摘要：This study investigated the physicochemical water chemistry monitoring in River Sutlej impacted by the tanning industry. We performed this study for nine months at four study sites and targeted the presence of selected metals and applied multivariate analytical techniques. The results divulged that the upstream region displayed higher mean values of pH (7.77) and dissolved oxygen (5.86 mg/L). However, severe water quality degradation observed in the downstream region. The mean electrical conductivity (3.27 mS/cm), total dissolved solids (1442.7 mg/L), salinity (1.32 mg/L), total alkalinity (285.5 mg/L), hardness (195 mg/L), chlorides (912.5 mg/L) and nitrates (4.73 mg/L) recorded in downstream indicated severe water quality degradation. Similarly, the selected metals chromium (1.21 mg/L) and lead (0.83 mg/L) recorded significantly higher downstream. However, cadmium remained insignificant in both riverine zones. Most of the targeted parameters and metals studied in the river and Rohi Nullah Jamman (RNJ) either surpassed or deviated from the national surface water quality standards indicating thereby severe impact of the tanning industry. The metals concentrations revealed the array of chromium > lead > cadmium. The correlation analyses on water chemistry and metals indicated strong (r >0.70) to moderately strong (r <0.70 - >0.50) relationship. The hierarchical cluster analysis displayed metals and significant parameters originating from similar sources that could be the tanning and sewage effluents. The principal component analysis explained the 96.39% of the total variance and approximated with the results obtained by cluster analysis. The Mann Kendall Trend test indicated an increasing tendency in metals and critical water quality parameters that calls for prudent actions on water quality management. In conclusion, this study alluded to the continuously deteriorating water quality of River Sutlej that poses potential ecological and human healthrisks. The water quality deterioration is believed to be the result of tanning activities that could severely impact the river biodiversity.
