Changes of water quality and water surface area in Inle Lake (Myanmar) : facts and perceptions

8/19/2019 Changes of water quality and water surface area in Inle Lake (Myanmar) : facts and perceptions

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INTRODUCTIONS

The Rational of the Present Study

Water is one of the most necessary things for all forms of life: human, animals

and plants. Life, therefore, cannot exist without water on the earth.

It is a source of energy, an avenue of transportation, habitat for a myriad of

organisms and essential for life (Robert J. Naiman et.al, 1995). Nowadays, water

quality assessment is greatly important to natural ecosystem as well as human and it

becomes a global issue. One fifth of the world population is without access to safe

drinking water and half of the population is without access to adequate sanitation

(2000, UNDP). As the world's population is increasing, the fresh water demand is

rapidly growing.

On the earth surface, water existed in various forms: liquid, solid, ice or snow

and water vapor. About 75% of the earth surface is covered by water, 98% of the

available water is found in the ocean. Less than 1 percent of water is found in the

lake. Among them 20% of water is in Lake Baikal and 20% is in the Great Lakes.

Lake is one of the important valued resources for water of human society as

well as aquatic environment. They provided several uses such as agriculture, livestock

watering, irrigation, fisheries, transportation, domestic use and recreation. Lakes and

their wetlands are of great advantage: storehouses of biodiversity, groundwater

recharge and modification for water quality.

Nowadays, the world's fresh water resources are under increasing pressure.

Growth in population, increased economic activity and improved standards of living

lead to increased competition for and conflicts over the limited freshwater resources

(2000. TAC).

Fresh water bodies are facing some of today's major causes of water quality

degradation by pollutants and contamination. Some problems have been present for a

long time but have only recently reached a critical level, while others are newlyemerging (1996, UNEP/WHO). Water quality is affected by a variety of natural and

human influences. Challenges of quality degradation and water shortages are faced by

many countries of the world.

Fresh water comes from river, lake, underground water, etc. Among them lake

is one of the fresh water resources. Inle Lake is the third largest and it is a natural lake


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among the 17 lakes in Myanmar. Indawgyi Lake in Myitkyina District, Kachin State

is the largest in Myanmar and Indaw Lake in Sagaing Division, is the second largest

lake, 11. Inle Lake is the most important lake in the country by virtue of its

distinguishable economic, social and cultural implications. In addition its nature the

natural wetland enhances a rich and a variety of biodiversity surroundings. It is themost important water resources for hydroelectricity generation of Lawpita, which is

one of the biggest electric power plant in Myanmar, and agricultural uses for local

people especially hydroponics farming (floating cultivation), tourist attraction of its

beautiful scenery and ecotourism for its biologically rich ecosystems, home for the

race of the Inthas who have a unique way of livelihood and culture, habitat for

resident and migratory water fouls and a variety of aquatic lives altogether account for

those implications.

The present threat to the Inle lake is that the water quality is disturbed by

floating garden using fertilizer and pesticides, eutrophication from nutrients, domestic

effluents into the lake from catchments as well as local residents and non-point

sources of pollution problem are taking place in this region and it needs proper water

quality monitoring programme. Furthermore, Inle Lake has become shallower with

the problems of soil erosion in the watershed area, which is becoming serious due to

over-exploitation of natural resources, loss of vegetation cover by burning and cutting

forest, and unfavorable agricultural practices such as shifting and or slash and burn

cultivation method.

Problems and Objectives of the Research

Therefore, the main problems of this study could be used to address the

following basic questions:

Are there hydrologic water quality thresholds values beyond the quality of

water in Inle Lake?

How did the water surface area change in Inle Lake? Why? and

How do local people and visitors aware of the changes of water quality

and water surface area in Inle Lake?

The major objectives of the study are:

1 Preliminary Survey on Potentiality of Reforestation under Clean Development Mechanism inMyanmar, with Particular References to Inle Lake, 1993.


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1. To investigate the present status of water quality in Inle Lake

seasonally and spatially,

2. To assess the status of water quality in Inle Lake whether it is beyond

the quality thresholds value or not,

3. To observe the changes of water surface area in Inle Lake,4. To analyze factors which influence the changes of water surface area,

5. To observe the relationship between water quality and water surface

area changes of Inle Lake,

6. To study the perceptions of local people and visitors regarding the

changes of water quality and water surface area Inle Lake and

7. To suggest the tendency of water and environmental management in

Inle Lake from the perceptions of local people and visitors.

Concerning the water quality in Myanmar, most of the studies related to the

water quality have been carried out in many areas. Almost all of these studies were

conducted for drinking water quality and also in river water quality. Although there

are many studies concerning water quality, there is still lack of systematic studies on a

water quality of Inle Lake. In addition, another interesting problem is to study the

surface area changes of Inle Lake because it is facing shallowness and more shrinkage

by silting and agricultural extension. This study is typically based on the land cover

changes which finally produced a water surface area changes. These two factors have

strongly related to the perceptions and awareness of people and their activities in Inle

Region.

Definitions

Lakes are an impoundment of water. There are many definitions for lake.

Generally; the lake is defined simply as in "Water Quality Assessment"

(1996.UNESCO, WHO, UNEP) expressed that_

" A lake may be defined as an enclosed body of water (usually fresh water) totally

surrounded by land and with no direct access to the sea".

According to the I.A.E.Bayly and W.D. William (1973), a book of Inland

Water and their Ecology described more scholarly definition of lake as follow:

"A lake can be described as standing bodies of water. Usually a lake has an outlet

system as an open lake, however, there is no outlet at any time and then the lake is

said to be closed lake".


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lakes resting on impervious organically bonded sand-rock in dune depressions, lakes

in permeable depressions extending below a common extensive water-table, lakes in

clay basins produced by deflation include in this type.

(g)Coastal Lake or Lagoon _ formed is by the growth of a bar across some

marine inlets.

Fresh water is a crucial resource for human existence. The problem related to

fresh water quality of today is addressed in global challenges in 21st century. The

term water quality was defined in various forms. In "Environment words: A

Dictionary in plain English Published by Images Asia" defined clearly as follow:

"How good water is to use"(measure of water quality are based on, how the water

smells, its color, its taste, how pure it is).

In 1996, UNEP, WHO stated that the water quality in " Water Quality

Monitoring: A practical guide to the design and implementation of freshwater qualitystudies and monitoring programme" as:

"Water Quality is a term used to express the suitability of water to sustain various

uses or processes".

A very brief general account of water quality is explained by Lo (1986) as

follow:

"Water quality refers to chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water.

The chemical characteristics include the organic substances such as heavy metal,

pesticides detergents and petroleum. The physical characteristic consists of turbidity,color and temperature, and the biological characteristics include plankton and

pigment".

