Environmental contamination of Hokersar wetland waters in Kashmir Himalayan Valley, India.

This paper investigates the environmental contamination of Himalayan wetland ecosystem (Hokersar, Kashmir) by analyzing the distribution and loading of bacterial population in waters. Seven locations representing heterogeneous spatial habitat zonation of the wetland were studied. Site-specific variability in bacterial load was markedly discernible at Doodhganga inlet and Zainakoot locations, with maximum values in the range of 242-276/100 mL against Soziath, an outlet, with minimum value of 157-159/100 mL. Considerable seasonal fluctuations were evident in bacterial densities, highest values were observed in summer and lowest in winter. Annual averages showed that dense aquatic vegetation zone harboured least number of bacteria (159/100 mL) suggesting increased die-off of the bacterial population. All the samples were found contaminated to grossly-contaminated. The nature of qualitative composition of bacterial species including prevalence of Escherichia coli and species of Yersinia, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Shigella indicate probable contamination of waters due to ingress of sewage and fecal matter posing health hazards.