Journal of Environmental Biology

A comparative hydrobiological study of a few ponds of Barak Valley, Assam

and their role as sustainable water resources

J.R. Bhuiyan and S. Gupta*

*susmita_au@rediffmail.com

Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar-788 011, India

(Received: October 15, 2005 ; Revised received: May 20, 2006 ; Accepted: June 17, 2006)

Abstract: A hydrobiological study conducted in nine different ponds of a rural area of Barak Valley, Assam, showed that the concentrations of chemical parameters like dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc are within the permissible levels of drinking water quality standard of WHO and ISI. However, iron content was higher in most of the ponds. A clear indirect relationship between iron concentration and euglenoids has been observed. Major phytoplankton taxa present in the ponds are Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae. The study reveals that rural ponds can be a very good source of water for drinking, domestic use and fishery and should be conserved at any cost.

Key words:   Drinking water quality, Iron, Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae

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