The term perception has many definitions. Actually, studying in perception is

in Psychological term. But, today, it is widely used in many subjects and it is one of

the important words in Geography. In Psychology, perception can be described as:

"Perception is the process by which we organize and interpret the sensory

information we received. Perception is a cognitive process."

In Environmental Geography Second Year Text Book, it was expressed morerelated and more comprehensively for geography as follow:

"The term perception means process by which one becomes aware of changes

through the senses of sight, hearing, etc; act or power of perceiving. There is

a need to understand that the environment is being degraded and the public


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awareness of environmental knowledge and education play a significant role

in resolving the conflicts between man and nature."

Reviews of the Previous Works

Before starting this research, literature surveys were made on the studying of

water quality of Inle Lake. Some previous works are related to geological background

of Inle Lake and the socio-economic condition. Furthermore water quality of Inle

Lake is also stated by some scholars but they did not mention seasonal and spatial

aspect. As yet all the scholars who studied the quality of water in Inle Lake are from

the Chemistry Department, Zoology Department, Irrigation Department and UNDP.

All these studies emphasized the small scale area or drinking water quality.

The first water quality measurement may be expressed in N.annadale (1918) at

"Fauna of the Inle Lake"; he referred another author, named Mr. R.V. Briggs.

Dr.annadale expressed in his study as:

"Mr. Briggs has analyzed a sample which came from the surface in the middle lake,

with the following results: _

Total Solids 0.1710 (per liter)

Organic matter 0.0160

Calcium 0.0222

Magnesium 0.0279

Chlorine 0.0017

Sulphate (So4) 0.0017

Silica 0.0010

Carbonic Acid (CO3) 0.1030

It was found that Mr. Briggs analyzed the quality status of water in Inle Lake

in 1918. But he has measured some parameters of water quality for only one sample

site on surface water. Although lake's water quality is typically based on measurement

of water samples from its deep center part, this data is a valuable document of

historical background of water quality of the lake. At that time the condition of waterquality of the lake was very good.

One of the previous works was done by Nu Nu Khin (1984), who studied of

"Abundance of Trace Elements in Representative Fish and Vegetables of Inle Area".

In this study, the researcher study only trace elements in water for fish and vegetable.


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Another interesting previous works was done by Ni Ni Moe, (1997), who

studied "Chemical Analysis on the Quality of Inle Lake Water for Drinking and

Agricultural Purposes", on M.Sc Thesis of Chemistry Department, Mandalay

University. She studied the water quality of Inle Lake emphasizing on drinking water

and agricultural purposes and water quality parameters are quite complete and dividedinto physical characteristics, metals, inorganic nonmetallic constituent, organic

constituents and bacteriological characteristics. In her study, six sample sites were

collected mainly in Ywama Village and Thale Village in summer and early winter.

This study was very interesting and valuable for the historical documents for Inle

water quality of Lake and it can be represented for the status of drinking water quality

and for agricultural purposes of water.

In 2004, the Chemistry Department, Taunggyi University has studied two

aspects of water quality in Inle Lake: one is "The Long Term Study on Sedimentation

in Inle Lake" (Khin Mu et. al) and another is "Study of Some Chemical

Characteristics of Water from Inle Lake"(Kyin Aye et al). In the study of "Long Term

Studied on Sedimentation in Inle Lake" emphasis is placed on sedimentation with five

parameters: Total Suspended Solid, Total Dissolved Solid, pH, Hardness and Total

Alkalinity. Samples were taken from 10 sample sites during the rainy season (from

June to October). This study was the pioneer of searching for silting and pollution in

Inle Lake and valuable fundamental data for further research of sedimentation.

In the study of "Some Chemical Characteristics of Water from Inle Lake" the

water samples were collected from three samples sites with six parameters and trace

elements. In this case, water quality parameter is quite enough. But the lake's water

quality was represented by only sample site 1, and the other two sample sites are

taken from the residential and floating garden areas.

In Inle region, there are many social development projects of UNDP and

NGOs. In 2004, UNDP tested the drinking water quality. Water is taken from tube

wells, streams and springs in Inle Area and investigated parameters are pH, Hardness,

E.C, Turbidity, Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate, Arsenic, Fecal Coliform and Total

Coliform. They intended to use the test for drinking water. But some of the sample

sites are related with Inle Lake's water quality.

In 2001, consultants from the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and

Myanmar surveyed in Myanmar Wetland Areas. They surveyed all wetland areas of

Myanmar and also assessed the quality of water in Inle Lake in December. In this


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survey, they collected nine water sample sites from Inle Lake and assessed pH,

Conductivity and Dissolved Oxygen.

These above mentioned studies are related to Inle Lake water quality. But

water quality of the whole lake with spatial and seasonal variation are still lacking.

Furthermore, there are some previous works regarding geology, geography, botany and zoology with some specific aspects in Inle Lake and some are still under

study. Concerning the environment studies, there is a research of Forest Department

and CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), which proposed as "Preliminary Survey

on Potentiality of Reforestation under Clean Development Mechanism in Myanmar,

with a particular reference to Inle Region" (2000), mentioned land cover and land use

for Inle-Moebye Watershed. In this study, land cover is divided into eleven

classifications.

An Overview of the Study Area

In Myanmar, there are three main Wetland Wildlife Sanctuaries: Inle Wetland

Wildlife Sanctuary (602.32 sq. km), Indawgyi Wetland Sanctuary (775.25 sq.km) and

Moyongyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary (103.60 sq. km). According to the Davis et. al

(2004), Inle Lake is one of the most important lake in Southeast Asia for fish

endemism, it has very high cultural and scenic values, high water plants diversity and

it is one of highest located lakes in Myanmar.

Physical Environment of Inle Region

The Inle Lake is situated in Nyaung Shwe Township, in Taunggyi District,

Southern Shan State, between Latitude 19° 58′ 0″ and 20° 43′ 05″ North, Longitude

97° 46′ 30″ and 97° 55′ 30″ East. Inle Lake alone lies between 20° 18′ and 20° 53′

North Latitudes, and between 96° 50′ and 96° 57′ East Longitudes. Inle area is

technically referred to as Inle Watershed including Taunggyi Township, Nyaung

Shwe Township, Yaksauk Township, Pindaya Township, Kalaw Township andPinlaung Township which are wholly or partially falling within Inle area. (Figure 1)


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Figure 1 Location Map of the Study AreaSource: Digitizing on Topographic Map, Myanmar Survey Department

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The lake is situated at 2900 feet above mean sea level, occupies the central

part of a trough between two mountain ranges, which runs almost from north to south.

