A study on physico-chemical parameters of Lake Pichola of Udaipur (Rajasthan)

Abstract

The study was carried out to highlights the water quality status of lake Pichola, Udaipur (Rajasthan). The historic lake Pichola has its ethnic and scenic importance for the tourism. However, the lake is facing anthropogenic pressure due to heavy human population and hotels around it. This has created threat to shift its trophic level and alteration in its important physico-chemical parameters. The water samples were collected on monthly interval from four preselected sampling stations. The range of important water quality parameter in the lake were- air temperature (19.88-36.88 0C), water temperature (18.75-30.90 0C), transparency (15.91- 72.27 cm), pH (7.20-8.80), dissolved oxygen (4.88-9.43mg/l-1), free carbon dioxide (0.00-11.75mg/l-1) total alkalinity (145.50-177.25 mg/l-1), total hardness (144.00-183.50 mg/l-1), total dissolves solids(187.51-273.51 mg/l-1), nitrate-N (0.36-0.51 mg/l-1) and orthophosphate (0.15-0.27mg/l-1) were observed. Water quality parameters were compared with reported optimum water quality standards prescribed for fish farming or aquaculture are found within limit. The results revealed that aquatic environment of Pichola Lake is conducive for fish growth and water is not only suitable for fish farming but also for irrigation.