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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/FWSH/11
Water pollution assessment and phytoremediation potential of Eichhornia crassipes
along the downgradient of Sutlej River

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Humera Aslam* , Dr Iftikhar Ahmad
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
Correspondence: humeraaslam46@gmail.com

Abstract
Wastewater production is of great concern as 80% of it is left untreated. Industries,
municipality, and agriculture are the major contributor of wastewater generation.
Phytoremediation is an effective method for wastewater treatment; however, potential of local
aquatic species for hyper-accumulation of heavy metals is remains elusive. Therefore, this
study was designed for assessment of water pollution along the downgradient of Sutlej river
and to evaluate Eichhornia crassipes phytoremediation potential under natural environment
i.e. Gonspur, Head Syphon, Head Islam, Kalia Shah and Muradpur. Water from these sources
was collected (5 samples from each source) for physico-chemical analysis; corresponding
dominant plant species of E. crassipes were also collected to determine physiological,
nutritional, and heavy metal parameters. Physico-chemical analysis showed high pH 7.72, high
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concentrations of Ba (62.42 mg/L), Ca (22.87 mg/L), K (14.82 mg/L) at Head Islam, high
concentration of EC (422.67 µS/cm) at Kalia Shah, high concentrations of TDS (209.67 mg/L),
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HCO3 (192.15 mg/L), Na (10.517 mg/L), Cl (3.6 mg/L), Cd (0.0127 mg/L) at Muradpur and
high concentration of Li (8.38 mg/L) at Gonspur. All sites showed high concentration of Ba
and Li which were more than the permissible limits of WHO, NEQS, USEPA and EU. The
concentration of Cd was above than the permissible limits of WHO, USEPA and EU (0.003
mg/L) however it was equal to values of NEQS (0.01 mg/L). Chlorophyll-a contents of E.
crassipes was high at Muradpur, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents were high at
Syphon whereas total carotenoids contents were high at Head Islam. Plant samples also showed
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higher accumulations of Na , K and Ca in shoots than roots. Spatial distribution of nutrients
and heavy metals were detected in the sampling area. Lead is below detection limit however,
Cd contamination in water was observed in sampling area. The results predicted that E.
crassipes is an emerging accumulator for remediation of water contaminated with heavy
metals, and salts due to its robust growth in severe conditions and bioaccumulation in root and
shoot.
Keywords: Wastewater; Phytoremediation; Eichhornia crassipes

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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