Impact of touristic activities on water quality of Sahashtradhara Stream, Dehradun.

Present study was conducted to find out the impact of touristic activities on the water quality of Sahashtradhara Stream round the year. Some selected physico-chemical parameters viz. temperature, pH, transparency, turbidity, total solids, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and chlorides monitored during study period. Three study sites viz. Site-I (reference site), Site-II (main attraction of tourist) and site-III (dilution zone) were selected for the sampling. The relative differences for temperature was 8.05% higher, pH 1.06% higher, turbidity 52.24 higher, transparency 22.81% lower, total solids 18.31 higher, TDS 28.64% higher, DO 6.54% lower, BOD 21.78% higher, chlorides 22.29% higher at Site-II as compared to reference Site-I. The pH showed minimum (1.06%) relative difference while turbidity showed maximum (52.24%) relative difference at site-I as compared to reference site (site-I). It was found that significant change in water quality of Sahashtradhara stream due to different touristic activities.