Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality
Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) is a water resource stressor globally with negative environmental impacts. This study describes the major ions and hydrochemistry of the first ever ongoing IBWT from snow-fed Bheri River to rain-fed Babai River in Western Nepal. Water samples from 10 sites, five fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mahidol University
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/249743/168904 |
| _version_ | 1797739756750110720 |
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| author | Kumar Khatri Smriti Gurung Bibhuti Ranjan Jha Milina Sthapit Udhab Raj Khadka |
| author_facet | Kumar Khatri Smriti Gurung Bibhuti Ranjan Jha Milina Sthapit Udhab Raj Khadka |
| author_sort | Kumar Khatri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) is a water resource stressor globally with negative environmental impacts. This study describes the major ions and hydrochemistry of the first ever ongoing IBWT from snow-fed Bheri River to rain-fed Babai River in Western Nepal. Water samples from 10 sites, five from each river system, were collected in HDPE bottles for major ions (Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), Na^+, K^+, HCO_3^-, Cl^-, SO_4^(2-), NO_3^-, CO_3^(2-)) along with the estimation of pH, temperature and conductivity encompassing winter, spring, summer, and autumn in 2018. Ca^(2+)and HCO_3^- were the most dominant cation and anion, respectively, with 〖Ca-Mg-HCO〗_3 water type in both the river systems. Mann Whitney test revealed significant variation (p<0.05) between the two river systems with regard to Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), HCO_3^- , and SO_4^(2-). Kruskall Wallis test revealed significant variations between seasons in pH, temperature, Na^+, K^+, and Cl^- in Bheri River system, and in pH, TDS, temperature, Na^+, K^+ , Cl^- and SO_4^(2-) in Babai River system. Carbonate weathering was the main mechanism of ionic sources with insignificant contribution from silicate weathering. Relatively higher concentrations of the major ions during the dry seasons probably indicate the dilution effect of monsoon. Higher concentrations of the ions in the Babai River system reflect the latter’s bedrock geology with susceptibility to erosion. With Nepal’s future plans of IBWTs and their environmental implications, this finding could be helpful in mitigating the negative consequences of IBWTs in the impact assessment and management of IBWT projects because of their implications on management of aquatic resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:01:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6768abb9a05b46ddb911b996023e731e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1686-5456 2408-2384 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:01:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Mahidol University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-6768abb9a05b46ddb911b996023e731e2023-08-22T03:49:03ZengMahidol UniversityEnvironment and Natural Resources Journal1686-54562408-23842023-07-0121429931110.32526/ennrj/21/202200273Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water QualityKumar Khatri0Smriti Gurung1Bibhuti Ranjan Jha2Milina Sthapit3Udhab Raj Khadka4Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, NepalDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, NepalDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, NepalCentral Department of Environmental Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, NepalCentral Department of Environmental Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, NepalInter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) is a water resource stressor globally with negative environmental impacts. This study describes the major ions and hydrochemistry of the first ever ongoing IBWT from snow-fed Bheri River to rain-fed Babai River in Western Nepal. Water samples from 10 sites, five from each river system, were collected in HDPE bottles for major ions (Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), Na^+, K^+, HCO_3^-, Cl^-, SO_4^(2-), NO_3^-, CO_3^(2-)) along with the estimation of pH, temperature and conductivity encompassing winter, spring, summer, and autumn in 2018. Ca^(2+)and HCO_3^- were the most dominant cation and anion, respectively, with 〖Ca-Mg-HCO〗_3 water type in both the river systems. Mann Whitney test revealed significant variation (p<0.05) between the two river systems with regard to Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), HCO_3^- , and SO_4^(2-). Kruskall Wallis test revealed significant variations between seasons in pH, temperature, Na^+, K^+, and Cl^- in Bheri River system, and in pH, TDS, temperature, Na^+, K^+ , Cl^- and SO_4^(2-) in Babai River system. Carbonate weathering was the main mechanism of ionic sources with insignificant contribution from silicate weathering. Relatively higher concentrations of the major ions during the dry seasons probably indicate the dilution effect of monsoon. Higher concentrations of the ions in the Babai River system reflect the latter’s bedrock geology with susceptibility to erosion. With Nepal’s future plans of IBWTs and their environmental implications, this finding could be helpful in mitigating the negative consequences of IBWTs in the impact assessment and management of IBWT projects because of their implications on management of aquatic resources.https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/249743/168904babai riverbheri rivercarbonate weatheringinter-basin water transfermajor ions |
| spellingShingle | Kumar Khatri Smriti Gurung Bibhuti Ranjan Jha Milina Sthapit Udhab Raj Khadka Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality Environment and Natural Resources Journal babai river bheri river carbonate weathering inter-basin water transfer major ions |
| title | Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality |
| title_full | Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality |
| title_fullStr | Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality |
| title_short | Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality |
| title_sort | major ion chemistry of the bheri snow fed and the babai rain fed river systems in western nepal implication on water quality |
| topic | babai river bheri river carbonate weathering inter-basin water transfer major ions |
| url | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/249743/168904 |
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