Effect of urbanization on the urban lake water quality by using water quality index (WQI)

Abstract

Lake water serves an efficient source of drinking, irrigation, agriculture, industry, construction, domestic and recreation use for the urban and rural population of developing countries. The paper focuses on the assessment of water quality on the selected lakes which is affected by the speedy development of the city under the sprawl of urbanization and concretization by applying Water Quality Index (WQI) tool. Four lakes, namely Hebbal, Ulsoor, Allasandra and Mahadevapura are selected in the silicon city, Bengaluru for water quality assessment. A total of 10 parameters were taken into consideration, such as pH, turbidity, total alkalinity, total acidity, total phosphorus, COD, BOD, DO, nitrates and total nitrogen from 2 sampling sites depending upon the source of wastewater or sewage discharges. Water samples were collected and prepared for composite samples. These composite samples were examined for their different chemical and physical properties and the results were compared with standard permissible values. The results of WQI of Hebbal Lake (70.89–72.74), Ulsoor Lake (83.44–83.3), Allasandra Lake (54.47–51.84) and Mahadevapura Lake (159.41–155.81) showed that the lakes fall under poor, very poor and unsuitable categories. The results pointed out the anthropogenic activities and entry of untreated sewage into the lake. This confirms the urgent need for regular monitoring of lakes and setting up of certain policies for lake water management.