Monitoring Water Quality of Two Lakes of Belgaum District (Karnataka) with Special Reference to Phytoplankton

Abstract

Abstract
A study on physico-chemical characteristics of the Fort Lake and Wadral Lake of Belgaum (Karnataka) was made to monitor the quality of water. Fort Lake exhibits slight alkalinity with pH ranging from 7.3 to 8.0, electrical conductivity 230–310 μS/cm, BOD 0.246–2.0876 mg/L, total hardness 89.33–126.66 mg/L, and total alkalinity 1.52–2.466 mg/L whereas the Wadral Lake water is alkaline with respect to pH variation from 7.8 to 8.1, electrical conductivity 280–430 μS/cm, BOD 0.107–4.032 mg/L, total hardness 132–173.3 mg/L, and total alkalinity 3.22–3.46 mg/L. A total of 29 species of phytoplankton belonging to five classes were recorded and the study indicated that the phytoplankton diversity (Chlorophyceae-10 species, Bacillariophyceae-12 species, Cyanophyceae-4 species, Euglenophyceae-1 species and Chrysophyceae-1 species) reveal the different type of water quality. Observations conclude that the Fort Lake water is showing the signs of eutrophication whereas the water of Wadral Lake is comparatively less polluted.

Keywords: lakes, physico-chemical character, phytoplankton, water quality