BIO-ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF RIVERS AND STREAMS

Abstract

The present study deals with Rapid Bioassessment of the Ujh River in Jammu and Kashmir using Hindu-Kush Himalayan rapid field bioassessment (HKH-RFB) protocol and validation was done using more sophisticated Multi Habitat Sampling(MHS) based on benthic macroinvertebrates as biological quality indicators. Physical characterization and habitat assessment of all the eight sampling stations was performed by using ASSESS-HKH site protocol. A total of 16 physico-chemical parameters were analyzed for all the stations and using WQI calculation; water quality status of the individual station was assessed. The finding reveals that water quality of the stations decreased from upstream (SI) to downstream (S2). The identification of the collected biotic sampled was done up to the family level. There were total 10 taxonomic groups, 36 families and total 2193 individuals were identified. Percentage abundance of Ephemeroptera (0.42) was found highest and followed by Trichoptera (0.31) while rest of the 8 taxa was in very less percentage as compared to these two. To determine the water quality class of the sampling station seven different biotic indices were used like Nepalese biotic score (NEPBIOS), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), Hindu-Kush Himalayan biotic score (HKHBIOS), SIGNAL (Stream Invertebrate Grade Number- Average Level), SIGNAL 2, modified Nepalese biotic score and FBI (Family biotic index). According to biotic indices Station SI and S2 has water quality class 2 for all the indices except BMWP/ASPT which assigns class I to station I while rest of the stations have water quality class 3 (moderate pollution). One way ANNOVA test was performed to determine the discrimination between biotic indices and finding reveals that there was a significant difference because F-value (3.24) > Fcrit-value (2.29). Preclassification of the station was done by using preclassification tools and assigned water quality class to each station. Simple regression analysis among the preclassified river quality class and biotic indices performed to find the correlation which shows that FBI, HKHBIOS, NEPBIOS and modified NEPBIOS have good positive relationship with the preclassified river quality class. Finally biological water quality class was determined using Saprobic and diversity score it shows the similar trend to define water quality status of the station as shown by preclassification tool and biotic indices. The overall water quality status of the river Ujh was found to be between good (class 2/ BWQC-B to moderately polluted (class 3/BWQC-C). There is a need to develop biotic indices for the determination of hydro-morphological stresses of flowing stream/ rivers.