Assessment of surface water quality and associated aquatic insect fauna under different land uses of Barotiwala area, Solan, Himachal Pradesh

The present investigations were carried out to assess the quality of surface water of Barotiwala area of district Solan, HP during the year 2011–2012. Studies were conducted on seasonal (rainy, winter and summer) variation in water quality under different land uses (agriculture, forest and urban). Samples of surface water from various sources under different land uses were collected and analysed for quality parameters viz pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Ca, Mg, NO₃, and Cl contents. The contents of all the elements were within permissible limits except Ca (>75 mg/l). Diversity of aquatic insect fauna associated with surface water during different seasons under different land uses was also studied. Aquatic insects found in surface water were identified up to family level and Simpson's Biodiversity, EPT and family biotic indices were calculated.