ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY STATUS OF A TROPICAL FRESH WATER MANU SWAMP-RAMBHA RIVER, RISHIKESH, DEHRADUN, INDIAShail KulshresthaAbstract In this investigation, spatial and seasonal variations in various water quality parameters were investigated. WQ Index and WQ Status were evaluated by monitoring the water quality of Manu swamp-Rambha River at five locations including Swamp proper by following the NSF-WQI model. The Manu swamp is in Koyal Ghati on Rishikesh Haridwar road in the Barkot forest range of Eastern Doon Forest Division. At the swamp proper at a stretch of nearly 30 m the fresh water emerges at 6-7 locations from the base of the ravine and forms several perennial streams, which later merge together forming the main stream called Rambha or Kali river or Kala Pani that on moving downwards in a depressed area, forms a small Jheel. The Jheel water moves eastwards from Kale Ki Dhal as underpass to the bridge on N.H. 58 to Bharat Vihar, Bapugram, Shivaji Nagar and Virbhdra Temple area, where it merges with River Ganges. In between it is charged with laundry washings, domestic - open area- agricultural runoff, sewage, fecal matter and other human activities, transforming it from a fresh water source to a highly polluted Nalaha (drain). The WQ Status was found Moderate (51- 70) at Site-1 and Site-2 all the time, the WQI values being 62.61, 62.37 and 62.45 at Site-1 and 57.17, 57.22 and 59.03 at Site-2, during May- June, July- August and September- October, however, WQ Status at other three sites was Bad (26- 50) and WQI showed decreasing trend along the sites and values were 44.35, 42.34 and 45.71 at Site-3; 45.71, 40.52, 40.52 at Site-4; 38.26, 36.36, 40.64 at Site-5, during same period. |