Sustainable Water Resource Management: Issues, Challenges & Solutions

In Manipur (longitude 93°03′E to 94° 78'E and latitude 23°83'N to 25°86'N), India, lentic water bodies have served for food, nutrition and environmental security for centuries. The present study was conducted on four community ponds at Imphal, Manipur, during the pre-monsoon period of 2021. The macrophyte diversity and physico-chemical parameters of water and sediment were analysed. A total of 14 macrophytic plant species were recorded during the study period. Of these, Cyperus pilosus, Ipomoea aquatica, Oenanthe javanica were categorised into Emergent; Lemna, Pistia (free floating); Nelumbo nucifera, Euryale ferox (rooted with floating leaves); Hydrilla verticillata, Utricullaria were exhibited as submerged. Further, the physico-chemical parameters of water and sediments were analysed by following the methods given by APHA (2005). In water quality, the overall concentration of pH value ranges from 6.3 to 7.2; Free carbon dioxide from 5 mg/l to 22mg/l; Dissolved oxygen from 0.4mg/l to 8.5mg/l; Total hardness from 86mg/l to 176mg/l; and Chloride from 22.72 mg/l to 71mg/l. In the chemical parameters of sediments, the pH concentration ranges from 5.1 to 6.5; Total nitrogen from 14% to 25.5%; Calcium from 96.19 mg/g to 228.45mg/g; Magnesium from 21.91mg/g to 131.49mg/g; Chloride from 28.4mg/g to 34.08 mg/g and Phosphorus from 0.012 mg/g to 0.034 mg/g. From the present study, it is found that the value of some important parameters of water, such as free carbon dioxide and dissolved oxygen, are below the permissible value in all four study sites except in site II. The study revealed that there are some cultural stresses which are caused by the community due to their intentional and unintentional activities. The paper advocates for the integrated management of these water bodies by involving the local communities.