Hydrochemical Analysis of Six Sacred
Lakes of Sikkim
Roshni Chettri, Dipankar Tuladhar, and Chandrashekhar Bhuiyan
Abstract Sikkim, the north-eastern state of India has more than 200 lakes, whose
serene beauty attracts tourists from all over the world. Some of the lakes act as
the sources for drinking water while some are considered sacred and are used for
religious purpose. Chemical analysis of lake water may provide vital information
about the possible reasons of anomaly, level of pollution, if any as well as effect of
anthropogenic activities. In the present study, water chemistry of six important and
sacred lakes of Sikkim, namely Gurudongmar, Lamapokhari, Kheheopalri, Karthok,
Menmecho and Kupup, has been analysed and critically examined. Water samples
were collected from these lakes and their chemical analysis has been carried out.
General water quality parameters of these water samples were tested and compared
with the standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) to find whether the lakes are suitable for domestic and
agricultural uses. Results have revealed difference in the lake water quality of these
lakes with respect to different chemical parameters. Anomalous concentrations of
dissolved oxygen (DO), calcium (Ca) and total dissolved solids (TDS) obtained in
water samples of certain lakes have been examined and correlated with natural and
anthropogenic factors. This paper has discussed the possible reasons of anomalous
chemistry of these sacred lakes and has advocated for their environmental protection.
Keywords Lakes · Water chemistry · Sikkim · Himalaya
1 Introduction
Limnology is the study of the biological, chemical, physical, geological and other
attributes of all inland waters including lakes. Sikkim, the least populous and second
smallest state of India, is located in the north-eastern part of the country between 27º
05
N to 28º 09
N latitudes and 87º 59
E to 88º 56
E longitudes covering 7096 km
R. Chettri · D. Tuladhar · C. Bhuiyan (B)
Department of Civil Engineering, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Sikkim Manipal
University, Sikkim 737136, India
e-mail: c.bhuiyan@smit.smu.edu.in
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
C. Bhuiyan et al. (eds.), Water Security and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 115,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9805-0_6
51
Lakes of Sikkim
Roshni Chettri, Dipankar Tuladhar, and Chandrashekhar Bhuiyan
Abstract Sikkim, the north-eastern state of India has more than 200 lakes, whose
serene beauty attracts tourists from all over the world. Some of the lakes act as
the sources for drinking water while some are considered sacred and are used for
religious purpose. Chemical analysis of lake water may provide vital information
about the possible reasons of anomaly, level of pollution, if any as well as effect of
anthropogenic activities. In the present study, water chemistry of six important and
sacred lakes of Sikkim, namely Gurudongmar, Lamapokhari, Kheheopalri, Karthok,
Menmecho and Kupup, has been analysed and critically examined. Water samples
were collected from these lakes and their chemical analysis has been carried out.
General water quality parameters of these water samples were tested and compared
with the standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) to find whether the lakes are suitable for domestic and
agricultural uses. Results have revealed difference in the lake water quality of these
lakes with respect to different chemical parameters. Anomalous concentrations of
dissolved oxygen (DO), calcium (Ca) and total dissolved solids (TDS) obtained in
water samples of certain lakes have been examined and correlated with natural and
anthropogenic factors. This paper has discussed the possible reasons of anomalous
chemistry of these sacred lakes and has advocated for their environmental protection.
Keywords Lakes · Water chemistry · Sikkim · Himalaya
1 Introduction
Limnology is the study of the biological, chemical, physical, geological and other
attributes of all inland waters including lakes. Sikkim, the least populous and second
smallest state of India, is located in the north-eastern part of the country between 27º
05
N to 28º 09
N latitudes and 87º 59
E to 88º 56
E longitudes covering 7096 km
R. Chettri · D. Tuladhar · C. Bhuiyan (B)
Department of Civil Engineering, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Sikkim Manipal
University, Sikkim 737136, India
e-mail: c.bhuiyan@smit.smu.edu.in
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
C. Bhuiyan et al. (eds.), Water Security and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 115,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9805-0_6
51