[Environment] Chief Editor Iftikhar A. Raja comsats institute of Information Technology Abbottabad (Pakistan)

ABSTRACT

A study of Physico-chemical analysis was carried out on three different areas of Haripur, District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Three samples of therapeutic spring’s water (mythically known for curative characteristics) and bore-well groundwater samples (total 6) of Shah Muhammad, Jattipind and Tarbeela were analyzed physically and chemically by using standard APHA methods for water analysis. The comparison of analyzed data showed the following concentrations in ground water samples of TDS<792 mg/L, EC< 812 µS/cm, DO<5.9 mg/L., Hardness as CaCO₃<540 mg/L, and Alkalinity <472.5mg/L. In the spring water samples the concentrations of TDS, EC, DO., Hardness as CaCO₃, and Alkalinity were observed very high exceeding the permissible limits. For the minerals analysis Chloride, Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulphate, Sulphide, Chromium, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium were common anions and cations that were studied. Chloride was the most common mineral found in all springs along many others minerals with varying concentrations such as Calcium, Magnesium, many were satisfied and some were not recovered. It is recommended that Ground water quality of Haripur is not too much satisfactory, so there is need for improvement by the local government by proper management. These therapeutic springs can be a source of great cultural, aesthetic, and recreational sites by proper superintendence of government. Sulphates, nitrates and phosphates. Chromium contamination was absent in ground and spring samples except the Jattipind spring. This proved that the water quality of ground water was not satisfactory while the spring’s water was not fit for human consumption but their therapeutic properties were based upon the mineral contents. Social survey was conducted and statements of people on each spring site were recorded to check out the validity of myths associated with these springs.
GWR-01

QUANTIFICATION OF CUMULATIVE SEDIMENT TRAPPING BY MANGLA DAM IN JEHLUM RIVER BASIN
Abdullah Yasar*, Amtul Bari Tabinda, Reenum Anwar,

Maimoona Raza Aleena Tahir, Zawar Haider

Sustainable Development Study Centre,

GC University Lahore, Kachehry Road Lahore 54000, Pakistan.

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

The capacity of Mangla Dam is continuously depleting due to heavy load of sedimentation. Water samples were collected from inlet and outlet of reservoir and physical parameters were quantified in the laboratory. Secondary data about inflow, outflow and water storage capacity of 1967 to 2010 was collected and used in study. Result indicated gradual percentage loss in both live and dead storage capacity of reservoir from 1967 (live, 1.50%; dead, 7.41%) to 2010 (live, 15.84%; dead, 82.40%). Inflow varied in seasons and different years by change in rainfall and upstream variation in rivers water. Result stated high sedimentation load by high differences in turbidity, EC and TSS in inlet and outlet of reservoir. Turbidity values (ftu) of spring in Poonch, Kanshi and Jehlum rivers were 3.96, 19.64 & 558 and in outlet 2.03, 17.61 &555.97 respectively showed a huge difference in both values. It is recommended that preventive measures are necessary to avoid sedimentation load and increase storage capacity of reservoir.

GWR-05

MAIN CHALLENGES OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN PAKISTAN
Amir H Malik*, Toqeer Ahmed, Habiba Khalid**,
Centre for Climate Research and Development (CCRD),

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad

**Environmental Consultant, Abbottabad,

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
ABSTRACT

Pakistan belongs to one of the World’s arid and semi-arid countries, with an average rainfall of not more than 240 mm/a. Local population and the economy heavily depend upon annual water influx into the Indus river system including Indus, Jehlum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers. At present, the annual per capita water- availability in Pakistan is about 1,100 cubic meters, but due to enormous population increase, the situation in Pakistan indicates that the country is nearing conditions of chronic water-stress. Due to enormous amounts of sediments/silt brought in by the feeding rivers, the three major reservoirs – Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma shall lose their storage capacity by 25 %, which will further aggravate the water-availability situation in Pakistan. Devastating problems are faced every year in the monsoon season between the months of July and October in the event of excessive rainfall in the catchments in form of floods. Out of total annual 142 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of water, about 35 MAF, on average, is wasted as it goes to sea as flood in the monsoon season. This wastage should be avoided by introducing essential modifications in the canal system and river system. The quality of water is also deteriorating due to urbanization, industrialization and agricultural developments. On the environmental front the main problems are water-logging, salinity, salt-imbalance and increasing pollution of water-bodies. In the Indus basin irrigation water efficiency has been reduced to such an extent that more than 50 per cent of the irrigation-water is lost in transit, during application, delivery, etc. This paper discusses water demand management measures in Pakistan including reduction of water wastage and to increase irrigation efficiency in agriculture sector for the sustainable water resources management of the Indus Basin in Pakistan.

