ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF JEHLUM RIVER WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND DRINKING AT DISTRICT MUZAFFARABAD AZAD KASHMIR

Abstract

Research study was conducted to evaluate the Physico-chemical quality of Jehlum river water at Distric t Muzaffarabad during 2001-02. Thirty water samples were collected at hig h and low flow conditions and were analyzed for pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and suspended so lids (SS). The high flow refers to the month of Jul y and August while low flow refers to the month of December and January. The mean values of pH at high flow were 7.18 slightl y lower than low flow that was 7.79. The mean value of EC at low flow 0.2 4 dSm -1 was comparatively higher than the EC at high flow 0.19 dSm -1 . TDS at high flow ranged from 90-800 mg/L with overall mean of 273.6 mg/L while in case of low flow the con centration of TDS ranged from 30 - 430 mg/L with a mean value of 145.67 mg/L. Hardness at high flow ranged from 40-160 mg/L with a mean value of 95.13 mg/L while the mean value was 114.4 mg/L. The value of SS range from 200-1200 mg at high flow while 30-600 mg at low flow. The Jehlum river water is acceptabl e for drinking as well as irrigation at both flows according to the analyzed physico- chemical properties, these results were cl ose to the World Health Organization (WHO) and United State Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) standards.