Water Chemistry Dynamics in Dighalipukhuri Lake: The Influence of Cyanobacterial Bloom Density

This study investigates the productivity and cell count of Microcystis aeruginosa and the Physico-chemical properties of Dighalipukhuri Lake, a rectangular man-made pond in Guwahati. The research provides a comprehensive overview of algal growth, its concentration, and its correlation with the lake’s physical and chemical attributes. Water samples were analyzed following APHA (2005) protocols. Results indicated an alkaline pH, which promotes cyanobacterial blooms, and consistently low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels across all seasons, likely due to surface cyanobacterial proliferation. The lake’s conditions-low water flow, stagnant environment, good light penetration, and abundant nutrients (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus)-are conducive to algal bloom development. The study highlights that blue-green algae blooms can severely deteriorate water quality and produce toxins. It was observed that varying pH levels significantly affect algal growth. Maintaining the lake’s pH at neutral levels could potentially reduce algal bloom growth and mitigate water quality degradation, thereby improving the overall health of Dighalipukhuri Lake.