Health, Safety and Environment
HEH-02

HEALTH HAZARDS RADIOACTIVE RADON GAS IN DRINKING WATER OF HAZARA – PAKISTAN



F Khan¹, Z Wazir², A Khan³, M Ishaq⁴, M Fawad⁵,

S U Rehman⁶ and Iftikhar A Raja<sup>7

1’4</sup>Department of Geology, University of Haripur, KPK-Pakistan,

²Department of Basic Science, Riphah International University , Islamabad-Pakistan ^3,5Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Haripur, KPK-Pakistan

⁶Department of Medical Physics, NORI Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

⁷Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Abbottabad, Pakistan

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

The current survey was carried out in Hazara to measure the radon concentrations in various drinking water from different sources. These water samples were collected from bore/well water, spring water and surface water. The samples were collected from all six districts. The measurements were taken on active technique by using The AB-5 series of portable radiation monitor (Pylon) . These samples were collected from august 2014 to December 2014. The radon concentrations ranges from 6 to 23.5kB/m³ , from 3.2 to 21.1kB/m³ and from 1.6 to 10.2kB/m³ with their mean values 16±2.5kB/m³ , 10.2±1.2 kB/m³ and 6.4±0.7kB/m³ in bore/well water, spring water and surface water respectively . The mean effective doses from radon in these drinking water were 0.044±0.007mSv, 0.028±0.003mSv and 0.017±0.001mSv in bore/well, spring, and surface water respectively. The mean value of radon concentration in bore water was above the MCL (maximum contamination level) of 11kB/m³ of USA, while in spring and in surface water the mean values are below the MCL. The doses received by the people of the area were within the ICRP-65 recommended value (3-10mSv).

HEH-04

RADON IN DRINKING WATER SOURCES FROM CHAKWAL REGION

¹Z.Wazir, ²F. Khan, , S.U. Rehman³ and Iftikhar A.Raja<sup>4

1</sup>Department of Basic Science Riphah International University Islamabad

²Department of Geology university of Haripur, KPK

⁴Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Abbottabad, KPK-Pakistan

3Department of Medical Physics, NORI Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

[e-mail]
ABSTRACT

The current study was carried out for radon concentration in drinking water in various sources in Chakwal region of Punjab. The samples of water were collected from bore/well, surface water used by the area people for drinking purposes. The measurements were taken by active technique using Pylon AB series. The samples were collected in the month of April, 2015. A total of 50 samples were collected with one each duplicate sample for 10 samples each. The radon concentrations range from 4.2 to 8.5kBq/m³ and 2.1 to 5.3kBq/m³ in bore/well and surface water respectively. With mean respective values of 6.5±1.1 kBq/m³ and 4.3±0.7 kBq/m³. The respective doses from bore/well and surface water were 0.018±0.003mSv and 0.012±0.002mSv. the radon level in all the samples were within the limit recommended by various agencies for example it is 11kBq/m³ by US EPA.

HEH-06

EVALUATION OF WASTEWATER SUITABILITY FOR IRRIGATION AND ITS IMPACT ON SOIL IN SUBURBAN AREAS OF VEHARI-PAKISTAN
S. Khalid*, M. Shahid, H.F.S.G. Bakhat, G. Abbas, H.M.R. Javeed*, B. Murtaza

Department of Environmental Sciences,

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan

[e-mail], [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Pakistan is facing a serious shortage of freshwater, which has forced the farmers to use untreated wastewater for crop irrigation. The use of untreated wastewater has resulted in heavy metal accumulation in soil and vegetables, and poses a serious threat to human health after consumption of contaminated food. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari to evaluate the suitability of wastewater for irrigation and its impact on soil quality. Soil and wastewater samples were collected from three locations of Vehari city: (i) Bhatta Ikram-ul-haq Sharqi colony (ii) 11WB Khanewal road and (iii) Pir Murad. Wastewater samples were evaluated for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), potassium (K), chlorides, bicarbonates, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and residual sodium carbonates (RSC). The collected soils were filled in pots. The pots were irrigated with wastewater at regular intervals. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, EC, Na, Ca, K, and lead (Pb), before and after plant cultivation. Results revealed that bicarbonates, RSC and EC in wastewater were higher than the permissible limits recommended by food and agriculture organization (FAO). Wastewater application increased soil organic matter contents and Pb concentration than control. These results demonstrated that wastewater used in Vehari city is not fit for irrigation purpose.

HSH-02

SOCIO-CULTURAL ACCEPTANCE AND GENDER ISSUES OF PREVAILING SANITARY FACILITIES IN DISTRICT BATTAGRAM, PAKISTAN
Abid Hussain¹, Aamir Sohail² and Iftikhar A Raja¹

Department of Environmental Sciences,

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan

²Department of Management Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan

[e-mail]^, [e-mail]
ABSTRACT

The sanitation system promotes human health by providing clean environment and breaks the cycle of diseases. In order to be sustainable, a sanitation system has to be not only economically viable and technically appropriate, but it should also be socially acceptable. This paper evaluates socio-cultural acceptance and appropriateness of the sanitation systems in District Battagram, Pakistan with respect to accessibility, acceptability and privacy. The paper also looks into the gender issues faced by the community due to prevailing sanitation facilities. Study found that in terms of acceptability, majority of the respondents were satisfied with the sanitation systems installed. However, in case of accessibility, majority of the household members were not satisfied with the distance between toilets and their houses. In many localities women and children never leave the house after dark due to the risk involved. Thus use of any toilet facility outside the house is impossible at night for women and children. The dissatisfaction of community members with the sanitation systems and the gender issues mostly faced by the women show that sanitation systems are un-sustainable from socio-cultural perspective.

HSW-01

STUDY OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN RICE INDUSTRY VEHARI
Maryam Lateef*, Syeda Amber Fatima

* Environmental Sciences Department, Comsats Institute of Information Technology Vehari

** Environmental Sciences Department, Kinnaird College for Women Lahore

[e-mail]