The construction of a barrage in Cardiff , United Kingdom at the confl uence of the rivers, the
Taff and Ely, created a 200 hectares freshwater lake in 2001. The study investigates the water
quality trend in Cardiff Bay from January 2001 to September 2005, covering both summer and
winter seasons. Eight water quality parameters were analyzed to assess any signifi cant pattern of
seasonal variation and spatial distribution. The overall mean value of pH was 8.03; BOD, Ca, Mg,
Cl, hardness, TSS were 1.20, 6.05, 3.33, 3.45, 11.72, 2.74 mg/L respectively; and orthophosphate
(OP) was 0.08 µg/L. Mean values were mostly found higher in summer as compared to winter,
notably in 2001. In summer, higher values of pH, BOD and hardness were attributed to enhanced
photosynthesis leading to production of less carbonic acid, bacterial growth and dissolution of
Ca and Mg respectively. The decreasing pattern of Cl and OP was refl ected in higher BOD and
little possibility of eutrophication. The pattern of TSS was non-uniform and random. The water
in Cardiff Bay, compared with relevant data of three artifi cial lakes, was found to be safe and
within the guidelines. A future trend analysis suggested that pH, Mg, Cl and OP would decrease;
BOD and TSS would increase marginally; Ca and hardness would remain unchanged in the site.
Keywords
Seasonal variation; Spatial distribution; Physico-chemical; Water quality; Freshwater lake; Cardiff Bay
ENIVRONMENT ASIA
Published by : Thai Society of Higher Education Institutes on Environment Contributions welcome at : http://www.tshe.org/en/
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