ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF JEHLUM RIVER WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND DRINKING AT DISTRICT MUZAFFARABAD AZAD KASHMIR

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1 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 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 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 mg/l with overall mean of mg/l while in case of low flow the concentration of TDS ranged from mg/l with a mean value of mg/l. Hardness at high flow ranged from mg/l with a mean value of mg/l while the mean value was mg/l. The value of SS range from mg at high flow while 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 without food for long time but not without water. But due to industrial development these sources become polluted. This contamination become harmful to the living things when these supplies pass on through cities or populated area. Plants and animals require water that is moderately pure, and they cannot survive if their water is loaded with toxic chemicals. Sever load of chemicals kill this life. The Jehlum River is the great source of water supply in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. The source of this river is spring Veri-Nag situated at the altitude of m and flows towards Pakistan. Due to this long distance many contaminants are added in this river and then this water is polluted. For assessing the quality of this water detail study was conducted. Shainberg and Oster (1985) showed that the ph of irrigation water is not an accepted criteria of water quality because it tends to be buffered by the soil and most crops can tolerate a wide range of ph. Zakirullah et al. (1994) reported that Kabul River is dirty in several location and is unfit for human consumption. This is due to heavy loading of human savage and effluents from industrial hotpots. They also reported concentration of metals in high as well as in low flow conditions and these metals affected aquatic life. Dunderdale and Morris (1997) studied the impact of river maintains on drainage and agriculture performance, they reported that river maintains can deliver standard of drainage and provides service to agriculture land use. The main objective of present study was to assess the extent of pollution of Jehlum River in Azad Kashmir. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty water samples were collected at high and low flow from selected locations in the study area of Jehlum and Neelum rivers on the basis of catchment areas while keeping in view the population density life and human activities in consideration. The all water samples were collected during high flow and low flow through 2d method (the sampling was carried out at sites where water depth was 1 meter and the samples were collected from 0.2 meter depth).the sampling bottles were filled once during high flow (in the month of July and August) and once at the same selected points during low flow (in the month of December and January). The selected water samples were collected labeled and were brought in to laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences, NWFP Agriculture University, Peshawar during Following parameters were analyzed: ph, EC (Electrical Conductivity), Hardness, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), SS (Suspended Solids). ph and EC of water samples were determined using ph and EC meter (Richard, 1954). Hardness was measured by use of titration method (Hamer 1986) while dissolved solids and suspended solids also were measured by use of Hamer s method (1986). Results were statically analyzed and T-value of the table was recorded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ph refers to the negative log base of hydrogen ion concentration. The ph values of different samples * ** National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari, Mansehra Pakistan Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar - Pakistan

2 Sair Sarwar et al. Assessment of the quality of Jehlum river water for drinking 1042 collected from different locations of the Jehlum and Neelum River during high and low flows are given in Table. I and Fig.1. The result shows that during high flow the ph of water varies from 6.5 to 7.69 with an average value of As for as low flow is concerned the ph ranges from 6.62 to 8.33 with an average of Highest ph value was found at upper plate that is 7.67 while the lowest value of 6.5 was noted at lower plate. Similarly at low flow the water sample from Rashidabad had the maximum value of 8.33 and lowest of CMH 6.62 at Muzaffarabad. However, mean values show that ph at low flow was slightly higher than at high flow. According to WHO (1993) standards for ph of drinking and irrigation water are and , respectively. This means that the river water posses no threat of drinking and irrigation. While Shainberg and Oster (1985) reported the ph of irrigation is not accepted criteria of water quality. EC measure the concentration of salt in the solution. The results given in Table I and Fig.2 showed the high flow range b/w dsm -1 while at low flow varies from dsm -1. Moreover the mean value of EC at low flow 0.24 was comparatively higher than the EC at high flow that is 0.19 dsm -1. According to FAO (1982) water having EC less than 0.7 dsm -1 are safe to be used for irrigation and drinking purpose. From these results it can be concluded that salinity will not build up if the Jehlum river water is used for irrigation, similarly for human and livestock consumption such water will not pose any problem. Hardness in water is caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium. It causes the soap scum, forms scale on boilers. Results shows that hardness at high flow (Table I) was ranged between mg/l. with mean value and standard deviation of mg/l and ±36.45 mg/l, respectively. At low flow the hardness ranged between mg/l with mean of mg/l and standard deviation of ±36.64 mg/l. According to Sawyer (1960) water having value less than 7.5 mg/l hardness are considered soft water while value higher than 150 mg/l are hard water. These results show that at high flow Rashidabad, Pattika and Kullian water is hard having 150, 160 and 160 mg/l, respectively. During low flow the results of six samples show hard water characteristics (Fig.3). This fluctuation of hardness may be due to the addition of near by population effluents, which cause sudden changes in the value of hardness. Total dissolved solids comprise inorganic salts and small amount of organic matter dissolved in water. The main source of TDS in water is rock, soils, precipitation, wind and household wastes of human and livestock. The results of TDS are given in Table I Fig.4. This shows that at high flow TDS ranged from mg/l at Mainibandi, Majohi, in case of low flow the concentration of TDS ranged from mg/l at Shoukatline and Chatarkalas respectively. The total solids have an important effect on taste of drinking water. The WHO level of TDS for drinking water is 1200 mg/l According to this standard the water of Jehlum River is suitable for drinking. According to USEPA (1999) irrigation level is 500 mg/l. The river water is also suitable for irrigation according to criteria set by USEPA (1999). Suspended solids consist of silt, clay, and fine particles of organic and inorganic nature, which are regarded as pollutant. The results of SS are given in Table I Fig.5. During high flow the maximum concentration of SS noted at Chaterkalas, which was 1200 mg/l where as the minimum concentration at Kamsar was 190 mg/l. Similarly, at low flow it ranged from mg/l at Bandemirsamdani and Kulian, respectively. According to USEPA (1999) SS standards for drinking water is 5 mg/l. It means that the samples analyzed for SS were not suitable for drinking. Excess SS may also have adverse effect on agriculture through soil crust formation thereby impeding seedling emergence and soil aeration, and through film formation on foliage reducing photosynthetic rates as well as marketability of leafy vegetables (Nyle and Raymond 1996). CONCLUSION i. The water of the Jehlum river during high and low flow was slightly alkaline ii. With an average ph of 7.8 and 7.9 at high flow and low flow respectively. iii. The water is free from salinity having average EC value of 0.19 at high flow while 0.24 dsm -1 at low flow, which is permissible for drinking and irrigation according to the standards. iv. The mean value of the hardness at both conditions is acceptable for irrigation but during low flow few samples show hard water characteristics. v. The mean values of TDS at high flow and low flow indicate that the water is suitable both for drinking and irrigation purposes. vi. The results of suspended solids showed that during high flow the water can t be used for irrigation and drinking, while at low flow the values remained in the permissible limits.

