The Biobrio 10(1 & 2), 2023

Comparative study of water quality assessment of Kanke Dam and Dhurwa Dam in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

Sandeep Prasad* & Shreya Sonal

ABSTRACT:

The present work deals with a comparative study of the water quality assessment of samples collected from five sites at the Kanke Dam and the Dhurwa Dam in Ranchi. The drinking water is supplied to the major population of Ranchi, which is dependent on the Kanke Dam. It is therefore essential to monitor the water quality at regular intervals of time. Water samples from the various parts of the dams were collected, and analysis was carried out on the basis of various parameters such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand. The range of various water quality parameters in both areas understudied were pH (7.19- 7.45), conductivity (114.8-445.6 s/cm), total dissolved solids (67.42-267.3 mg/L), total alkalinity (43-147 mg/L), total hardness (64.8-145 mg/L), calcium (7.85-52.8 mg/L), magnesium (3.54- 11.70 mg/L), chloride (6.79-54.90 mg/L), and DO (3.40-8.40 mg/L) and BOD (2.10-2.80 mg/L) were also measured. The study revealed that some analytical aspects were higher than the prescribed limit by the WHO and BIS standards for drinking water quality. The methodology for water quality assessment was taken from BIS and APHA standard methods. Some of the sampling sites at the dams can be categorized as "hypereutrophic," which indicates the water at that site is unfit for domestic use. The outer skirt of the dam has shrunk considerably due to the aggressive rapid urbanization process and uncontrollable encroachment. We need to spread awareness among people in order to keep these bodies of water free from pollution.

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