SEASONAL ASSESSMENT OF KORANG RIVER SURFACE WATER QUALITY USING WATER QUALITY INDEX (WQI) AND GIS-BASED SPATIAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Water quality of fresh water basins in Pakistan is being degraded because of human actions. Surface water quality at Baroha, Shahpur and Korang Road which are the main tributaries of river Korang and Rawal Lake were investigated during December and April and compare with (NSDWQ 2010). And then Water quality index was calculated and analyze using GIS base spatial analysis. 18 Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed during both seasons. The study showed that the pollution level increases at Shahpur and Korang road as compared to baroha because of discharge of domestic wastes, poultry waste, agricultural activities and solid waste dumping directly into the sites. Turbidity was found to be higher in the april due to runoff after rainfall. On the other hand, EC, TDS and alkalinity decreased gradually due to the dilution effect. Dissolved oxygen was found low at other two sites then baroha in December and remain with in the permissible in April suggesting pollution stress at those reaches. WQI values indicated Baroha Bridge as Good in water quality and Shahpur and Korang Road as Poor to Very Poor water quality areas. GIS based mapping of stations revealed that pollution hotspots towards down stream.