Physico-chemical characterisitics of hauz khas lake, new delhi, India

In India, urban water bodies commonly become cesspools due to lack of sanitation facilities. Delhi is continually urbanizing at a rapid pace that has affected the condition of water bodies. Hauz khas is an area which is located in South Delhi and the lake inside it is 700 year old. The pH in zone 2 was 9.6 and in zone 3 was 9.7 which showed the lake water is not suitable for irrigation, fish culture, outdoor bathing. It is very clear that the sewage effluent is the major source of nutrients in the lake and it was concluded that the current situation is not sustainable. The pH in two zones found maximum permissible limit. Turbidity also found maximum in all zone it may affect the ability of fish gills to absorb dissolved oxygen. Whereas, remaining parameters like ammonia, fluoride, chloride, total hardness, nitrate and boron all these parameters found within the limit as per IS: 2296: 1992 except DO and BOD. DO level in zone 3 and 4 was 9.45 mg/L and 7.93mg/L it showed the presence of high algal growth. BOD ranged from 10 to 64.9 mg/L. As results showed that the two zones of lake i.e. zone 3 and zone 4 is not suitable for bathing, irrigation purposes. Also, it is not suitable for aquatic life.