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Variation in DOC and trace metal concentration along the heavily urbanized basin in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Water samples were analyzed for DOC and trace metals from Bagmati River within Kathmandu valley, Nepal, to understand the variation trends of DOC and trace metals and their relationship along the drainage network. The variability in organic matter and wastewater input within the Bagmati drainage basin appeared to control DOC and most of the trace metal concentration. The large input of organic matter and wastewater creates anoxic condition by consuming dissolved oxygen and releasing higher concentrations of DOC, trace elements such as nickel, arsenic, barium, cadmium, and copper with downstream distance. Concentrations of DOC and trace metals like barium and zinc showed strong relationships with human population density and suggest that human activities have strong control on these parameters along the drainage network. The DOC and most of the trace metal concentration increased with downstream distance and appeared to be directly associated with human activities. The variation trends of most of the trace metals appeared to be the same; however, concentration varied widely. Inputs of organic matter and wastewater due to human activities appeared directly to be associated for the variation of DOC and trace metals along the Bagmati drainage network within Kathmandu valley.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Deana Aulisio for her help in the lab. Authors also thank the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Industry, Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal Water Supply Corporation, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and various INGO’s and NGO’s in Nepal for providing useful information. Bagmati Integrated Watershed Management Program provided various informations. Bijaya Pokharel assisted in the preparation of locator map. Authors also thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism as well as valuable suggestions by Philip LaMoreaux to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Maya P. Bhatt

    Present address: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, P. O. Box: 6250, Kathmandu, Nepal

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gregg Hall, Environmental Research Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Maya P. Bhatt & Kevin H. Gardner

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  1. Maya P. Bhatt
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  2. Kevin H. Gardner
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Correspondence to Maya P. Bhatt.

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Bhatt, M.P., Gardner, K.H. Variation in DOC and trace metal concentration along the heavily urbanized basin in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Environ Geol 58, 867–876 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1562-z

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