Studies on physical and chemical qualities of lake water

The physico-chemical parameters of water samples collected from eight sites of Varal Devi lake in Bhiwandi city, Dist Thane-Maharashtra were assessed. This lake provide drinking water in the Bhiwandi city. The physicochemical parameter like Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Hardness (Ca2+) and (Mg2+), Phosphate (PO3-4)  were determined .The results were compared with standards prescribed by WHO (1993) and BIS (10500-1991). It was found that the water samples collected from various sites around the lake were contaminated. Phosphate, Total hardness and Magnesium hardness are above the permissible value set by WHO (1993). DO value also indicate the pollution load in the water. Magnesium hardness is also greater than the BIS value. Calcium hardness from all eight sampling sites are greater than WHO but less than maximum permissible limit set by ISI and greater than the desirable limits set by ISI. Only S4 sampling site shows higher level of total hardness than the maximum permissible limits of ISI and all S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S7, S8 sites shows less values of hardness than maximum permissible limits of ISI. This indicates that the quality of water is very bad and it is unfit for drinking purpose.