This area of the Shan Plateau is formed with mountain ridges which split up and

parallel, formed the flat-bottomed basins or valleys namely, the Thamakhan Basin, the

Heho Basin and the Nyaung Shwe Valley (Yaungshwe Valley), which are separatedfrom each other by a mountain. It is evident that drainage must be taking place from

these three basins and directly drained into the Inle Lake. Generally, the watershed

can be divided into three parts: the eastern hilly part, the northern part and the western

hilly part, and several streams and rivers flow through these hilly areas and enter into

the lake. The following table shows that the watershed area of Inle Lake which was

characterized by eleven distinct land systems with an area of some 2169 square miles

designated as follow:

Table 1 Physical Characteristics of Inle's Watershed Area

Designation Area (sq.mile) Designation Area (sq.mile)

Thamakhan Plain 178.6 Pinlaung Range 286.7

Lonpo Plain 116.0 Taunglaylone Range 244.7

Nyaung Shwe Valley 487.2 Taunggyi Range 244.7

Mobye Valley 195.3 Kyauktalone Range 241.3

Heho Basin 61.4 Thikaung Ridge 56.2

Kalaw South Mountains 168.2Source: Mapping and Land use Planning for Watershed Management, GAF, and March 1996.

The whole of Shan States including Inle region is formed with limestone of

early Paleozoic to the Mesozoic Era. Around the lake the rocks are mainly limestone,

dolomites and marls of Ordovician and Permo-Carbonniferous age formation.

Structurally, the lake is bounded by a fault running east to west and can be called as a

graben. Along the western shores of the lake, the composition of silt and sandstone

were deposited. Moreover, the rocks present in the western ridge are of lowerresistance as compared to those in the eastern ridge, which rises more steeply above

sea level of the basin.


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Figure 2 Physical Map of the Study Area

Source: 50 meter DEM


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Strictly speaking, numerous streams enter into the lake, there are 29

streamlets, 17 streams from the eastern part, 11 streams from western part and only

one stream from northern part, and these are the major sources of water for Inle Lake.

Among them it receives water from swift streamlets of the eastern mountain range;

many of them dry up in winter and all are very short. None of these streams are ofgreat size. On the western side, rather larger streams enter by several mouths,

especially Thandaung Chaung (Kalaw Chaung) and Indein Chaung, which is the

major streamlets of the lake, their sources of water is from Pinlaung Ranges and

Kalaw Ranges entering the lake through tributaries and forming as large alluvial fan

and deltas. It is evident that some streams of the watershed, disappeared (underground

stream) while running for some miles at a great distance beneath the surface before

reaching the lake; which is a habit of the rivers of the Shan State. Likewise, in the

northern and northwestern part Namlit Chaung which is one of the major streams,

flow through Yatsauk and Shwe Nyaung Valley before entering the Inle Lake. From

the southern end of the lake, a larger stream, Nam Pilu Chaung flows through the

Sankha Basin into the Loi Kaw Basin, enters the Mobye Reservoir after flowing for

60 miles as Nam Pawn which drained into Thanlwin (Salween) river about 18° 52

North latitude.

Due to the location, the climate in the Inle region has a tropical climate. The

annual maximum temperature is in the month of April and minimum temperature is in

the month of January. In Nyaung Shwe Township, the average minimum temperature

is 2.8° C and the average maximum temperature is 36.6° C (Myanmar Agriculture

Service, Nyaung Shwe, 2000). The average annual rainfall for the last 4 years is 855

mm for Nyaung Shwe Township. Not only south-west monsoon brings rainfall into

the region but also waves of whirlwind from South China Sea which brings rainfall in

the late monsoon.

Table 2 Climatic Data of Inle's Watershed Area (1990-2005)

Mean Temperature (degree centigrade) of Inle Watershed (1996-2005)

Township Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Kalaw 14.17 16.61 20.30 22.46 23.40 23.24 22.90 22.76 21.84 21.53 18.74 15.68

Nyaungshwe 17.73 19.06 22.81 24.91 24.70 23.61 23.11 22.92 22.90 22.21 20.32 18.15

Pinlaung 13.71 14.94 18.47 20.92 21.89 20.39 19.69 19.89 20.46 19.20 17.46 15.42

Taunggyi 16.00 18.14 20.86 22.74 22.18 21.68 21.21 21.16 21.11 20.74 18.56 16.47

Yaksauk 18.49 20.56 22.76 26.07 27.24 27.83 27.63 27.28 26.96 27.13 23.44 19.97

Total 80.10 89.31 105.20 117.10 119.41 116.75 114.54 114.01 113.27 110.81 98.52 85.69


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Table 2 Climatic Data of Inle's Watershed Area (1990-2005)

Total Average Rainfall (inches)of Inle Watershed (1996-2005)

Township Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Kalaw 0.09 0.53 0.73 2.16 5.07 4.15 8.00 8.88 4.90 4.69 2.22 0.30

Nyaungshwe 0.01 0.15 0.27 1.02 3.72 6.16 7.66 10.19 8.28 3.99 2.03 0.22

Pinlaung 0.32 0.56 0.73 2.49 12.81 15.17 16.44 17.53 10.63 6.07 2.27 0.64

Taunggyi 0.20 0.38 0.83 2.12 8.53 6.20 9.55 8.92 9.10 6.33 2.39 0.47

Yaksauk 0.07 0.27 0.73 2.34 4.85 5.14 5.82 7.04 7.17 4.85 1.73 0.44

Total 0.69 1.89 3.29 10.13 34.98 36.82 47.47 52.56 40.08 25.93 10.64 2.07

Source: Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Taunggyi

Figure 3 Temperature and Rainfall of Study Area (1990 to 2005)Source: Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Taunggyi

A general description of soils in Inle Lake watershed belong to the "sub

tropical monsoon zone" and yellow soils- up to 65 feet deep- dominate the plateau and

intra mountain basin. On the dissected mountains shallow and gravelly red soils

occur.

The vegetation is quite luxuriant and rich in a number of species around the

Inle Lake, generally: Wet Mixed Deciduous Forest, Dry Forest and Indaing Forest are

found over 3000 feet above mean sea level, Upper Mixed Deciduous Forest are

covered at 3000 feet above mean sea level, and at 4000 feet and over 4000 feet there

are Mountain Forest, Pine Forest and Grasslands. In the Wetland and Lake, the

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Nyaung Shwe Kalaw Pinlaung Taunggyi

Yaksauk Kalaw Nyaungshwe

Pinlaung Taunggyi Yaksauk


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aquatic vegetation of floating plants, marshes and weeds are common. According to

Dawan Mohinder Nath,2 "The Botanical Survey of the Southern Shan States With a

note on the Vegetation of the Inle Lake", University of Rangoon), fiftieth Anniversary

Conference: Subtropical Pine Forest are found growing in Kalaw, Aungban,

Taunggyi and their neighborhood; Subtropical Moist Forest with many species coversthe Taunggyi Ridge, Kalaw Hill; Indaing Forest are found on recent alluvium formed

by the Namlet Chaung and along the Shwe Nyaung-Yatsauk; and Subtropical Hill

Savannah Forest are commonly developed on the flat muddy soils in the Nyaung

Shwe basin from Taungni to Shweyanbye and along the foot of the mountain ridges.

