Vertical variations in physico-chemical characteristics of Bhimtal lake (Uttarakhand) (original) (raw)

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the vertical variations in physico-chemical characteristics of Bhimtal Lake at Uttarakhand during January to December 2013. Various physico-chemical parameters like water temperature, pH, dissolved Oxygen (DO), biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), salinity, nitrate and phosphate were monitored along the vertical ecological gradient, to determine trophic variations in three selected sites in lake. Vertically observed values showed that water temperature decreased with depth 25.80 to 20°C and 16.7 to 10.5°C in summer and winter season respectively, pH was observed alkaline in range, Dissolved oxygen was observed vertically 7.88 to 6.50mg/l in summer and 8.34mg/l to 6.15mg/l in winter season, BOD and COD values were showed increasing trends during summer season. The nutrients were accumulated in lake water from many sources from its catchment basin of Bhimtal lake, hence nitrate and phosphate were observed 0.068 to 0.041 mg/l, and 0.019 to 0.046mg/l in summer respectively. The physico-chemical values of water temperature, pH and DO showed a declining trend while and BOD, COD, EC, salinity, nitrate and phosphate showed a relative increase along the depth of water in Bhimtal lake. The water quality of Bhimtal lake showed a degrading drift resulting from various anthropogenic activities and results revealed that nutrients pollution loads were quite higher in summer season in Bhimtal lake. Key words: Bhimtal lake, Water Quality, Physico-chemical characteristics, Nutrients