Total Hardness of Water and Its Impact on Aquatic Life
Table of Contents
Introduction:
An introduction to the topic “Total Hardness of Water and Its Impact on Aquatic Life” Water hardness, determined by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions, is a critical factor affecting the health of aquatic ecosystems.
Seasonal shifts in evaporation and water input can significantly alter hardness levels, influencing species richness, reproduction, and nutrient cycling. While moderate hardness supports aquatic biodiversity, extreme levels can either limit biological activity or protect organisms from toxic metals.
This blog highlights scientific observations from Indian lakes and reservoirs to explain how total hardness changes with seasons and its implications for aquatic organisms like fish and zooplankton. Understanding this helps in managing freshwater systems and maintaining ecological balance in wetlands like Bichnaiyya Lake.
📚 This article includes an excerpt from an original thesis, shared here for academic awareness and public benefit. Content has been editorially formatted for readability.
Excerpt Section:
The total Hardness, of water mainly depends on the main constituents of calcium and magnesium.
Similar findings were reported by Hulyal and Kaliwal (2005), worked on Almatti Reservoir, Bijapur Karnatka. Azmi et al. (2015) reported in the fish pond in the Araria area of Bihar, that the water’s hardness classified as soft (0.75 mg/l), moderate (75-150 mg/l), hard (150-300 mg/l), and very hard (above 300 mg/l).
Kumar et al; 2015, reported total hardness is the index of the fertility of aquatic ecosystems. The amount of magnesium and calcium in water determines its hardness.
Hard water can act as a buffer against heavy elements such as zinc and copper. that are toxic to fish, shrimp, and other aquatic animals (Alam, 2017).
Durge et al. (2018) investigated total hardness in the range of 71.9 mg/l to 150.40 mg/l in Malgujari Pond. He stated that the summer months had the highest total hardness values, while the winters had the lowest.
High temperatures in summers cause excessive evaporation, which raises the concentration of salt that increases value higher in the summer.
Seasonal variations and a complex mixture of anions and cations can affect the overall hardness of water (Tyagi and Malik, 2018).
Source Citation:
Researcher’s full name: Chaudhary Narendra Kumar
Title: Seasonal variations in hydrological parameters and status of fish diversity in Bichnaiyya Lake wetland of District Basti, UP, India
Guide(s): Srivastav Susmita
University: Siddharth University
Completed Date: 2024
Excerpt Page Number: Page 13–14
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