J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2015: Vol.

29 (2):347-351
(347) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

EFFECT OF CANAL LINKING ON WATER QUALITY INDICES IN BHAKRA - YAMUNA

LINK CANALS IN HARYANA
Anil K. Tyor* and Parmila Devi
Fish and Fisheries Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136119
[Corresponding author E-mail*: tyoranil@yahoo.com]

Received: 22-06-2015 Accepted: 19-08-2015

The present study was intended to analyse Water quality of Bhakra-Yamuna link canals in Narwana region, Haryana in order to see
the effect of canal interlinking on water quality. Weighted Arithmetic Mean index method was used for the calculation of WQI on the
basis of various physico-chemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity; total dissolved solid, total alkanity, total hardness,
calcium, magnesium, chloride, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand. The result revealed that in Sirsa branch
of Western Yamuna Canal (Site S1), water quality was poor throughout the year whereas, in Barwala link canal of Bhakra Main canal
(Site S2), water quality was good and safe for human consumption. After interlinking of canal, water quality was good at Sirsa
branch of western Yamuna canal (Site S3) in the absence water from S1 and becomes poor when water is released through S1.

Haryana is considered to be the food mine of India. To cultivate
the land, irrigation of state depends upon the canal system.
The various canals which are operating in the state include
Western Yamuna canal, Gurgaon canal, Jui canal, Jawaharlal
Nehru and Bhakra canal. Bhakra canal network in Haryana
has a cultivable command area of 1.3 million hectares and
has three operational systems: the tail of Bhakra Main Line
(BML), the BML-Barwala link canal and the Narwana-Sirsa
system which receive their water supplies from Ropar Head
works on river Sutlej in Punjab1. Western Yamuna Canal
(30º29'N; 77º35'E) originate from Tajewala Headwork on Yamuna
river at Yamunanagar and crosses Yamunanagar, Karnal,
Panipat before reaching Haiderpur treatment plant in Delhi.
The supplies in canal fluctuated with variations in flow of river
Yamuna. The Sirsa branch takes off from this canal at Indri
town (Karnal) which irrigates area in Jind, Hisar and Sirsa
district. It is not a perennial canal because with the recession
of flow in Yamuna, all the distributaries could not be fed
simultaneously. Hence, the different distributaries are fed on
rotational basis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Site S2: It is located 1km upstream from Dhakal Head on
Barwala link canal of Bhakra Main Line (Longitude 29º61'N
and latitude 76 º15'E).
Site S3: It is 2.5 km downstream from joining point of both
canals near Narwana, where water of canals is completely
intermixed (Longitude 29º59'N and latitude 76 º14'E).
Water samples in triplicate, were collected in plastic bottles
on monthly basis from January to December (2013) from all
selected sites. Physicochemical parameters were analysed
in the laboratory according to standard procedures within 3 to
4 days, during which samples were kept in cold storage 2-3.
However, pH and fixation of dissolved oxygen was done on the
spot.
Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated for each month
using the standards of drinking water quality recommended
by the Bureau of Indian Standards and Indian Council for
Medical Research4-5. The weighted arithmetic index method
has been used for the calculation of WQI of waterbody6. Further
quality rating (q n) was calculated using the following
expression:

For the present investigation, three sampling sites, S 1, S2,
and S3 (Fig.-1) were selected on Bhakra-Yamuna link canals
in Narwana region, Haryana.
Site S1: It is located 1 km upstream from Head on Sirsa branch
of Western Yamuna Canal in Narwana region (Longitude
29º63'N and latitude 76 º17'E).
qn=100(Vn-Vio)/(Sn-Vio) (Equation-1)
qn=Quality rating for nth water quality parameter
Vn=Estimated value of the nth parameter at a given sampling
site.
Sn=Standard permissible value of the nth parameter.
Vio=Ideal value of the nth parameter in pure water (i.e. 0 for all

NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20

 EFFECT OF CANAL LINKING ON WATER QUALITY INDICES
Figure-1 . Map showing study sites on selected canals.
parameters
except the parameter pH and D.O. (7.0 and 14.6 mg/L
respectively)
W n=K/Sn (Equation-2)
W n=Unit weight for the nth parameter.
Sn=Standard value for the nth parameter.
K=Constant of proportionality.
The overall Water Quality Index was calculated by aggregating
the quality rating with the unit weight linearly.
WQI =  qn.W n/  W n (Equation-3)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Monthly variations in different physico-chemical parameters
of selected canal system are presented in Fig.-2. Table-1
depicts the range and Mean±S.E. of physico-chemical
parameters of three sites. Table-2 depicts the values of WQI
and status of selected canal system. In the present study,
the values of all physico-chemical parameters except electrical
conductivity at site S1 and S3 were within permissible limits as
prescribed by BIS and ICMR4-5. The value of pH was found to
be alkaline at all sites and varied within a narrow range. It
ranged from 7.52 to 7.82 at site S1, 7.25 to 7.62 at site S2 and
7.05 to 7.68 at site S3. Alkaline pH was also observed in
Yamuna river7-8.
The values of conductivity and T.D.S. showed decreasing trend
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from site S1 to S3 and increasing trend from site S2 to S3.
Electrical conductivity is considered as a good indicator of
water quality. High conductivity reflects the pollution load as
well as trophic level of aquatic body9. In the present study,
maximum value of conductivity (385±3.24 µS cm -1) was
recorded at site S1 in month of July and minimum conductivity
(217±0.70 µS cm-1) was recorded at site S2 in month of January.
High value of conductivity in Western Yamuna canal has also
been reported10-11. The values of total dissolved solids fluctuated
between158 to 289 mgL-1 at site S1, 124 to 163 mgL-1 at site
S2 and 132 to 209 mgL-1 at site S3.The maximum TDS was
recorded in July at site S1 and minimum 124 mgL-1 in January
at site S2. High value of TDS, conductivity and turbidity could
be related to increase in the water current, load of soluble
salts, mud, and increase in surface runoff 12.
Total alkanity, hardness, calcium and magnesium were
significantly high at site S1 and significantly low at site S2 as
compare to S3. In most fresh waters, total hardness is mainly
imparted by the calcium and magnesium. In the present study,
hardness decreased from January to August and then increase
up to December at all sites (Fig.-2e).
Chloride occurs naturally in all types of water and high
concentration is considered to be the indicator of pollution
due to organic waste of animal or industrial origin13. The value
of chloride varied between 9.94 to 18.94mgL-1 at site S1, 4.95
(349) TYOR AND DEVI

Tabel-1. Range and Mean±S.E of physico-chemical parameters at selected sites

(January to December, 2013).

Means with different letters in the same row are significantly (P<0.05) different.
(Data were analysed by Duncan's multiple range test)
to 9.94 mgL-1 at site S2 and 6.94 to 11.47 mgL-1 at site S3. The Water quality index of the selected canals was calculated
mean values of chloride were significantly high at site S1 as from various physico-chemical parameters from January to
compare to site S2 and S3. December, 2013. At site S1, values of Water Quality Index
ranged from 57.94 to 71.65 throughout the year which reveals
The values of D.O. decreased from January to July with increase
poor water quality status which is not safe for human
in temperature and then increase as temperature decreased at
consumption as prescribed by BIS and ICMR4-5. Earlier workers
all sites. The maximum value of DO, 11.04 mgL-1 at temperature
have also reported bad quality of water of Yamuna River at
14º C was recorded in January at site S2. Higher values of DO
Yamunanagar8. Thus, water of S1 is of bad quality from its
were also noticed from Ropar Headwork at Sutlej River7. Value
source. At site S2, the values of water quality index ranged
of BOD was recorded from 1.96 to3.12 mg L-1 at site S1, 0.67
from 36.89 to 50.42 and water quality status was good and
to 2.05 mgL-1 at site S2 and 0.73 to 2.07 mgL-1 at site S3. The
safe for human consumption. Several workers have found water
maximum value of BOD was recorded in May-June at all
quality in the range of good at Ropar Head Works on Sutlej
sites. This was due to high rate of decomposition of organic
River, Punjab7. Thus Bhakra canal receive clean and unpolluted
matter at high temperature and slow water current13. Rivers
water from their source.
with low BOD have low nutrient level and this implies high
concentration of dissolved oxygen. Unpolluted natural waters At study site S3, water from Barwala link canal of Bhakra
-1
are expected to have BOD values of 5 mgL or less . 5 canal (fresh water) mixes with Sirsa Branch of WYCanal
 EFFECT OF CANAL LINKING ON WATER QUALITY INDICES (350)

Figure-2. Monthly variation in physico-chemical parameters at the study sites during the study period. Value on y
axis represents (a) Ph, (b) conductivity (µS cm-1), (c) T.D.S. (mgL-1), (d) alkanity (mgL-1), (e) hardness (mgL-1),
(f) chloride (mgL-1), (g) B.O.D. (mgL-1), (h) D.O. (mgL-1), (i) nitrate (mgL-1)

(polluted water) and affects their WQI values which range from S1 was less; so, its effect was little on water quality at site S 3.
44.32 to 56.71. The water quality of Sirsa branch of WYC at
site S3 was poor from June to September when flow at site S1
was more. During the months of March to May and December, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
canal at site S1 was dry and S3 received water only from S2
The authors are thankful to Chairman, Department of Zoology,
hence, quality of water was good. In the remaining months,
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra for his kind help and
January, February, October and November flow of water at site
(351) TYOR AND DEVI

Figure-3. Monthly variations in Water Quality Index values and Water Quality Status at selected sites during the
study period.

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