Since Inle region is an expansion by agriculture land and settlement which cause the

deforestation.

Shallow lakes tend to be more biologically productive than deep lakes. Inle is

one of the natural shallow lakes, having rich biodiversity. Its wetland is more

remarkable for its various and luxurious biodiversity than other famous lakes in the

world. There are 1688 species of flora; among them 527 species of Traditional

Medicinal Plants, and 217 species of Local Orchids are notable. There are 25 species

of reptile in Inle Lake3. According to the 2003 census data, there may be about 400

species of bird in Inle Lake area and Eastern Sarus Crane is famous and predominant

only in Inle Lake around the world. 52 species of butterfly4, 3 species of turtle5 are

found around the lake. In aquatic animals, there are 23-43 species of fish in the lake,

among them under 2 Genera, 16 species can be found only in Inle Lake in the world6.

Socio-economic Scenario

There are seven townships and nearly all of this area fall into the Inle

catchments. All of these areas are suitable for agriculture, with favorable climatic

conditions, easily accessible to market with fairly high living standard and moderately

population. Total population and density of Inle watershed area is shown in Table 4.

2 Lecturer of Botany Department, Rangoon University (1961).3 Surveying of Myanmar and California Scientific Inventory Group (Aug, 2002).4 Inle Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, (2003).5 Sai Than Naing, 1993.6 Dr. Jon Davies, (2001)


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Table 3 Total Population and Density of Inle Watershed Area (2005)

Townships Area (sq. miles) Total PopulationDensity (person

per sq. miles)

Kalaw 553.00 137879 249.3

Nyaung Shwe 553.0 163231 295.1Pindaya 233.50 71151 304.7

Pinlaung 1,295.60 83413 64.4

Ywangan 1,017.90 67306 66.1

Taunggyi 1928.23 272092 141.1

Yaksauk 1874.02 93368 0.01

Source: Immigration and Manpower Department, Taunggyi, Shan State.

In 2005, agriculture is the main occupation of Inle area and it is extensively

cultivated carried on in Heho Basin and Nyaung Shwe Basin. Large parts around Inle

Lake and Heho Basin are under irrigated agriculture. Rotational cultivation and

shifting cultivation are practiced in some mountain slopes. In Inle Region, paddy is

the chief crop and cash crop such as tomato, potato, sugarcane, peas, beans, maize,

cabbage, cauliflower, vegetables, etc are cultivated. Generally, land use in Inle

Watershed is shown in Table 5.

Table 4 Land use for Inle Watershed by Townships in 2000 (sq. miles)

Land use

Townships

Forestland Rain-fed hill

agriculture

Lowland

Agriculture

Shifting

Agriculture

Multistory

Garden

Kalaw 21,028.61 49,256.58 10,183.08 1,930.63 1,649.03

Nyaung Shwe 62,172.69 4,128.75 12,910.90 2,505.90 2,304.83

Pindaya 640.21 9,845.20 3,892.33 134.30 616.19

Pinglaung 35,758.78 28,565.70 2,866.80 2,616.11 124.20

Ywangan 0.00 283.89 73.73 0.00 186.85

Taunggyi 43,426.75 12,246.51 17,504.21 599.26 428.39

Yatsauk 14,228.12 2,120.50 5,388.55 38.90 66.27Source: CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), 2000

Methods and Techniques

In this study, several methods and techniques were used. Firstly, water related

literature and initial secondary data on the physical data, methodological data,


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ecological data, socio-economic data and small research related with Inle Region were

gathered through different offices at Taunggyi, Nyaung Shwe, Yangon and informal

personal interviews were conducted. The main proponent of this research is highlight

on waters and all the fundamental factors are considered on it. In this research, the

study is divided mainly into three parts: water quality, water surface area changes andfacts and perceptions on waters. Generally, an overview of the research design can be

worked out as shown in figure 2.

Figure 4 Research Design for the study of Changes of Water Quality and Water

Surface Area in Inle Lake: Facts and Perceptions

Choosing water quality parameters is an important factor to study the

limnology. To assess the quality of water variables physical characteristics, chemical

characteristics and biological characteristics were examined. Studying water quality

of a lake is a little different from those of river. Lake's water quality is typically based

on measurement of water samples from its vertical layers. Therefore, collection of

each water sample included three layers. The methods used in the present

Management on Water and Suggestions

Water Surface area Changes

GIS Technique (Geomedia& TNTSTART Software)Ground Truth Survey

Three Different TimesWater Surface Area Changes(1990, 2000 and 2005)Based on Land Cover Changes

One year roundWater QualitySeasonal Changes

Field MeasurementLaboratory Test

Water Quality Perceptions on Environmentesp: Water Quality & WaterSurface Area Changes

Structured InterviewsOpen TalksQuestionnaire Survey

Local People PerceptionVisitors Perceptions


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investigations are field measurements with test kits for some parameters and some

water sample are taken in bottles and measured in laboratory. From the experimental

results, the quality of water in Inle Lake was compared with WHO Standard. In this

study, chemical investigations have been made to assess the quality of water data

obtained from nine different sampling sites in Inle Lake. Field observations andcollections of water samples are done three times in the three seasons. (Figure 5)

Figure 5 Flow Chart for Assessment on Changes of Water Quality in Inle Lake

Source: Author

GIS and Remote Sensing technique is used to obtain water surface area

changes and land cover changes. First, field observations on some of the groundcheck in the watershed area were taken with GPS (Global Positioning System) and

checked for land cover condition. Technical work included, digitizing the topographic

map (Datum: Indian 1954), making projection on ENVI software and edit the physical

and rivers watershed boundary in Geomedia Software. Second, land cover

classification was calculated with supervised classification and maximum likelihood

Preliminary Survey

Sample Collection(Field Measurement)

- Seasonal Changes- Spatial Changes

Consideration on the study area Natural System, Human Impact

Choosing Water QualityParameters of Lake

Literature Survey onWater quality

LaboratoryO erations

On Field Measurementwith Text-kit

Assessment ofWater Quality

Data Processing andData Interpretation


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classification technique by applying TNTSTART Software and the accuracy was

checked again with ground survey. Satellite images of Landsat 7 ETM with six

Bands, for three different times (1990, 2000 and 2005) are used to observe the

changes of water surface area, land cover changes of these different times. (Figure 6)

Figure 6 Flow chart for Determination of Water Surface Area Changes

Source: Author

Ground TruthData

Satellite Data:Landsat 7 ETM

Topographic Map(Scanning andConversion toDigital Format)

Image ProcessingGeoreference Image to Map

(Rectifications)

Georeference Geographic(Lat/Lon), Projection

Datum: Indian 1954

Digitizing and EditingPhysical Boundary

Image ProcessingDigital Classification (Supervised)Algorithm (Maximum likelihood)

Extracted with Watershed Boundary

Final Editing and Overlay

Analysis of Data on GIS

Land Cover Data (1995)Land CoverData (2000)

Land CoverData (2005)

Water Surface Area Changes of these three periods

Ground Truth Data


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An interesting aspect of this work is related to the environmental perceptions.

