Hydropower Project construction and river water quality (Physico-chemical and bacteriological): Chamera Hydroelectric Project stage II – A perspective

Physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters are important factors for assessing the quality of water. NHPC is equipped with most modern potable water testing equipment of Hach, USA,. The water quality tests are being conducted throughout the active construction stage of the project. During the course of study, i.e., from the year 2000 to 2003, various physico-chemical parameters viz. Temperature, pH, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Dissolved Oxygen, Salinity, Turbidity, T. Alkalinity, Ca-Hardness, Mg-Hardness, Total Hardness, Chloride, Iron, Nitrate-N, Phosphorous, N-Ammonia, Nitrate (NO3),Chemical Oxygen Demand and Bacteriological parameters viz. Total Coliform and E.coli have been analysed. An effort has been made in the paper to study the impact of construction of Chamera Hydroelectric Project Stage-II on water quality of river Ravi during the active construction phase and to generate data so as to evolve future strategy for monitoring the water quality during post- construction phase of the project. The results of the water quality study indicate that there is no impact of project construction on the water quality of the river as almost all the parameters are within the desirable limits prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards for drinking water. Every precaution is being taken by the project authority so as not to pollute the river water by any of its activities.