runoff by surrounding population. Telkhade et al., (2012) studied the limnological characteristics of Tadoba Lake, Chandrapur, Maharastra and reported the oligotrophic nature of the lake. Upadhyay et al., (2013) carried out a study on water quality of Korba industrial area, Chhattisgarh and found the water highly contaminated with total solids due to industrial waste effluents.Shib (2014) studied seasonal variations in physico-chemical characteristics of Rudrasagar wetland, Tripura and found moderate eutrophication due to high concentration of TSS, TDS, nitrate, phosphate etc. Kashyap et al., (2015) made a study to investigate the seasonal variations in the holy Rewalsar Lake of Himachal Pradesh, India with respect to heavy metal contamination and reported large variations in the heavy metal levels varying from high concentration in premonsoon and low concentrations during monsoon. Hemamalini et al., (2017) carried out limnological study on Pandravedu Lake, Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, India and reported difference in physico-chemical properties, which is linked to the fluctuations of discharge of untreated dye industry waste water and sewage water into lake. Patel et al., (2018) evaluated the physico-chemical characteristics of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam, Banswara, Rajasthan and reported it as moderately eutrophic and hard water body with moderate levels of nutrients and found suitable for fishery purpose. Diwan et al., (2019) assessed the water quality of Hipparga Lake in Solapur city using water quality index and categorized lake into “Medium” class with Water quality indexvalue of 75. Finally, they found that water quality of the lake is degraded due to direct dumping of large amount of industrial and domestic wastes. Bensafia et al., (2020) assessed the physicochemical parameters and trophic status of water bodies of the Park National of El-Kala wetland complex in Northeastern Algeria and found hypereutrophic status of water bodies during the summer period as well as the autumnal period with Chla> 25 μg/l.  Chang et al., (2020) assessed the water quality of urban landscape lakes (ULLs) in China using water quality index and concluded that sechi depth (SD) in water is mainly influenced by the contents of chlorophyll a, inorganic suspended solids and organic detritus in water.

Study area:Study area Hameer Pond is one of the many perennial shallow water bodies around Kishangarh, of which Santolav Pond, Gundolav Pond are important. Totally rain-fed Hameer Pond is a manmade pond amidst low hills erected on almost plain surface of eastern semiarid agro-climatic zone, located at 26⁰35‟24 to 26⁰35‟44 North latitude and 74⁰51‟04 to 74⁰51‟34 East longitude at 500 m above mean sea level in the center of Kishangarh near railway station of Madanganj-Kishangarh (Rajasthan).

 

Figure2: Location Map of study area

Material and Methods:The water samples were collected at four stationsat monthly interval. In situ parameters like temperature, pH and EC were measures on spot by thermometric and potentiometric method, respectively. For analysis ofdissolved oxygen water sample was collected from 5 cm below surface, avoiding bubbling, in non-reactive borosilicate Glass bottle (BOD Bottle) and was immediately fixed as per Wrinkler method. For other parameters, water samples, from various stations, were collected in 2-liter PET containers and brought to laboratory after putting them at 400C temperature. In laboratory various parameters including Turbidity, Nitrate, Total Dissolved Solids, BOD (5-day), Phosphate and bacterial parameters were studied as per standard procedures published by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and the American Public Health Association.

Hypothesis:Ho: The pollution load in Hameer Pond remains within its natural resilience limit and does not affect the nutrient level to a considerable level spatially as well as temporally within the pond system. Ha: The pollution load in Hameer Pond is variable beyond its natural resilience limit and affect the nutrient level to a considerable level spatially as well as temporally within the pond system.

Results and Discussion:The monthly variation from January to December inwater quality parameters are represented in graph 1 to 4. All thephysicochemical parameters were taken in mg/l except for pH. Similarly, microbialparameters are taken in MPN per decilitre.

Water temperature plays an important role in dynamics of water body.Temperature has a direct and indirect influence on all life processes (Welch, 1952). Water temperature does not influence significantly by anthropogenic load and fluctuation in it reflects seasonal trend. The water temperature was found in the range of 13.4 to 32.5 0C.The temperature of Hameer water attained the maximum peak value at station IV during the month of May whereas the remaining three stations were having lower temperature than this peak value.

Table:1 Monthly variation in physico-chemical properties of Hameer pondat station S1

  

Turbidity, an expression of optical property of water, depends on light scattering by particulate matter in the water. Therefore, it is found associated with amount of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water (Stepaneet al., 1959). The turbidity was found higher than the permissible limitof WHO throughout the duration of investigation.With respect to season, maximum values of turbidity(118.82 NTU) were noted during monsoon season (July) at site S₄and minimum value (31.27 NTU) recorded at site S₃ in month of December (winter season).From summer onwards the water became turbid due to rains suggesting greater addition of particulate mattersfrom nallahs and agricultural fields to the pond.

