Evaluation of Water Quality Using Water Quality Index: Case Study of Sacred Ponds in the Imphal Valley, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/ijsc.v54.i2.226Keywords:
Imphal valley, Lai Pukhri, Meitei ethnic group, Sacred groves, Umang lai, Water Quality IndexAbstract
Sacred ponds in the sacred groves of the Imphal valley are an integral part of the Meitei ethnic group's culture, religion and social fabric. Till date, cultural linkages have protected the groves. However, population growth and modernization have impacted the groves at present, with most of the sacred sites and its associated ponds threatened. In the present study, physico-chemical characteristics of water from ten sacred ponds were analysed during 2023-24. The analysis showed that pH ranged from 7.01±0.02 to 8.68 ±0.23 for post-monsoon (PoM) and 7.50±0.04 to 8.82±0.10 for pre-monsoon (PM), electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 109± 1.53 to 269±2.65 µS cm-1 for PoM and 331±1.46 to 681±7.43 µS cm-1 for PM, and dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged from 2.9±1.56 to 4.7±2.69 mg L-1 for PoM and 2.1±0.14 to 2.9±0.14 mg L-1 for PM, respectively. The Water Quality Index (WQI) calculated showed that the ponds are in the very poor or the unsuitable category for drinking. The WQI ranged from 107.29 to 211.91 for PoM and 87.46 to 239.51 for PM, respectively. The observed results suggest the necessity of regular water quality monitoring and assessment. It showed that the restoration of the sacred ponds in the sacred sites is an urgent need of the hour.
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