Seasonal changes in water of River Chenab and its tributaries, Jammu and Kashmir, India

This study involved the analysis of 13 physiochemical parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, sulfate and nitrate) and five heavy metals (chromium (Cr), zinc, arsenic, lead and cadmium) from the Chenab River and its tributaries (Neeru and Bichleri) at Ramban and Doda Districts, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The analysis was done in two different seasons – namely, summer (June) and winter (December) of 2022. The current investigation indicated that all the physiochemical parameters were within the permissible limit in both seasons except for a few parameters (calcium, magnesium, turbidity). Heavy metal analysis from both seasons revealed that all sampling sites were not contaminated with heavy metals except chromium, the concentration of which was found to be higher in all sites (except SXII) in the summer season. The detailed analysis involved the calculation of various water quality indices, which graded the water quality under the ‘good’ category according to the water quality index value, whereas the comprehensive pollution index and heavy metal pollution index values showed a moderate to high pollution level in water during the summer season. The study showed a seasonal variation in water quality parameters and thus encourages the need for regular monitoring of water quality to reduce the pollution level.