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Spatial and temporal characterization of trace elements and nutrients in the Rawal Lake Reservoir, Pakistan using multivariate analysis techniques

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Abstract

Rawal Lake Reservoir is renowned for its ecological significance and is the sole source of drinking water of the third largest city of Pakistan. However, fish kill in recent years and anthropogenic impacts from human-related activities in its catchment area have resulted in deterioration of its surface water quality. This study aims to characterize spatial and temporal variations in surface water quality, identify contaminant sources, and compare their levels with quality guidelines. Surface water samples were collected from 10 sites and analyzed for 27 physicochemical parameters for a period of 2 years on a seasonal basis. Concentration of metals in surface water in pre-monsoon were in the order: Fe > Mg > Ca > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Co > Pb, whereas in post-monsoon, the order of elemental concentrations was: Ca > Mg > Na > Fe > K > Zn > Cr > Li > Pb > Co > Ni > Cu > Mn > Cd. Metals (Ni, Fe, Zn, and Ca), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and nutrients (PO 3−4 , NO3–N, and SO 2−4 ) were measured higher in pre-monsoon, whereas concentration of Cu, Mn, Cr, Co, Pb, Cd, K, Na, Mg, Li, Cl−, and NH4–N were recorded higher in post-monsoon. Results highlighted serious metal pollution of surface water. Mean concentration of Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, Fe, Cr, and Pb in both seasons and Mn in post-monsoon were well above the permissible level of surface water quality criteria. Results stress the dire need to reduce heavy-metal input into the lake basin and suggest that heavy-metal contamination should be considered as an integral part of future planning and management strategies for restoration of water quality of the lake reservoir.

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Acknowledgments

This research work is conducted under the Research Project “Ecological Impact Assessment of Selected Wetlands of Pakistan” Project No. 02-828/RND/07, funded by the Higher Education Commission. The authors are grateful to the Pakistan Wetlands Program (PWP) and in particular to Mr. Richard Garstang for providing transport and Hydrolab for field surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, PO 45,320, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Riffat Naseem Malik & Muhammad Nadeem

Authors
  1. Riffat Naseem Malik
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  2. Muhammad Nadeem
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Correspondence to Riffat Naseem Malik.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 6, 7, and 8.

Table 6 Comparison of mean concentrations of some physicochemical parameters (Temp, pH, EC, TDS, ALK, COD, and DO) of the present study with some other studies
Full size table
Table 7 Comparison of mean concentrations (mg/l) of some nutrients (Cl−, PO 3−4 , SO 2−4 , NO3–N, and NH4–N) of the present study with some other studies
Full size table
Table 8 Comparison of mean concentrations (mg/l) of some metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cd, Hg, As, Ni, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Pb, and Co) of the present study with some other studies
Full size table

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Malik, R.N., Nadeem, M. Spatial and temporal characterization of trace elements and nutrients in the Rawal Lake Reservoir, Pakistan using multivariate analysis techniques. Environ Geochem Health 33, 525–541 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-010-9369-8

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