Pond water quality testing in an institutional campus of Nagaland University, Lumami, India

This study evaluated the physico-chemical status of pond water in Lumami campus, Zunheboto district, Nagaland, to understand its suitability for domestic and livestock use with reference to BIS (2012) and WHO (2017) guidelines. Pond water samples were collected in dark bottles following standard protocols, and key parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and free CO₂ were analyzed. The pond water was slightly alkaline (pH 7.3) with low EC (138 µS/cm) indicating low ionic load, and very low TDS (25 ppm), suggesting minimal dissolved solids. Water temperature during sampling was 17 °C. However, DO was 4.0 mg/L, which is below the commonly recommended range for well-oxygenated waters, indicating potential oxygen stress during certain periods (especially early morning or under higher organic load). Free CO₂ was elevated (26.4 mg/L), which can reflect higher respiration and organic decomposition and may contribute to depressed DO dynamics. Overall, the results indicate that while the pond shows acceptable pH and low salinity characteristics, the low DO and high free CO₂ highlight the need for management interventions such as reducing organic inputs, periodic removal of debris, and improving aeration/plant balance to maintain healthier pond functioning.