Study of pollulion and Aquaiic Organisms Of the Ceh Stream, Rawalpindi

Abstract

The purpose of the project was the study of physico-chemical nature of water organisms(plants and animals) and the productivity of bottom fauna of the Leh stream,Rawalpindi.It was also intended to find out the pollution,its effects on water quality and the organisms and also to determine the water pollution indicators. The collection of water samples and the organisms was done on monthly basis each year from June 1978 to May 1980.Due to shortage of staff and funds, the places of collection were reduced from 8 to 6 and instead of fortnightly, monthly collection was dime The main object was the study of pollution and the organisms of the Leh stream,Rawa/pindi.The Leh stream and its tributaries, arise from Margalla hills above Islamabad and drains through a great payt of Islamabad l it is, therefore necessary that the study should also be done in Islamabad. The water of the Leh stream beforP reaching the Sewerage Treatment Plant, a tributary, Tanewali Kas near 7-UP Beverage Factory and a tributary, Badarwali Kas coming from I/10 have nonpolluted water and the water quality is fit for drinking, domestic and irrigational purposes.These waters have typical stream flora and fauna.Among the flora there were a number of elan-Q. ' and a few angiospermic plants such as Potamogeton,Hydrillal Typha and Lemna.There were a good number of macroinvertebrates which fob the food of fishes.The productivity of bottom fauna was also high, Ten species of fishes were found in nonpolluted waterl some of thew, were of suitable sizes.In sector I/91 after receiving the industr4 -al pollution the colour of water becothe milky and there was a drci, in the organisms by number and weight.No fish was found.Tanewali Kas and Badarwali Kas discharge into the Leh near Sewerage Treatment Plant.The Leh after the confluence passes under the bridge near F-Block,Satellite Town.The bulk of water increases end the pollution is diluted.In our study of the fauna and flora t it was found that number and weight was increased.Before the constructie of industries in Islamabad l the water was not much polluted,fishes were found up to Dhok Dallalan,Pir Vadhai.The Leh behind Holy roti Family Hospital was an ideal place for Anglers, but now no fish is found at this place.The water passes through Rawalpindi town an0 it gets household and sewage wastes;detergents and soaps from dhobighats, and houses; faeces and urine of buffaloes;wastes from service stations and effluents from small industries, so the colowp of water becomes brown and the bottom becomecblack.The water is highly polluted when it comes near Mohanpura and Daryabad, the dissolved.. oxygen becomes very low, the flora and macrofauna tare also reduced.When the Leh passes near Dhok Chiraghdin,it pollutes-2- the wells in the nearby areas.The water passes on the back of Ayti} Park and-the slopels sharp.Due to the detergents and soaps ther are foams over the surface of water.During this course the water becomes aerated and solid impurities are settled down on the bott The water near the .Soan Camp, becomes slow and is not badly pollu and a fish,Channa punctatus was found .In the spring 1979 a numbs of young Ch.ela sp..were found in large number.Turtles 1 wre common the Leh near the Soan Camp.The total length of the Leh from its origin to the confluence of the Soan river is 22* miles and it cov r 12 miles in Rawalpindi. It is concluded that the water is nonpolluted in the upper reaches of the Leh and its tributaries in Islamabad.The total hardness is higher as 'compared to the International Standard of Drinking 'W6ter:After receiving the pollution there is increase in total alkalinity,total hardness.There is gradual increase in magnesium, •sed,ium,and potassium.Cert'-in plants , and animals can no tolerate pollution.After pollution there was decrease. in algae pr' macrofauna but.increase in.microfauna.The gradual ,increase .in the quantities of sodium and-potassium indicated domestic pollution./ few algae, micro, and macrofauna indicate the pollution.%