Rajat Sheoran, Abhinav Saxena, Rajinder Kaur, Randeep Kaur and Arpit Sharma
Abstract
Wetlands are invaluable ecosystems that play a crucial role in maintaining eco-hydrological sustainability. They serve as a multifaceted resource, supporting various activities, including industrialization, transportation, agriculture, aquatic fauna habitat, and domestic water supply, as well as serving as a medium for cleaning and waste disposal. However, the increasing influx of debris from corporate activities, residential drainage, and agricultural practices poses a significant threat to the quality of river water. This study focuses on the physico-chemical water parameters of the Ropar wetland, recognized as a Ramsar site, during the period from February 2021 to January 2022. Water samples were collected seasonally from four strategically chosen locations, representing the Pre-monsoon (March-May), Monsoon (June-August), Post monsoon (September-November), and Winter (December-February) seasons. The study assessed a range of water quality parameters, including Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Free Carbon Dioxide (FCO2), turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, calcium, chloride, pH, temperature, and conductivity, with triplicate measurements at each site. The findings of this research indicate that most water quality parameters, reached their maximum levels during the pre-monsoon season with exception of DO and FCO2, while DO and FCO2 maximized during the winter season. These parameters have direct implications for biodiversity loss, imbalanced agricultural practices, and resource depletion. As such, the results underscore the necessity of implementing adaptive strategies to ensure the continued suitability of this water resource for residential purposes over an extended period.