doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2025.16.3.1528
Hydrochemical Assessment and Water Quality Evaluation of Syarpu Lake, Nepal: Implications for Sustainable Management
Chiranjivi Kaphle1
,
Ramesh Raj Pant1 ,
Ahmed M. Saqr2,3,4,* ,
Sushmita Kafle1 ,
Motee Lal Sharma5 ,
Memet Varol6 ,
Yam Prasad Dhital7
- 1Central Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
- 2Irrigation and Hydraulics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- 3Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt
- 4Civil Engineering Department, Higher Institute for Engineering and Technology at Manzala, Dakahlia, Egypt
- 5Central Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
- 6Malatyab Turgut Ozal University, Agriculture Faculty, Aquaculture Department, Malatya, Turkiye
- 7College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
- Manuscript receivedJanuary 4, 2025
- revisedFebruary 13, 2025
- acceptedApril 8, 2025
- publishedJune 10, 2025
Abstract
Wetlands are vital ecosystems that provideessential services, including water purification, biodiversitypreservation, and climate regulation. However, these ecosystemsare under increasing threats from pollution, climate change, andanthropogenic activities. Syarpu Lake, located in Rukumdistrict, Karnali Province, Nepal is an important freshwaterresource facing similar pressures, yet its hydrochemicalproperties and pollution dynamics remain insufficiently studied.This research aims to bridge the knowledge gaps by conductinga comprehensive assessment of the lake's water quality,hydrochemistry, and trophic patterns to inform sustainablemanagement practices. Bathymetric mapping revealed amaximum depth of 6.5 m and an average depth of 3.59 m,indicating significant sediment accumulation and reducedcatchment area due to human activities and natural processes.Hydrochemical analysis identified calcium (35.06 mg/L) andbicarbonate (87.15 mg/L) as the dominant ions, with rockweathering emerging as the primary source of ion contributionsbased on Piper and Gibbs plots. The Carlson Trophic StateIndex (CTSI) classified the lake as eutrophic, with a mean valueof 69.86, highlighting a concerning trend toward anoxicconditions due to nutrient enrichment. Despite moderatepollution levels, the lake’s water was deemed suitable forirrigation, supported by sodium adsorption ratio (SAR < 2.25)and permeability index (PI: 23.92–38.05). These findings alignwith Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 (clean water andsanitation) and 15 (life on land), emphasizing the need fortargeted conservation measures, such as sedimentation control,eco-friendly tourism management, and sustainable land-usepractices, to protect Syarpu Lake’s ecological health and ensureits long-term viability as a vital freshwater resource in theHimalayas.
Keywords
- Wetlands
- Bathymetry
- pollution
- eutrophication
- Syarpu Lake
- sustainable development goals
How to Cite
Chiranjivi Kaphle, Ramesh Raj Pant, Ahmed M. Saqr, Sushmita Kafle, Motee Lal Sharma, Memet Varol, and Yam Prasad Dhital, "Hydrochemical Assessment and Water Quality Evaluation of Syarpu Lake, Nepal: Implications for Sustainable Management," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 214-224, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijesd.2025.16.3.1528
Copyright & License
Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).