PJB-2018-1009
AN APPRAISAL OF WATER QUALITY USING RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN DISTRICTS HUNZA AND NAGAR, GILGIT-BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN
SHAUKAT ALI
Abstract
Flora diversity is the best natural indicator of water quality in mountainous regions of the world. Plant communities of some water channels of two districts Hunza and Nagar of Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan have been examined to evaluate their role as bio-indicators of quality of water flowing through different channels. Keeping in view the significance of pre-eminence of drinking water to public, bio-monitoring assessment was made of five water channels (Nalahas). To ascertain the quality of drinking water with respect to riparian vegetation from five main water channels including Chalat, Rakhaposhi, Hunza, Hoper, and Hisper, some chemical and physical parameters were studied. Water quality parameters were assessed by standard methods and associated plant species were identified with the help of flora of Pakistan. In particular, Allardia tomentosa, Anaphalis lencelota, Artemisia virgata species were dominant and these species show positive relation with high phosphate and nitrate level in water courses. These plant species exist in same turbidity conductivity and pH values. Epilobium latifolia species present in high nitrate level only. Both Mentha cataria and Nepeta longifolia species are found in same pH values.
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