Water Quality Management Studies on the River Satluj for the Protection of the Harike Wetland System

Abstract

River water quality monitoring programs are very important in the river water quality management objectives. National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India implements many of these monitoring programs on most of the rivers across the country. Satluj river water quality monitoring program has been one such program implemented since 1996. Huge monitoring data has accumulated from this water quality monitoring program. Harike wetland system is a man-made riverine freshwater Ramsar wetland site of international importance on the river Satluj at its confluence with the river Beas. Deteriorating water quality and water hyacinth infestation have been the major problems associated with this wetland system. Heavy pollution loads delivered by the river Satluj have been mainly responsible for this rapid deterioration. There is an urgent need for the improvement of the wetland’s water quality in order to ensure its continued suitability as habitat for the migratory waterfowl and to protect or conserve the wetland system’s biodiversity. One strategy for this can be water quality management in the river Satluj and the river Beas, which are the contributors of both water and pollution to the wetland system. This thesis presents the outcomes of a comprehensive research study undertaken to understand the factors that influence the water quality of river Satluj by its catchment which further affect the ecosystem of wetland system. Use specific water quality index for Ecological use (WQIE) has been developed to evaluate the water quality of river Satluj and to communicate water quality information and strategies for water quality improvement to all the stakeholders in order to ensure appropriate actions at all levels. All the water quality parameters against which prescribed limits exist have been selected for inclusion in the indexing. The selected parameters grouped into three sub-indices categories: general parameters (SIgp), heavy metals (SIhm) and pesticides and other toxic organic compounds (SIptoc). General water quality parameters included 10 variables: BOD5, DO, pH, COD/BOD5 ratio, Turbidity, TSS, Total-N, Total-P, Ammonical-N and Fluoride. Open ended list of heavy metals and pesticides and other toxic organic compounds has been considered.