CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background:

1.1.1. Introduction of Study Site:

Nagdaha is a wetland situated at Dhapakhel VDC-8 in the southern part of Kathmandu Valley,
which is approximately 5 km away from Satdobato, Lalitpur. Nagdaha having approximately
1,91,660 sq meters in area is an important wetland. The main inflow source is natural spring
while the water flows out to from two small wetlands. This Daha plays a significant role as
temporary migratory habitat for birds. It is rich in biodiversity with flora and fauna diversity and
has a great religious and recreational value.

Water from Nagdaha is used by villages at Dhapakhel VDC for household purpose such as
washing dishes, taking baths, washing clothes, drinking purposes and for religious activities.
People heavily rely on Nagdaha for water resources to accomplish their household chores. Two
other VDCs along with Dhapakhel VDC 8, where Nagdaha is situated were dependent on
Nagdaha for drinking water but after the supply of drinking water from the government their
dependency for drinking water has lessened where as they are still dependent for other household
activities. Some of villagers are also involved in activities like fish farming, some function as
ferry man rowing boat etc.

Most of the House hold in Dhapakhel VDC is involved in agriculture activities. As being hugely
dependent on agriculture, these house hold rely on Nagdaha for irrigation .For the purpose of
irrigation a dam has been constructed which is closed to accumulate water for irrigation every
June and is opened in August during the plantation period.

Due to different activities of people, Nagdaha now has become much polluted. One of major
problem of Nagdaha is eutrophication. Because of eutrophication some portion of Nagdaha is
covered by aquatic plants or bloom.

1.1.2. Eutrophication:

Eutrophication is defined as increase in the concentration of nutrient content to an extent that

increases the primary productivity of the water body. In other terms, it is the “bloom” or great
increase of phytoplankton in water body. Negative environmental effects include particularly
anoxia, or loss of oxygen in the water with severe reduction in fish and other animals’
populations.

1
Nutrients are leading cause of eutrophication. Nitrogen and phosphorous both stimulate plant
growth. Both are measured from samples of water and reported in units of µg/l (micrograms per
liter), or ppb (parts per billion).Phosphorus is the most important nutrient, and is used directly as
measure of eutrophication.

Plants are the primary users of nutrients. Chlorophyll a is a component of the cells of most plants
and can be used to measure the concentration of small plants in water such as algae. Chlorophyll
a is measured from samples of water and reported in units of µg/l. Macrophytes are aquatic
plants with steam and leaves .The location of different species of plants can be mapped, and the
density can be measured in pounds of; plants per acre of lake.

We can use following formula/ Index to calculate eutrophication:

Calculating the TSI (tropical state index)

The index is relatively simple to calculate and to use. Three equations are used: Secchi disk, TSI
(SD); chlorophyll pigments, TSI (CHL); and total phosphorus, TSI (TP). The original Secchi
depth equation in Carlson (1977), reproduced below looks forbidding, but illustrates how the
index was constructed.

The basic Secchi disk index was constructed from doublings and halving of Secchi disk
transparency. The base index value is a Secchi disk of 1 meter, the logarithm of which is zero.

ln 1 = 0 6-0=6 10 x 6 = 60

Therefore, the TSI of a 1 meter Secchi depth is 60. If the Secchi depth were 2 meters,

ln 2 / ln 2 = 1 6-1=5 10 x 5 = 50

The indices for the chlorophyll and total phosphorus are derived in a similar manner, but, instead
of a Secchi depth value in the numerator, the empirical relationship between chlorophyll or total
phosphorus and Secchi depth is given instead. For example, the chlorophyll TSI is:

The above forms of the TSI equations may illustrate how the indices were derived, but they can
be simplified for everyday use. The simplified equations are below:

TSI (SD) = 60 - 14.41 ln(SD)

TSI (CHL) = 9.81 ln(CHL) + 30.6

2
 TSI (TP) = 14.42 ln(TP) + 4.15

In order to know the present status of eutrophication following are important measures of
eutrophication.

1.1.1.1. Transparency:

Transparency or clarity of the water is measured using a device known as a Secchi disk. This is
an eight inch diameter target painted black and white in alternate quadrants. The disk is attached
to marked line or measuring tape and lowered from a boat into the lake .The distance into the
water column can be seen in the transparency ,measured in feet or meters. A short distance of
visibility means that there are suspended particles or algae cells in the water, an indication of
nutrient enrichment.

1.1.1.2. Dissolve Oxygen (DO):

Dissolve oxygen is the oxygen dissolved in water that is necessary to sustain aquatic life and its
population. Dissolve oxygen analysis measures the amount of oxygen dissolved in an aqueous
solution. Oxygen gets into water by diffusion from the surrounding air, by aeration (rapid
movement) and as waste product of photosynthesis.

Total dissolve gas concentration in water should not exceed 110 percent. Concentration above
this level can be harmful to aquatic life. Fish in waters containing excessive dissolved gases
suffers from “gas bubble disease” in which the bubbles block the flow of blood through blood
vessels causing death.

