Water Quality Monitoring of Rawal Dam and its Tributaries

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, industrial development and population growth have resulted in water contamination and water quality deterioration at an alarming rate. To sustain quality of life, it is imperative to detect water pollutants causing contamination. The aim of the current study was to assess the water quality consumed by the public residing around Rawal Dam and its tributaries using physicochemical and microbiological analysis. The results of water samples and sediment samples from Rawal Dam and its tributaries showed microbial contamination with microbial count for gram negative bacteria ranging from 3.30E+03 to 2.80E+05 CFU/mL in water samples while 1.01E+04 to 2.56E+05 CFU/mL in sediment samples which indicates the intrusion of sewage sludge including fecal contamination rendering it unfit for human consumption. Physicochemical analysis showed that total hardness (127-208 mg/L), phosphate (0.51-4.14 mg/L) and COD values (74-394 mg/L) at all the tributaries and Rawal Dam were exceeding the WHO limits which indicates wastewater intrusion and presence of organic matter. Chromium (4.8- 14.2 mg/kg) was also detected at elevated levels from the sediments of all the selected sites of Korang, Shahdara, Rawal Dam and Nurpur stream. The experimental results obtained from this study emphasize the need for regular water monitoring of Rawal Dam and its tributaries to identify the water contamination sources. The study may also be practically used for environmental monitoring by providing stakeholders with relevant and timely information for sound decision making.