Actually, the environmental situation of the region is strongly reflected on the people

awareness, perceptions and their activities. In this study, perceptions are based on

local people perceptions and the visitors' perceptions. Flow chart in figure 7 expressed

the perceptions of the last study.

Figure 7 Flow Chart for Assessment of Facts and Perceptions of Waters of Inle

Lake Area

Source: Author

In this study, to obtain perceptions, interviews were conducted with local people from various villages in and around the lake. Operationally, the relevant

factors for these questionnaires were derived from the pilot observation and informal

talks. After the questionnaires were prepared, tests were conducted twice. For local

people perceptions, two types of interviews were conducted with:

Structural Interviews

(150 Persons)

Visitors PerceptionLocal People Perception

Primary Observation and Talks

Local people and governmentstaff

Construction of Structural Interviews

- Environmental Perceptions esp. on water- Ecosystem Perceptions- Policy and Management- Suggestions for Conservation

Data Entry and Analysis

Overview and Suggestions

Primary Observation and TalksWith guests (Tourists& National

Visitors)

Construction of Questionnaires- Perceptions on water- Perceptions on management- Suggestions

Questionnaires Survey

(50 persons)Structured Interviews(150 persons)


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20

i. Structural interviews on ancestors to obtain the changing of

environmental situation, ecosystem changes and their management

on water

ii. Open talk interviews with governmental employees especially from

Forest Department, Agriculture and Irrigation Department,Education Departments, Agriculture Department, Medical

Department and non government organization (NGOs) to know the

environmental problems and present taking management in this area.

In addition, a general exploratory questionnaire survey was conducted to

obtain perceptions of visitors from national and international sources who visited to

Inle Lake for various purposes. The questionnaire is structured mainly on perceptions

of waters on Inle Lake. Questionnaires were distributed by hotel staff, tourist guides

and self.


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21

CHAPTER 1

CHANGES OF WATER QUALITY IN INLE LAKE

Fresh water is a finite resource, essential for agriculture, industry and even

human existence (1996, UNEP, WHO). The characteristics of water body are different

in sea, river, ground water and lake and reservoir. All forms of water quality are

affected by natural and human activities in global scale. The affect of human

influences as well as natural process are widespread and varied in the degree of bodies

of water.

Table 1.1 Important Process Affecting Water Quality

Process type Major process within water body Water body

Hydrological Dilution All body of water

Evaporation Surface water

Percolation and leaching Ground water

Suspension and setting Surface water

Physical Gas exchange with atmosphere Mostly rivers and lakes

Volatilisation Mostly rivers and lakes

Adsorption/desorption All water bodies

Heating and cooling Mostly rivers and lakes

Diffusion Lakes and groundwater

Chemical Photo degradation Lakes and riversAcid base reaction All water bodies

Redox reaction All water bodies

Dissolution of particles All water bodies

Precipitation of minerals All water bodies

Ionic exchange Ground water

Biological Primary production Surface water

Microbial die-off and growth All water bodies

Decomposition of organic matter Mostly Rivers and lakesBioaccumulation Mostly Rivers and lakes

Biomagnifications Mostly Rivers and lakes

Source: Water Quality Monitoring, UNEP & WHO, 1996

Water quality is a term used here to express the suitability of water to sustain

various uses or process. Any particular use will have certain requirements for the


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22

physical, chemical or biological characteristics of water. For example, limits on the

concentration of toxic substances for drinking water use, recreation on temperature

and pH range for water supporting invertebrate communities. Consequently, water

quality can be defined by a range of variables which limit water use, which will have

its own demands and influences on water quality (1996.UNEP, WHO).Lake may be defined as a closed body of water (usually fresh water) totally

surrounded by land and with no direst assess to the sea. A lake may also be isolated,

with no observable direct water input and on occasions, no direct input. Lakes are

traditionally under–valued resources to human society. They provide a multitude of

uses and are prime regions for human settlement and habitation. Uses include

drinking and municipal water supply; industrial and cooling water supply; power

generation; navigation; commercial and recreational uses. In addition, lake water is

used for agricultural irrigation canalization and for waste disposal. It has been

commonly believed that large lakes have an infinite ability to absorb or dilute

industrial and municipal waste, it is largely the result of human waste disposal

practices that monitoring and assessment are providing to be necessary in many large

lake (1996. UNESCO, WHO, UNEP).

Actually Inle Lake is important, like the other lakes of the world based on

these following factors.

i. Habitat for wild life

ii. Support for food chain

iii. Ground water recharge

iv. Flood Control

v. Home for residents

vi. Resource for agriculture

Indeed, lakes are important and valuable recourses of both human and other form

of lives. Therefore, the main purposes of this study are to investigate the present status

of water quality in Inle Lake spatially and temporally, to assess whether the status of

water quality in Inle Lake is beyond the quality of thresholds value or not and to study

the influencing factors effecting on the water quality of Inle Lake.

1.1. Sources of Water in Inle Lake

Generally, sources of water into Inle Lake are;

a. direct precipitation on the surface of the lake,


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23

b. inflowing water of streams from the surrounding drainage basin, and

storm runoff over the surface and

c. groundwater-subsurface flow either as seepage or discrete spring.

In Inle Watershed, there are five townships and their rainfall influence the

lake's water via inflowing water and run off to the lake. In the months of July, August,September and October are the highest rainfall period and the water level of the lake

is increased and gradually decreases again from December to April and May.

Therefore, the water level is fluctuation according to the seasonal change.

