Seasonal variations in physico-chemical characteristics of pahuj reservoir, district jhansi, bundelkhand region, central India

Pahuj, a small reservoir has been built on Pahuj river and is located approximately 5 km in the west of Jhansi city. The water in the reservoir is used for irrigation, fish culture, drinking and for other domestic purposes. The present investigation deals with the study of seasonal variations in physico-chemical characteristics of Pahuj reservoir. The study was carried out on monthly basis for the period of one year from August 2008 to July 2009 at four different stations of the reservoir. The physico-chemical parameters such as water depth, water temperature, Transparency, pH, Electrical conductivity, Dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, Alkalinity, Total hardness, Chloride, Silicates, Nitrate nitrogen and Total phosphorus were studied. The range of various parameters of reservoir water (water depth 3.00 - 5.70 m, water temperature 15.12- 35.75 0C, Transparency 30.00- 370 cm, pH 7.34- 8.82, Electrical conductivity 224.00- 660.30 µS/cm, dissolved oxygen 7.10- 10.52 mg/L, free Carbon dioxide 13.42- 19.35mg/L, Alkalinity 100.82- 170.42 mg/L, Total hardness 85.60- 176.50 mg/L, Chloride 23.60- 85.32 mg/L, Silicates 2.50- 8.52 mg/L, nitrates 24.4- 460 µg/L and phosphates 24.80- 375µg/L) exhibit monthly as well as seasonal variations. During the period of study, the higher values of nutrients like nitrates and phosphates were observed during post-monsoon and lower during summer season. This was due to allocthonous brought nutrients into the reservoir from the surrounding catchment area.