Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses

Vehicle wash wastewater (VWW) contains a wide range of contaminants and discharge of such contaminated wastewater into the surface water bodies degrade water quality and affect aquatic ecosystems. This study, presents an impacts of discharging VWW into the stream Olarong Chhu in Thimphu and river Pa...

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Main Authors: Reeta Rai, Subodh Sharma, D.B. Gurung, Bishal K. Sitaula, Ram Devi Tachamo Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
Series:Water Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11104929.2020.1731136
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author Reeta Rai
Subodh Sharma
D.B. Gurung
Bishal K. Sitaula
Ram Devi Tachamo Shah
author_facet Reeta Rai
Subodh Sharma
D.B. Gurung
Bishal K. Sitaula
Ram Devi Tachamo Shah
author_sort Reeta Rai
collection DOAJ
description Vehicle wash wastewater (VWW) contains a wide range of contaminants and discharge of such contaminated wastewater into the surface water bodies degrade water quality and affect aquatic ecosystems. This study, presents an impacts of discharging VWW into the stream Olarong Chhu in Thimphu and river Paa Chhu in Paro using water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates data sets obtained over a period of 6 months. Water samples and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled once in a month from upstream, impact, and downstream sites in premonsoon (March to May) and post-monsoon (September to November) seasons in 2016. Significant levels of contaminants associated with vehicle washing were detected in water samples of impact sites whose cumulative effects on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were supported by HKHbios index, biological indices, and statistical analyzes. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that T, dissolved oxygen, pH, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, turbidity, oil and grease, and sulfate significantly alter water quality and affect benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. With the increasing number of vehicles, management of VWW is becoming a serious issue in Bhutan. Hence, there should be proper enforcement of water and environmental legislations and effective measures like constructions of wastewater treatment facilities should be considered for protecting Bhutan’s surface water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
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spelling doaj.art-76ea704ab4d04902a5ff6165f41b20d52022-12-22T02:17:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupWater Science2357-00082020-01-01341394910.1080/11104929.2020.1731136Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analysesReeta Rai0Subodh Sharma1D.B. Gurung2Bishal K. Sitaula3Ram Devi Tachamo Shah4Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, NepalCollege of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, BhutanDepartment of International Environment and Development Studies, NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, NorwayAquatic Ecology Centre, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, NepalVehicle wash wastewater (VWW) contains a wide range of contaminants and discharge of such contaminated wastewater into the surface water bodies degrade water quality and affect aquatic ecosystems. This study, presents an impacts of discharging VWW into the stream Olarong Chhu in Thimphu and river Paa Chhu in Paro using water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates data sets obtained over a period of 6 months. Water samples and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled once in a month from upstream, impact, and downstream sites in premonsoon (March to May) and post-monsoon (September to November) seasons in 2016. Significant levels of contaminants associated with vehicle washing were detected in water samples of impact sites whose cumulative effects on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were supported by HKHbios index, biological indices, and statistical analyzes. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that T, dissolved oxygen, pH, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, turbidity, oil and grease, and sulfate significantly alter water quality and affect benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. With the increasing number of vehicles, management of VWW is becoming a serious issue in Bhutan. Hence, there should be proper enforcement of water and environmental legislations and effective measures like constructions of wastewater treatment facilities should be considered for protecting Bhutan’s surface water resources and aquatic ecosystems.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11104929.2020.1731136Bhutanvehicle washingvehicle wash wastewaterwater chemistrybenthic macroinvertebrate
spellingShingle Reeta Rai
Subodh Sharma
D.B. Gurung
Bishal K. Sitaula
Ram Devi Tachamo Shah
Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
Water Science
Bhutan
vehicle washing
vehicle wash wastewater
water chemistry
benthic macroinvertebrate
title Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
title_full Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
title_fullStr Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
title_short Assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico-chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
title_sort assessing the impacts of vehicle wash wastewater on surface water quality through physico chemical and benthic macroinvertebrates analyses
topic Bhutan
vehicle washing
vehicle wash wastewater
water chemistry
benthic macroinvertebrate
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11104929.2020.1731136
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AT dbgurung assessingtheimpactsofvehiclewashwastewateronsurfacewaterqualitythroughphysicochemicalandbenthicmacroinvertebratesanalyses
AT bishalksitaula assessingtheimpactsofvehiclewashwastewateronsurfacewaterqualitythroughphysicochemicalandbenthicmacroinvertebratesanalyses
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