Source: Agriculture Department, Taunggyi

Figure 1.1 Average Monthly Rainfall of Inle Lake Watershed Area from 1990 to

2005

There are 29 streams which are draining into the Inle Lake. Most of the

streams flow from the watershed area except some small streams that disappeared into

the underground which the usual phenomena of the limestone area, then appeared

again after running for a few miles distance beneath the surface. Some of the streamswhich enter the Inle Lake dried up in the cold season and summer, especially in the

eastern part of the lake. They are very short. In the western part, most of the main

streams of Inle Lake flow into the lake. Streams entering into the Inle Lake and their

watershed area are shown in Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

R a i n f a l l ( m m

)

Nyaung Shwe Kalaw Pinlaung Taunggyi Yaksauk


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Figure 1.2 Drainage Pattern of Inle Watershed Area

Source: Digitizing on Topographic Map, Myanmar Survey Department

N

5 0 5 10 Miles

Watershed BoundaryLakeboundaryRiver


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25

Table 1.2 Streams Flowing into the Inle Lake and their Catchments Areas

sr Stream(Chaung) Catchments

(Sq. Mile)

sr Stream(chaung) Catchments

(Sq. Mile)

1 Namlit Chaung* 528

Northern Catchments(528 sq miles)1 Shwe Linban Chaung 8 10 Kho Pan Chaung 2

2 Chaung Chauk Chaung 2.5 11 Nyaung Pin Kan Chaun 2.5

3 Nam Zi Chaung 13 12 Ye Pu Chaung 16

4 Loi Tant Chaung 5 13 Mae Za Li Chaung 11

5 Wartaw Chaung 1.5 14 Ye Pok Chaung 28

6 Tapyaypin Chaung 2 15 Da Li Chaung 5

7 Chaung Sout Chaung 9 16 Kan Per Chaung 2

8 Tale Oo Chaung 13 17 Nam Me Sin Chaung 19

9 Nyaung Gyi Chaung 6.5

Eastern Catchments(146 sq miles)

1 Tanakha Chaung 2.5 7 Indein Chaung 312

2 Ye Pe Chaung 136 8 Sein Car Myauk Chaung 17.5

3 Tae Kone Chaung 4.5 9 Magyi Seik Chaung 8

4 Magyi Pin Chaung 3 10 Hti Kan Chaung 4

5 Ye Oo Chaung 1.5 11 Pauktaw Chaung 3

6 Thandaung Chaung 256

Western Catchments(748 sq miles) Source: Irrigation Department, Nyaung Shwe Township.

* Chaung = Stream

Among these streams, Nantlit Chaung (with 528 sq miles), Indein Chaung

(with 312 sq miles), Thandaung Chaung (with 256 sq miles) and Ye Pe Chaung (with

136 sq miles) are the biggest catchments. Nantlit Chaung is originated in northern part

of the watershed area, near Yauk Hsauk Township and passes through the Nyaung

Shwe Basin which is occupied by the whole agriculture land and finally enters intothe lake. In the western part, Thandaung Chaung, Indein Chaung and Ye Pe Chaung

pass through Thamakan Plain, Lonpo Plain and Heho Basin which are forest land,

intensive agriculture and settlement area and finally reach to the lake with delta

formation.


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Lake can be lost their water source by outflow (surface discharge),

evaporation, losses to ground water, and water withdrawn for domestic, agriculture

(floating garden agriculture) and livestock farming. Inle Lake has one outflow stream

called Belu Chaung, and it is one of the resources of navigation (transportation),

fishing and aquaculture and water supply for Law-Pi-Ta electric power plants. Waterquality of the lake is related to the utilization of it resources. In Inle Lake, utilization

of water is as follow:

Table 1. 3 Utilization of Water in Inle Lake

Water Uses Consuming Contaminating

Domestic use Yes Yes

Livestock watering Yes Yes

Irrigation Yes YesAquaculture Yes Yes

Commercial fisheries Yes Yes

Forestry and logging Yes Yes

Food processing Yes Yes

Textile industry Yes Yes

Water transportation Yes Yes

Hydroelectric power generation No No

Recreation No Yes

Sources: Based on the Water Quality Monitoring (1996) UNEP, WHO

1.2. Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristic of Water Quality

Generally, water quality refers to chemical, physical and biological

characteristics of water. The chemical characteristics include the organic substances

such as heavy metal, pesticides, detergents and petroleum. The physical characteristic

consists of turbidity, colour and temperature, and biological characteristics include

plankton and pigment. According to UNEP and WHO (1996), water quality can be

defined by a range of variables which limit water use. Although many uses have some

common requirements for certain variables, each use will have its own demands and

influences on water quality.


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1.2.1. Physical Characteristics

Physical characteristic of the water quality included temperature, colour,

odour, turbidity, total suspended solid and total dissolved solid. In this research,

temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solid (TDS), conductivity and alkalinity were

measured for physical characteristics.

1.2.1.1. Temperature

The most desirable drinking water are consistently cool and do not have

temperature fluctuations of more than a few degrees. Temperature varies with

seasonally and the annual water temperature range is only 2-3º C at the surface even

less at depth greater than 30 m. In shallow lakes, there is always a constant diurnal

temperature variation.

Temperature is nearly uniform in the morning, stratification occurred in the

afternoon and it destroyed during the night. Most individuals find that water having a

temperature between 10º- 15º C is palatable. (1998. David Conwell)

1.2.1.2. Turbidity

The presence of suspended materials such as clay, silt, finely divided organic

materials, planktons and other particulate materials in water is known as turbidity.

Turbidity is of great important one because of the aesthetic considerations and

pathogenic organisms can hide or in the tiny colloidal particles. It is determined by

reference to a chemical mixture that produces a reproducible refraction of light.

The measurement unit is TU (Turbidity Unit) or NTU (Nephlometric

Turbidity Unit). Turbidity in excess of 5 TU is easily detectable in a glass of water

and its use usually objectionable for aesthetic reasons.

1.2.1.3. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)

The solids measured known as total solids, which divided into two fractions:

total dissolved solids and total suspended solids. Water passes over through a variety

of rocks, soils and dissolved salts, agriculture land, urban area, industrial zones, etc

and it carry many properties. These dissolved minerals determine the chemical

properties of water such as hardness, acidity, conductivity, which in turn affect the

physical properties of water such as color, taste and odor as well as the capacity of the

water to support life (1999.Gray N.F.).


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28

The total dissolved solids content of portable waters usually ranges from 20 to

1000 mg/L (2003. Sawyer et al.).

1.2.1.4. Conductivity

Conductivity is a measure of water's ability to conduct an electric currentwhich linked to the concentration of mineral salts in solution. Conductivity is

controlled by the degree to which these salts dissociate into ions.

Conductivity is measured using a specific electrode and is expressed in micro-

siemens per centimeter (S-1). Natural rivers and lakes have conductivity between 10

and 1000 S cm-1.

1.2.1.5. Alkalinity

A parameter related to pH is alkalinity, or the buffering capacity of the water

against acids. Water that has a high alkalinity can accept large does of an acid without

lowering the pH significantly. Water with low alkalinity, can experience a drop in the

pH with only a minor addition of hydrogen iron. The concentration of hydroxyl ions

is negligible compared to carbonate and bicarbonate.

Alkalinity is a measure of the ability of water to neutralize H- ions. It is often

calculated as the sum of the carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations in mg/L.

