Impact of indiscriminate disposal of untreated effluents in Korangi creek, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Korangi creek is one of the major creek of Indus delta which receives both untreated industrial and domestic effluents. It provides an important waterway to approach Port Qasim. A survey of water quality and the sediments along with biodiversity of benthic fauna was conducted. A total of 24 water and 14 sediment samples were collected from February to November 2014. The mean pH of seawater and sediment samples was 7.41 and 7.5, respectively. The mean salinity of seawater was 36‰. The mean BOD5 of seawater and sediments was 288 mg/l and 1645 mg/kg, respectively, while COD was 1231.9 mg/l and 1645.3 mg/kg, respectively. Cyanide content was low in seawater but slightly higher in sediment. Mean phenol level of seawater and sediment was 0.61 mg/l and 8.11 mg/kg. Heavy metals in the seawater was established to be in the order Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > Zn > As. The trend in sediment was slightly different and followed the following pattern Pb > As > Ni > Cu > Cr > Zn. The distribution pattern of the estimated variables for seawater and sediments was examined using the principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Annelida and Arthropoda were the dominant components of biodiversity. Taxa diversity was measured and Shannon index (H) ranged between 1.364 and 1.969 while equitability (J) ranged between 0.549 and 0.862. Dominance (D) was in the range of 0.156–0.436.