Rejuvenation Of

Dying Lakes

ANUJ PATWAL
160109
 Contents
• Pollutant problems and consequenses
• Lake Restoration methods
• Case Study
- Anasagar Lake
- Neela Hauz lake
 Pollutants, Problems, and
Consequences
 Most lake pollution problems are caused by
nutrients, contaminants, and sediments carried
into the lakes.
 Soil particles carry more than 90% of the organic
nitrogen and phosphorus originating from
agricultural land.
 Sediments come from non point sources
 Nutrients can have point as well as non point
sources.
Causes of pollution
 In recent years heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides have
increased the severity of problem

Consequences –
 high conc. Of nitrogen and phosphorous are the main causes
of algal growth which result in deterioration of lake water
quality.

 Algae cause taste and odour problem

 Adversely effect recreational activities

 Algal bloom leads to large masses of dead plants which cause

DO defficiency on decomposition

 High sediment load = increases turbidity = reduction in

diversity of aquatic life
Lake Restoration Methods
 Preventive Methods

1. Drainage Basin Alteration-

• This process is useful primarily for controlling
nonpoint sources of pollution.
• The drainage basin alteration involve structural and
land treatment measure and interception of
nutrients and sediments before they reach the lake.
• The main soil erosion management practices include
terracing, contour farming, grassed waterways,
conservation cropping systems, and creation of
shelter belts.
• Alternatively mechanical measures can be used to
intercept, divert, retard runoff.
 2. Diversion of Wastes-

• This is a frequently used solution for improving the water

quality of eutrophic lakes.
• Sewage effluents are the main source of lake
eutrophication. Their diversion results in marked
improvement in quality of water, decrease in
phytoplankton biomass, and increase in species diversity.
• Concentration of nutrients reduces and bottom oxygen
increases.
• This solution is reasonable if wastewater is mainly of
domestic origin.
 Ameliorative Methods
Lake deepening and Dredging-

Sediment removal is resorted to for improving diminished

recreational potential, reducing internal cycling of nutrients,
removing any toxic sediments, reducing internal cycling of
nutrients, and reducing nuisance aquatic macrophyte
growth.

Admission of Unpolluted Waters (Dilution)-

Admission of water or dilution results in lowering of nutrient

concentration and a washout of algal cells.
The effectiveness of this process increases with an increase
in the difference between nutrient conc. In the inflow and
lake water.
 This method is economical if an adequate supply of good
quality water exists nearby.

Aeration of Water –

• DO is very low in deep water of stratified lakes during

summer.
• DO is needed by all the living organisms for their survival.
• When the DO levels fall close to zero, more phosphorus is
released from the sediments under the prevailing anaerobic
conditions.
• In this technique we pump hypolimnetic water to the surface
and allow it to mix with warm epilimnetic water , the
resulting mixing improve the DO in the deeper water.
Stratified Lake
1.Epilimnetic
2.Metalimnetic
3.Hypolimnetic
 In lake Chemical methods

Phosphorus Precipitation – This method involves

successive applications of Aluminium Sulphate or alum
to disrupt internal phosphorus cycle.

Use of algicides and Herbicides – Copper ion is

effective in controlling algae.
Herbicide is an effective method of controlling weed
growth.
Outside lake Chemical Methods

1. Clarification - Clarifying agents (Lime,

Alum,FeCl3) are used. They remove 70-80% organic
matter and 90-98% suspended solids.

2.Disinfection- Chlorine is efficient for disinfecting

effluents.
• Ozone is also efficient but relatively expensive.
• The rate of disinfection is a function of time of contact ,
Conc. of disinfectant, and the temperature of water.
 Result and Discussion

Result of analyses carried out from 240 samples in

2007 and 2008 from five different sites demonstrate
that lake is eutrophic and severely polluted.
the factors of degradation were identified as-

 Agrochemicals and Pesticides

 Sedimentation and soil erosion
 Socio-economic aspects
 Acquisition of land
 Integrated Restoration Plan

1. Catchment Development Plan

• Developing a tree belt in the barren area of
catchment, check the soil erosion. Sand dunes in
the catchment area are stabilized by revegetation.
Desilting of the lake in the initial phase may be
taken as a major activity for restoration
• The sediment of Anasagar lake found to be rich in
nutrients(N and P) which may be utilized as
fertilizers in agricultural fields.
Lake area Development –

• A layout plan was designed in view of both

recreational activities and maintaining ecological
integrity for long term restoration and
sustainability.

• The peripheral area is restored through proposed

eco-architectural plan.

• This includes periodic removal of sediments and

organic debris for littoral zone.
Restoration Process
 Neela Hauz Lake

• Situated in South Delhi

• Main source of water for nearby locality

• Initially catchment area of this lake was covered with

the dense forests. Later a part of it was removed to
make an institutional area. While some part of it was
filled with debris during the construction of flyover
over it.
Steps involved in Reviving Neela
Hauz lake
DDA decided to use raw sewage mixed with STP
treated water to maintain water levels in the lake.

The lake was desilted and the silted material was

used for landscaping its embankments.

The raw water and STP treated water (designated as

waste water) passed through a constructed wetland
system before it enters into the lake.
The storage capacity of lake is enhanced by
constructing a mini runoff river check dam.

Two oxidation points established. In first

oxidation step sewage is stored and retained in
large surface area for 24-48 hours so that atm.
Oxygen can break down all organic material by
natural microbes.

In 2nd step water is stored in pond where aquatic

plants absorb nitrates and phosphates from
water.
Procudure involved in
Reviving Neela Hauz lake
BEFORE AFTER