1.2.2. Chemical Characteristics

Chemical characteristic of the water quality are organic substances such as

heavy metal, nutrient, pesticides, detergents, petroleum and other chemical

substances. In this work, pH, Alkalinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO),

chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, phosphate and Arsenic were measured.

1.2.2.1. pH

pH is a term used rather universally express the intensity of the acid or

alkaline condition of a solution. Moreover, the pH of a solution is a measure of

hydrogen ion concentration, which in turn, is a measure of its acidity. It is a way of

expressing the hydrogen-ion concentration, or more precisely, the hydrogen-ion

activity (2003. Sawyer et. al).

The measurement of pH is now almost universally by electronic. The most

acceptable rate for drinking water is pH 7.


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1.2.2.2. Nitrate

Nitrogen is an important element in biological reactions. Nitrogen usually

becomes available to the aquatic in the form of nitrate ions (NO3). The sources of

nitrogen are from agriculture. Organic nitrogen may be in high energy compounds

such as amino acids. Ammonia is one of the intermediate compounds formed during biological metabolism and together with organic nitrogen, is concerned as an indicator

of recent pollution. Aerobic decomposition (oxidation) eventually produces nitrate

(NO2) and finally nitrate (NO3) from organically bond nitrogen and ammonia. A high

nitrate and low ammonia nitrogen suggests that pollution occurred, but sometime

before.

1.2.2.3. Phosphate

Phosphorus compound is important in the aquatic environment and their

measurement of total phosphates was indicated as Lake Eutrophication. Phosphorus in

waste water may be either organic or inorganic. All phosphorus in nature by

biological action will revert to inorganic forms to be again used by plants in making

high- energy materials. The sources of phosphorus are from human waste, municipal

waste water and synthetic detergents.

1.2.2.4. Arsenic

While arsenic is a highly toxic substance, it does not readily accumulate in the

food chain of ecosystems, although elevated level may be found in some fish. It may

be found as a result of minerals, contamination by industrial discharge, or runoff from

the application of insecticide.

1.2.2.5. Dissolved Oxygen

Oxygen is essential to all form of aquatic life, including those organisms

responsible for the self-purification process in natural water (1996. UNSECO, WHO,

UNEP). Dissolved Oxygen is the most important measure of water quality. Oxygen is

fundamental to aquatic life and without Dissolved Oxygen, streams and lakes become

uninhabitable to gill-breathing aquatic life organism.

Inversely, proportional to temperature and the maximum oxygen that can be

dissolved in water at most ambient temperature is about 9 mg/ L.


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1.2.2.6. Chemical Oxygen Demand

An oxidation is accomplished with the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test

measured the organic strength of domestic and industrial waste. The test allows that

measurement of a waste in terms of the total quantity of oxygen required for oxidation

to carbon dioxide and water. Chemical oxygen demand values are always higher than biochemical oxygen demand.

The concentration of COD observed in surface waters range from 20 mg/L

oxygen or less in polluted waters to greater than 200 mg/L oxygen in water receiving

effluents.

1.2.3. Biological Characteristic

Biological characteristic include plankton and pigment. And a bacteriological

characteristic of water is one of the biological characteristic of the water quality. In

this study, an e-coli form was measured for biological characteristic of water quality.

1.2.3.1. Total Coliform

The bacteriological quality of water is an important as the chemical quality

and for public health standpoint. It can be measure for bacteriological quality with the

concept of indicator organisms that indicate the possible presence of bacteria which

are pathogenic. This indicator most often used is a group of microbes of the family E-

Coli (Escherichia coli) often called coli form bacteria. The total coliform for drinking

water was within 20 per 100ml.

1.3. Materials and Methods

To assess the water quality, collections of water samples are important in

water analysis and it is fully representative of the water of the Inle Lake. Similarly,

materials and method are also important in water quality measurement. In order to this

work, on field measurement with water analyzer for some water quality parameters

and laboratory tests for some of the water quality parameters were used.

1.3.1. Collection of Water Samples

Before the planning of water sampling and analysis can be started, it is

necessary to define clearly what information is needed and what is already available

and identify, as a major objective of the monitoring programme, the gaps that’s need


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v

v

v

v

v

v

v

v

v

4 0 4 8 12 MilesRiverInle LakeWatershed Boundary

v Sample Sites

N

to be filled. Lakes can be subject to several influences that cause water quality to vary

from place to place and from time to time (1996.Jamie Bartram and Richard Balance).

As a general rule, samples should be taken from each section of a lake which

can be regarded as homogeneous water mass. A small lake with single water mass

may be described by a single sampling station. If only sample is taken, it should belocated at the deepest part of the lake where oxygen deficits are likely to be greatest

(1996. UNESCO, WHO, UNEP).

The sampling of lakes for the purposes of assessing of water quality is a

complex process. As Inle Lake is a natural shallow lake and its depth varies

seasonally with the deepest part is 20 feet in rainy season and 12 feet in summer. In

this study, water samples were collected at (9) sample points (see in Figure 1.3) with

consideration for some factors as follow:

Figure 1.3 Collection Sites of Water Samples in Inle Lake

Source: Field Measurement

INLE LAKE


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Plate 1.1. Collection Sites of Water Samples in Inle LakeSource: Field Observation, 2006

Sample 1 Sample 2

Sample 4

Sample 5

Sample 7 Sample 8

Sample 9 Bird Watching Tower


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Table 1.4 Collection Sites of Water Samples in Inle Lake

Sr. Position Coordinate Code Elevation Reasons

1 Thangdaung Spring N 20º 32' 18.4"

E 96º 49' 34.8"

S.S.1 3090 ft Inflow water quality

(Western)

2 Ywama Village N 20º 29' 32.8''E 96º 53' 19''

S.S.2 2948 ft Population growth, Shallow part of the lake

3 Indein Stream N 20º 27' 32.5"

E 96º 50' 38.5"


(Western)

4 Myaynigone Village N 20º 32' 14.5"

E 96º 50' 38.5"

S.S.4 2918 ft Lake water quality (passing

villages, agriculture land)

5 At the month of

Tale-U Stream

N 20º 31' 6.9"

E 96º 55' 30.5"


(Eastern)

6 Kela Village N 20º 30' 8.3"

E 96º 53' 39.3"

S.S.6 2918 ft Floating Garden, Human

impact

7 Between Inya and

Taungto Village

N 20º 22' 31.5"

E 96º 54' 39.3"

S.S.7 2899 ft Outflow water quality

(Southern)

8 Rest House N 20º 34' 32.4"

E 96º 55' 16.3"

S.S.8 2946 ft Open Space (central point

of the lake)

9 Nyaung Shwe Jetty N 20º 39' 0.17"

E 96º 55' 36.8"

S.S.9 2837 ft Starting Point of the lake

(Northern)

Source: Field Observation, 2006

There are some differences between lake and river to assess the quality of

water. The quality of water in rivers is usually measured horizontally but quality of

water in lake is measured vertically according to their physical characteristics such as

temperature, turbidity, etc. Naturally, lakes are stratified with three layers or three

zones. These are

1. the epilimnion or surface water of constant temperature (usually warm) mixed

throughout by wind and wave circulation,

2. the deeper high density water or hypolimnion (this is usually much colder,although in tropical lakes the temperature difference between surface and

bottom water may be 2-3º C), and

3. a fairly sharp gradational zone between the two which is defined as the

metalimnion.