Table: 2 Monthly variations in physico-chemical properties of Hameer pond at station S2

pH of the water is governed by the ionic equilibrium in the water. It was found well associated with the anthropogenic stress. Pond water consistently maintained an alkaline pH throughout the study period, where in during the major period of investigation the values fluctuated between 7.1 to 8.4.Similar resultswere observed by Ugale and Hiware (2005).The minimum value (7.1) of pH was recorded as at station IV in the month of monsoon (July) after rains and maximum value (8.4) was observed during the month of June at station IV throughout the duration of investigation. The water body showed fluctuating values of pH with a dip in monsoon due to dilution of reservoir water.Decrease in pH in monsoon is possibly due to inflow of rain water and constant water movement which brings down the level of carbon dioxide and carbonates.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), show general characteristic of water which influences alkalinity, turbidity, pH. It was found higher in June at site S₄(1328 mg/l) and the minimum (641 mg l^-1)at site S₃ in month of January. Low values of TDS were recorded during winter probably because of stagnation. These findings are in accordance with the observations made by Kumbhar et al(2009).TDS showed direct positive correlation with temperature and BOD. A similar positive correlation was also observed by Bhatt et al. (1999).

Table: 3 Monthly variations in physico-chemical properties of Hameer pond at station S3

 

The phosphate was emerged as a serious problem regarding water quality as it was found many times higher than the permissible limitthroughout the year. Total phosphate was observed to be maximum in the month of Marchat site S₄ and minimum in the month of October at site S₃. The concentration of total phosphate indicates a peak (9.68 mg/l) in the month of Marchat site S₄ and decreases gradually to attain the minimum value (3.15 mg/l) in October at site S₃. Low values were again observed during January and February.High values of phosphate may be on account of reduced volume of water due to evaporation and concentration of this nutrient, the increased density of biota which produce metabolic waste, higher water temperature and higher biodegradation releasing this nutrient from the sediment(Shekhawat 1997). 

Table: 4 Monthly variations in physico-chemical properties of Hameer pond at station- S4

 

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand are the parameters thatfound correlated with temperature and nutrient status of the water, which facilitategrowth of microorganisms and thus high oxygen consumption (Sahuet al., 2000).DO% saturation was observed to be minimum (25%) at site S₄ in the summer month of June; thereafter its concentration increases during monsoon month of July and August and reaches its peak(76%) at site S₃ in the winter month of December. Thus, DO% saturation expresses a single peak. Sudden increase in dissolved oxygen concentration was also found at the onset of rains, because of good aeration caused by rain water(Maya, 2003).In summer season, dissolved oxygen decreases due to increase in temperature and also due to increased microbial activity and increased concentration of sewage released in to the pond(George, 1961).

Biological oxygen demand gives an idea of quantityof biodegradable organic substances present in water, which is subjected to aerobicdecomposition of microorganism. Thus, it provides a direct measurement of state ofpollution (Singh et al.,1999).BOD in general was found minimum(9.22 mg l^-1) at site S₃ during the winter month of December and then there was an increase till it reaches a peakat site S₄ (36.07 mg l^-1) in summer month of June at all sampling sites during investigation year.In Hameer water the station IV and station II have comparatively high BOD values, therefore they are indicative of pollution sites. High BOD values indicate that pond is proceeding towards eutrophic conditions.Sudhakar and Mamatha(2004) have reported high BOD in case of contamination of water resources bybiological and organic pollutants. The present study draws support from thefindings of these workers.

The faecal coliforms are used as an indicatorof faecal pollution in water bodies(Mohapatra et al.,1992). It is well established that E. coli is not limited to humans but also exists in the intestine of many warm-blooded animals (Orskov and Orskov, 1981). The faecal coliforms were observed to be minimum (410 CFU) at site S3 in month of January and maximum (1035 CFU) at site S4 in month of August.In the present investigation of Hameer pond station III has comparatively low FC values throughout the investigation period, due to least human interference and no direct disposal of sewage. Station I and II have comparatively high FC values, because of disposal f sewage through small drains from surrounded populated area.(Sharifinia et al.,2013)reported high population of FC in areas where pollutants were very high in amount in water, which is consonance to present investigation as regards to FC values at station IV.

Inorganic nitrogen that presents in water is available as nitrate It is the main nutrient that accelerates the growth of hydrophytes and algae. The nitrate was observed to be minimum(3.51 mg l-1)at site S3 in month of January and maximum (16.47 mg l-) at site S4 in month of August. The value of nitrate nitrogen did not fluctuate significantly. The values of nitrate increased sharply during the month of May and June at all sampling sites due to the low water level due to evaporation, and the increase in rate of decomposition process (Dwivedi and Pandey 2002). The values of nitrate increased abruptly during August with gradual decline after monsoon till obtaining a minimum value in the month of January.

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