Assessment of the Quality of Jehlum River Water for Irrigation and Drinking at District Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir

Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, 2007 ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF JEHLUM RIVER WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND DRINKING AT DISTRICT MUZAFFARABAD AZAD KASHMIR Sair Sarwar *, Fayaz Ahmad * and Jamal Khan ** ABSTRACT Research study was conducted to evaluate the Physico-chemical quality of Jehlum river water at District Muzaffarabad during 2001-02. Thirty water samples were collected at high and low flow conditions and were analyzed for pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and suspended solids (SS). The high flow refers to the month of July and August while low flow refers to the month of December and January. The mean values of pH at high flow were 7.18 slightly lower than low flow that was 7.79. The mean value of EC at low flow 0.24 dSm -1 was comparatively higher than the EC at high flow 0.19 dSm -1. TDS at high flow ranged from 90-800 mg/L with overall mean of 273.6 mg/L while in case of low flow the concentration of TDS ranged from 30 - 430 mg/L with a mean value of 145.67 mg/L. Hardness at high flow ranged from 40-160 mg/L with a mean value of 95.13 mg/L while the mean value was 114.4 mg/L. The value of SS range from 200-1200 mg at high flow while 30-600 mg at low flow. The Jehlum river water is acceptable for drinking as well as irrigation at both flows according to the analyzed physico- chemical properties, these results were close to the World Health Organization (WHO) and United State Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) standards. Keywords: Drinking, Irrigation, Jehlum River, River Water INTRODUCTION Water is most essential for life. People can survive MATERIALS AND METHODS without food for long time but not without water. But Thirty water samples were collected at high and low due to industrial development these sources become flow from selected locations in the study area of polluted. This contamination become harmful to the Jehlum and Neelum rivers on the basis of catchment living things when these supplies pass on through areas while keeping in view the population density cities or populated area. Plants and animals require life and human activities in consideration. The all water that is moderately pure, and they cannot water samples were collected during high flow and survive if their water is loaded with toxic chemicals. low flow through 2d method (the sampling was Sever load of chemicals kill this life. The Jehlum carried out at sites where water depth was 1 meter River is the great source of water supply in Azad and the samples were collected from 0.2 meter Kashmir and Pakistan. The source of this river is depth).The sampling bottles were filled once during spring Veri-Nag situated at the altitude of 20000 m high flow (in the month of July and August) and once and flows towards Pakistan. Due to this long distance at the same selected points during low flow (in the many contaminants are added in this river and then month of December and January). The selected water this water is polluted. For assessing the quality of this samples were collected labeled and were brought in water detail study was conducted. Shainberg and to laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Oster (1985) showed that the pH of irrigation water is NWFP Agriculture University, Peshawar during not an accepted criteria of water quality because it 2002. tends to be buffered by the soil and most crops can tolerate a wide range of pH. Zakirullah et al. (1994) Following parameters were analyzed: reported that Kabul River is dirty in several location pH, EC (Electrical Conductivity), Hardness, TDS and is unfit for human consumption. This is due to (Total Dissolved Solids), SS (Suspended Solids). heavy loading of human savage and effluents from pH and EC of water samples were determined using industrial hotpots. They also reported concentration pH and EC meter (Richard, 1954). Hardness was of metals in high as well as in low flow conditions measured by use of titration method (Hamer 1986) and these metals affected aquatic life. Dunderdale while dissolved solids and suspended solids also were and Morris (1997) studied the impact of river measured by use of Hamer’s method (1986). Results maintains on drainage and agriculture performance, were statically analyzed and T-value of the table was they reported that river maintains can deliver recorded. standard of drainage and provides service to agriculture land use. The main objective of