Adequate dissolved oxygen is necessary for good water quality. Oxygen is a necessary element
to all forms of life. Natural stream purification processes require adequate oxygen levels in order
to provide for aerobic life forms. As dissolved oxygen levels in water drop below 5.0 mg/l,
aquatic life is put under stress. The lower the concentration, the greater the stress. Oxygen levels
that remain below 1-2 mg/l for a few hours can result in large fish kills.

Fish such as Trout, require more DO than warm water species. Eutrophic lakes occasionally have
levels of DO below the minimum for fish to survive and fish kills can result.

1.1.1.3. Temperature:

Temperature affects the growth of plants the release of nutrients and the mixing of layers of
water in lake. Temperature measurements can determine if mixings occurs, moving nutrients
from the lake bottom up into the surface waters prompting algae blooms.

1.2. Objectives:
3
 • To determine pH level of Lake water and its impact on aquatic life.

• To determine alkalinity, hardness, dissolve oxygen and biological oxygen demand of

lake.

• To determine nitrates and phosphate concentration and its impact on whole lake.

• To determine the environmental effect of eutrophication.

• And problems associated with eutrophication along the study site.

Significance of study:

Since this pond has religious as well as aesthetic value our study may help to know the main
problem related to the eutrophication, find some solution to that problem and finally help those
who are involved in preservation of this pond. Our study also aims to find out the level of
eutrophication at different depth of the pond which may support to analyze similar problem at
different ponds.

4
 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

Due to insufficient data and information, it is difficult to provide the exact distribution of
wetlands in Nepal.163 wetland sites have been identified till date in Terai region and 2,323
glacial lakes from the High Himalaya region. Some experts have estimated about 500 men- made
pond, of which 100 are believed to be in Kathmandu Valley, 150 in the Janakpur area and the
rest being distributed all over the country (Shrestha, 2006).These ponds are historically important
and were constructed for religious as well as secular reasons. Some of these wetlands are in
process of disappearance while others are vulnerable to various threats such as human
encroachment, over-exploitation of resources, draining out of water, socio-cultural pollution and
vegetation succession. (Report on World Wetlands day 2006-5)

The Nagadha, a natural pond situated at the heart of Dhapakhel VDC covers about an area of 5
hectares. According to Joshi et al (2001) its altitude is 1340 masl with the coordinates of
27º37’53” South and 85º20’17” North. The permanent inflow and outflow is the central of
attraction of the pond for some animals including birds.Frog(Rana tigrina), fishes like buduna
(Garra armandalei) ,singhee (Heterophrutes fossilis) ,carp (Cyprinus carpio) ,birds like
panihans (Anas falicota ,A.penelope , A. nyroca) , neel tauke (Anas platyrhynchos) , simkukhura
(Amaurornis fuscus ,Fulica atra , Gallinula chloropus ) ,jureli (Pyconnotus cafer ) and rangeen
chaha (Rostratula benbhalensis ) and flora like singara (Trapa bispinosa ,T . quadrispinosa )
,bhringi jhar (Alternanthera sessilis) , lily (Nymphoides sp.) , lotus ( Nelumba nucifera ) and so
forth have been recorded from the pond.

This location is situated at the heart of human settlement due to which rapid human
encroachment, slit deposition, unregulated sewage disposal, uncontrolled weed growth,
eutrophication of this pond, agro-chemical and pesticides have affected the environment of the
pond, its water quality and its surrounding. The water of this pond is used for fish farming,
washing clothes, bathing and even wallowing of buffaloes .The last three activities are the main
source of pollution of the pond.

However every August on the occasion of Naga Panchami, local people come together to clean
the ponds .They specially remove water hyacinth and other forms of weeds. This annual cleanup
activity has help to check the sediment deposition due to accumulation of decaying plants in the
pond. Due to this cleanup process ecologically endangered species such as wild rice (Oryzxa sp.)
and lotus (Nelumba nucifera) are also removed from the pond.

It is suggested that the patch of water hyacinth should be protested at the point source of
pollution so that it would absorb pollution and other solid matters before they enter into the pond
(Joshi et al, 2001)

5
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Water from various site of the Lake was collected in different season which was followed by
laboratory experiment. We can calculate eutrophication by calculating total nitrogen(TN), total
phosphorous(TP),chemical oxygen demand (COD),secchi disk depth(SD),chlorophyll a
concentration(Chl-a) and phytoplankton biomass (CA).nitrogen and Phosphorous both are
measured from samples of water and reported in units of µg/l(micrograms per liter) or ppb(parts
per billion).Chlorophyll-a is also measured from sample and reported in units of µg/l.

6
Reference

Published by: Friends of Bagmati (FoB) Report on the world wetlands day 2006-5

Bastola, R and Yonzon, S (Eds) (2006) World Wetland Day 2006 Celebration: report. Friends of
Bagmati, Kathmandu

(web site : http/www.friendsofthebagmati.org.np/wwd2006-report)