A Comparative Study on Different Pollutant Levels in Kashmir Lakes and Rivers Interventions and Remedies

Abstract

Freshwater resources are vital for human survival, ecological balance, and socio-economic development; however, rapid population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and intensified agricultural practices have severely degraded water quality worldwide. In India, and particularly in the ecologically sensitive Kashmir Valley, lakes and rivers serve as primary sources of drinking water, irrigation, and livelihood support. Over recent decades, these water bodies have been subjected to increasing pollution from untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial effluents, encroachment, and unplanned developmental activities, leading to serious environmental and public health concerns. newlineThe present study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics and overall water quality status of major freshwater bodies of the Kashmir Valley, namely Dal Lake, Manasbal Lake, Wular Lake, Jhelum River, and Sindh River. Water samples were analyzed for key parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, chloride, fluoride, calcium, magnesium, iron, sulphate, nitrate, and phosphate. The observed values were compared with the prescribed standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess their suitability for drinking, irrigation, and environmental sustainability. newlineAdditionally, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) was employed to determine the overall water quality status of the selected water bodies. The study also attempts a comparative assessment based on geographical location, pollution sources, and anthropogenic pressures, which has not been comprehensively addressed earlier. The findings highlight significant variations in water quality among the studied sites, indicating varying degrees of pollution stress.