present RESULTS AND DISCUSSION study was to assess the extent of pollution of Jehlum pH refers to the negative log base of hydrogen ion River in Azad Kashmir. concentration. The pH values of different samples * National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari, Mansehra – Pakistan ** Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar - Pakistan Sair Sarwar et al. Assessment of the quality of Jehlum river water for drinking… 1042 collected from different locations of the Jehlum and household wastes of human and livestock. The results Neelum River during high and low flows are given in of TDS are given in Table I Fig.4. This shows that at Table. I and Fig.1. The result shows that during high high flow TDS ranged from 90—800 mg/L at flow the pH of water varies from 6.5 to 7.69 with an Mainibandi, Majohi, in case of low flow the average value of 7.18. As for as low flow is concentration of TDS ranged from 30—430 mg/L at concerned the pH ranges from 6.62 to 8.33 with an Shoukatline and Chatarkalas respectively. The total average of 7.79. Highest pH value was found at upper solids have an important effect on taste of drinking plate that is 7.67 while the lowest value of 6.5 was water. The WHO level of TDS for drinking water is noted at lower plate. Similarly at low flow the water 1200 mg/L According to this standard the water of sample from Rashidabad had the maximum value of Jehlum River is suitable for drinking. According to 8.33 and lowest of CMH 6.62 at Muzaffarabad. USEPA (1999) irrigation level is 500 mg/L. The river However, mean values show that pH at low flow was water is also suitable for irrigation according to slightly higher than at high flow. According to WHO criteria set by USEPA (1999). (1993) standards for pH of drinking and irrigation water are 6.5—8.0 and 4.5—9.0, respectively. This Suspended solids consist of silt, clay, and fine means that the river water posses no threat of particles of organic and inorganic nature, which are drinking and irrigation. While Shainberg and Oster regarded as pollutant. The results of SS are given in (1985) reported the pH of irrigation is not accepted Table I Fig.5. During high flow the maximum criteria of water quality. concentration of SS noted at Chaterkalas, which was 1200 mg/L where as the minimum concentration at EC measure the concentration of salt in the solution. Kamsar was 190 mg/L. Similarly, at low flow it The results given in Table I and Fig.2 showed the ranged from 30—600 mg/L at Bandemirsamdani and high flow range b/w 0.1—0.59 dSm -1 while at low Kulian, respectively. According to USEPA (1999) SS flow varies from 0.1—0.3 dSm -1. Moreover the mean standards for drinking water is 5 mg/L. It means that value of EC at low flow 0.24 was comparatively the samples analyzed for SS were not suitable for higher than the EC at high flow that is 0.19 dSm -1. drinking. Excess SS may also have adverse effect on According to FAO (1982) water having EC less than agriculture through soil crust formation thereby 0.7 dSm -1 are safe to be used for irrigation and impeding seedling emergence and soil aeration, and drinking purpose. From these results it can be through film formation on foliage reducing concluded that salinity will not build up if the Jehlum photosynthetic rates as well as marketability of leafy river water is used for irrigation, similarly for human vegetables (Nyle and Raymond 1996). and livestock consumption such water will not pose any problem. Hardness in water is caused by CONCLUSION dissolved calcium and magnesium. It causes the soap i. The water of the Jehlum river during high scum, forms scale on boilers. Results shows that and low flow was slightly alkaline hardness at high flow (Table I) was ranged between ii. With an average pH of 7.8 and 7.9 at high 40—160 mg/L. with mean value and standard flow and low flow respectively. deviation of 95.13 mg/L and ±36.45 mg/L, iii. The water is free from salinity having respectively. At low flow the hardness ranged average EC value of 0.19 at high flow while between 60—180 mg/L with mean of 114.4 mg/L 0.24 dSm -1 at low flow, which is permissible and standard deviation of ±36.64 mg/L. According to for drinking and irrigation according to the Sawyer (1960) water having value less than 7.5 mg/L standards. hardness are considered soft water while value higher iv. The mean value of the hardness at both than 150 mg/L are hard water. These results show conditions is acceptable for irrigation but that at high flow Rashidabad, Pattika and Kullian during low flow few samples show hard water is hard having 150, 160 and 160 mg/L, water characteristics.

Load more