Assessment of water quality of urban lakes for recreational purpose in thane district

Abstract

Manmade lakes are potential tourism site as well as a source of livelihood, urban lakes in Badlapur & Kalva viz.Lotus pond & Kalwa lake in thane district lakes were being used by the local communities residing nearby for various purposes such as farming/Irrigation purposes, fishing purposes, ecotourism, ash disposal, ganesh idol immersion purposes. Thus urban lakes in Badlapur & Kalwa viz.Lotus pond & Kalva lake in thane district were assessed for physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics of the lake to assess quality of lake water for recreational purpose. A total of nine samples of water from the lakes were collected for one year during the monsoon, pre-monsoon & post monsoon seasons from a period of April 2012 to March 2013 and were subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis. The measured water quality parameters included pH, color, turbidity, alkalinity, temperature, hardness, Specific conductivity, Dissolved oxygen, COD, BOD ,Chloride content TDS, Total load of bacteria, coliform count & presence of human pathogens. The biodiversity of the microorganisms was evaluated in the lake waters & studied for the presence of nitrosifiers & nitrifiers, sulfate reducers, cellulose degraders, phosphate solubilizers and sulfur oxidizers. The baseline physico-chemical parameters were within the permissible limits. Both these lakes showed high BOD & COD than the accepted limit. Thus Lake water is not potable, but can be used for general purpose as well as recreational purpose. Though the above lakes contain non-potable water ,but it benefits ecology.