Biological Monitoring of Harnoi Stream Water Quality, Abbottabad, North Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract:Harnoi stream water quality is severely affected by urban population activities, which resides nearby the stream. The present study was conducted for the assessment of various stream water sites. The aim of the study was to check the effect of various point and nonpoint sources of pollution, on the stream water quality. The study area was divided into three main sites, upstream, polluted and downstream site. These three sites were combined together at river 'Dorr', near Havalian, which ultimately mix with river Indus at Tarbela. Main assessment biological parameters included algal, macro invertebrates, bacteriological and fungal analysis. Other physicochemical parameters included pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), NaCl and turbidity. Higher conductivity value of 680 µS cmG 1 was found in the month of October, which was higher in polluted site in all 8 months. The TDS higher value of 497 ppm was found in the month of October but the values were below Pak NEQS. Harnoi stream was dominated by Cyanobacteria and Oscillatoria. Macro-invertebrate at pollutant stream site included tolerant species, such as, tubifex, plectus, leech, sewage fly, dero, snails, midge fly larva, black fly larva and carp. Higher gram negative bacterial count showed fecal contamination, which is vulnerable for the stream water quality. It is concluded from the results obtained that, some immediate remediation strategies, like, wetland construction and growth of pollution control plants, are necessary to control the situation.