Water quality study of the Mansar lake of Udhampur - A research report by National Institute of Hydrology

The report deals with the findings of a water quality study of Mansar lake in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. The water samples from different locations at the surface and from three zones (viz, epilimnion, metalimnion and hypolimnion) were collected and physico-analysis carried out.

pH value of the lake water was found to vary from 7.8 to 8.2 and was maximum at the surface and minimum at the bottom of the lake. In different months, temperature varies with depth. It clearly shows that during winter, particularly in January and February, the lake water becomes mixed while it remains stratified during the rainy and summer months.

The water quality analysis indicates that Calcium, Sodium and Magnesium are the dominant cation, while Bicarbonate is the dominant anion. Presence of cations in the lake water is in the following sequence: Calcium > Sodium > Magnesium > Potassium. The presence of anions is in the sequence: Bicarbonate > Chloride > Sulphate > Nitrate > Phosphate .

However, the concentrations of these cations are well below the prescribed limits for Class A drinking water. The concentration of Phosphate was observed to be more than 0.03 mg/l, which is characteristic of eutrophic lakes. Trace element concentrations are also below the prescribed limits.

The physico-chemical analyses reveal that the Mansar lake water is good for drinking and irrigation purposes. Also, the phosphate concentration indicates that lake is in eutrophic stage.

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