Water quality assessment of Ramser site, Indus Delta, Sindh, Pakistan

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2018-08, Vol.190 (8), p.492-11, Article 492
• Main Authors: Khuhawar, Muhammad Yar, Zaman Brohi, Rafi O., Jahangir, Taj Muhammad, Lanjwani, Muhammad Farooque
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkalinity; Aquatic organisms; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biochemical oxygen demand; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Cadmium; Chemical oxygen demand; Chromium; Cluster analysis; Coastal zone; Coliforms; Copper; Dissolved oxygen; E coli; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental science; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Heavy metals; Iron; Lead; Mathematical analysis; Metal ions; Metals - analysis; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nickel; Nitrates - analysis; Organic chemistry; Orthophosphate; Oxygen; Pakistan; Parameters; Phosphates - analysis; Physicochemical processes; Physicochemical properties; Principal components analysis; Procedures; Quality assessment; Quality control; Sampling; Sulfates - analysis; Total oxygen demand; Water hardness; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water quality; Water Quality - standards; Water quality assessments; Zinc
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6756-6

Seven representative sampling stations were selected from Indus Delta comprising of (1) Keti Bander, (2) Darya Peer, (3) Kharo Chanr, (4) Jati, (5) Shah Bander, (6) Nariri Dhand and (7) Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) near Rupa Mari. The sampling scheme was repeated seven times during 2014–2015 for 1 year. The samples were analysed for temperature, conductivity, pH, hardness, chloride, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, sulphate, orthophosphate-P, nitrite-N, nitrate-N, Na, K, Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb and As. The analysis was carried out using standard analytical procedures. A number of parameters crossed the WHO permissible limits and water quality guidelines for aquatic life and indicated pollution within coastal region. Coefficient of correlation (r) among physicochemical parameters and metal ions were examined and a number of parameters did not correlate positively and did not indicate natural origin and may indicate their presence due to human activity. The samples were examined for cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. The samples also indicated the presence of Presumptive Coliform, Faecal coliform and E. coli .