Physicochemical studies of water quality with special reference to ancient lakes of Udaipur City, Tripura, India

Present work was designed to study the physicochemical parameters of four lakes of Udaipur known as the “City of Lakes” of Tripura state. The studied lakes are Amar Sagar (AS), Dhani Sagar (DS), Jagannath Dighi (JD) and Mahadeb Dighi (MD). To evaluate the water quality of the lakes and to identify the pollution sources random sampling was done during the month of April, 2014. Collected samples were analyzed according to APHA (2005) for different physicochemical parameters and the results were compared with standard values prescribed by WHO (1997) and BIS (1991). Obtained results of physicochemical water quality parameters of studied lakes revealed the fact of pollution load in the lakes. Average Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) as well as the value of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) is found high during analysis which conveys high bacteriological load, organic matter disposal and animal waste contamination into the lakes. The main pollution sources are identified as, four numbers of canals flowing municipality waste into the AS and one in DS, organic waste disposal into the lakes by local residents, agriculture practice inside the AS during dry season and contamination of domestic waste from run over drains in various parts of different lakes. Consequences of such human activities and discharge of sewage water makes the existence of the lakes more vulnerable. It is the prime necessary to take immediate remedial action to prevent all anthropogenic activities in the studied lakes or else the lakes will become biologically barren and will be lost forever.