3 Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, ph at high flow ph atlow flow ph Range Analyzed Water Sample Fig.1 ph at high flow and low flow of Jehlum River 0.7 EC at high flow EC at low flow EC Range dsm Analyzed Water samples Fig.2 EC at high flow and low flow of Jehlum River 190 Hardness at high flow Hardness at low flow 170 Hardness Range Analyzed Water Smaples Fig.3 Hardness at high flow and low flow of Jehlum River

4 Sair Sarwar et al. Assessment of the quality of Jehlum river water for drinking D is s olved S olid s at H ig h F low D is s olved S olid s at L ow F low Dissolved Solids A nalyzed W ater S am ples Fig. 4 Dissolved solids at high flow and low flow of Jehlum River Suspended Solids Suspended Solids at High Flow Suspended Solids at Low Flow A nalyzed W ater Sam ples Fig. 5. Suspended solids at high flow and low flow of Jehlum River

5 Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, Table-I: Physico-Chemical properties of Jehlum River water at high and low flow conditions Collection ph at ph at low Points high flow flow Sample No. EC at high flow (dsm -1 ) EC at low flow (dsm -1 ) Hardness at high flow Hardness at low flow Dissolved Solids at high flow Dissolved Solids at low flow Suspende d Solids at high flow Suspende d Solids at low flow 1 Chinari Naili Hattian Balla Saran Gghari Dopatta 6 Majhoi Langar Pura Miani Bandi Rasheed Abad Domal Panjgran Arlian Pattika Nourassari Ghori Kamsar B. Mir Samdani 18 Challa Uper plate Lower plate C.M.H Mzd Shoukat line Gojra Ambore Rara Dulai Kulian Chatar kalas Barsala Kohala Means t-value 5.15* 4.80* 9.52* 9.25* * * -8.51* -8.01* -8.52* -9.56* Coefficient of variation 4.55% 38.36% 38.88% 63.41% 64.05%

6 Sair Sarwar et al. Assessment of the quality of Jehlum river water for drinking 1046 REFERENCES Ayers, R.S. and D.W. Westcott Water quality for agriculture and drainage division. Paper 29- Rome. Dunderdale, J.A.L. and J. Morris Agricultural impacts of river maintenance activities: a method of assessment. J. Agric. Engg. Res. 68 (4): FAO/WHO Evaluation of certain additives. Expert Committee on food Additives. Cambridge, Canada. Hamer, M.J Laboratory and chemical analysis In: Water and Waste Water Technology, 2 nd Ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York. pp Nyle, B.C. and R.W. Raymond The nature and properties of soils. Printice Hall, Public. New Jersey. pp Richard, L.A Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soil USDA Agric. Handbook. 60: Sawyer, C.N. 1960: Chemistry of sanitary engineering. MC Graw Hill Book Co. Inc. New York. Schalscha, B.E., T.I. Ahumada, M.M. Ghosh and M. Ros Heavy metals in Rivers and soils of central Chile. Water Sci. and Tech. 37: Shainberg, I. and J.D. Oster Quality of irrigation water. Int. Irrig. Inf. Center. pp. 8. USEPA Secondary contaminants level: Recommended maximum concentration of heavy metals and inorganic constituent in water; Final rule. Federal Register. 56 (110) US Envir. Protection Agency. WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality,2 nd Ed., Vol. 1. World Health Org. Geneva. Zakirullah, N.U. Islam and S. Zakirullsh Pollution and Kabul River. IUCN- The World Conservation Union, Pakistan. Plan. Environ. Dev. Deptt. Civil Sectt. Peshawar.