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The name metalimnion is not commonly used and the gradation is normally

referred to as the thermocline. The thickness of the epilimnion may be quite substantial,

and it is dependent on the lake surface area, solar radiation, air temperature and lateral

circulation and movement of the surface water. Commonly, it extends about 10 meter

depth but in large lakes it can extend up to 30 meter depth. Stratification in very shallowlake is generally rare since they have warm water mixing throughout their water column

due to wind energy input. However winter and cold water stratification can occur even

in the shallowest lakes under certain climatic conditions.

Figure 1.4 Collections of Water Samples for Layers in Inle Lake Source: Oliver S. Owen (1985), Natural Resource Conservation: An Ecological Approach

Since Inle Lake is a natural shallow lake in tropical area, it has some limitationto define stratification because the shallowest part of the lake's water body is only 1.4

feet (0.5 meter) but in rainy season the water body has more increased about 6 feet

more (1.8 meter) than the summer condition. Therefore, in this study water samples

were collected with three layers of surface layer (layer a), one meter depth layer (layer

b) and the deepest of the layers (layer c).

Epil imnion

Thermocline

Hypolimnion

4’8’12’16’20’24’

Surface Layer (Layer a)Middle Layer – 1 meter(Layer b)

Layer c (Deepest Part)


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Besides, three layers water samples is intended for some parameters such as

pH, Temperature, Turbidity, Conductivity, TDS, DO, COD and took samples for one

layer of Nitrate, Phosphate, Alkalinity, Arsenic, Total Coliform. For seasonal changes,

water samples were taken in April (28.4.2006 to 30.4.2006) for summer water quality

condition, in August (2.9.2006 to 4.9.2006) for rainy season and in December(5.12.2006 to 7.12.2006) for cold season water quality condition.

1.3.2. Analysis of Water

To examine the water quality, two methods were used. One was on-field

measurement and another was collection on water in bottles and measured in

laboratory. The methods used for this investigation are as follow:

1.3.2.1. Temperature

Temperature of the water sample was measured by Water Analyzer

(HORIBA- Sensor of Water Quality Monitor, Made in Korea).

1.3.2.2. Turbidity

The turbidity of the water sample was measured by Water Analyzer

(HORIBA- Sensor for Water Quality Monitor, Made in Korea).

1.3.2.3. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)

Total Dissolved Solid of the sample was measured by Water Analyzer

(HORIBA-Sensor for Water Quality Monitor, Made in Korea).

1.3.2.4. Conductivity

The conductivity of the water sample was measured by Water Analyzer


1.3.2.5. Alkalinity

Alkalinity of the water sample was measured by with direct reading titrator.

1.3.2.4. pH

The pH value of the water sample was measured by Water Analyzer

(HORIBA- Sensor for Water Quality Monitor, Made in Korea).


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1.3.2.7. Nitrate

Nitrate of the water sample was measured by Cadmium Reduction Method.

1.3.2.8. Phosphate

Phosphate of the water sample was measured by Ascorbic Acid ReductionMethod.

1.3.2.9. Arsenic

Arsenic of the water sample was measured by with Atomic Absorption

Spectrophotometry Method.

1.3.2.10. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Dissolved Oxygen of the water sample was measured by Water Analyzer


1.3.2.11. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Chemical Oxygen Demand was measured by Closed Reflux, Titrimetric

Method.

1.3.2.12. Total Coliform

A total coli form of water sample was measured by (MPN) Fermentation

Technique.

1.4. Spatial Distribution of Water Quality in Inle Lake

Interpretation of water quality data cannot provide meaningful conclusions

unless based on the temporal and spatial variability of the hydrological regime

(1996.UNESCO, WHO, UNEP). Spatial variation in water quality is one of the main

features of different type of water body.

In this work, 9 sample sites were collected from the Inle Lake. Collection in

water samples, sample 1 and 3 are for inflow water quality, sample 2 and 6 are for

human impact on the water (agriculture, settlement, transportation and industries),

sample 4 and 5 are water quality of the lake where water passes through settlement

and agriculture, sample 8 is for central point of the lake, sample 7 is for outflow and

sample 9 is for starting point of the lake.


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Sample 1 was collected at Thandaung Spring; it is also called as Kalaw

Chaung when it passes Kalaw and Aung Ban, and it flows through the Thamakhan

Valley which is shifting cultivation and rotational cultivation land, and as it near Inle

Lake it disappeared as a subterranean system flowing beneath the ground was called

Ngot Chaung. For some distance, than it is appeared again at Thangdaung Village asspring.

Kalaw Chaung or Thangdaung Chaung is one of the biggest streams of its

catchments for Inle Lake and it entered the lake forming deltas formation, one of the

tributaries enters at Myaynigone village: collected for sample 4. Therefore, sample 3

represented water quality of lake as well as it can compare with sample 1 the

difference between inflow water quality and lake water quality that passed through

settlement, agriculture and industries.

Similarly, sample 3 is intended for inflow water quality at Indain, which is

also one of the biggest catchments stream of the lake and it originate at Pinlaung the

southwestern part of the Inle Watershed area. This area is shifting agriculture area and

flows to the lake formatting delta formation but it has one sediment trapping dam.

Another sample was Ywama village – sample 2, was collected from for

shallow part of the lake and one of the populated areas of Inle Lake.

For inflow water of eastern part of the lake was collected at mouth of Thale-U

stream as sample 5. Turbidity is varied between inflowing water and lake's water

quality and it is very significant in sample1 and sample 3.

Sample 6 was collected for intensive floating garden cultivation, populated

area as well as shallow part of the lake. For outflow water, sample 7 was collected

between Inya and Taungto Village and sample 8 was collected for central point of the

open lake at the Rest House.

The last one was collected for starting point of the lake at Nyaung Shwe jetty.

All these samples, some of the parameters were found nearly the same value but some

variables were found different from one place to another. See in Table 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7


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3 8

T a b l e 1 . 5 P h y s i c a l , C h e m i c a l a n d B i o l o g i c a l C h a

r a c t e r i s t i c s o f W a t e r Q u a l i t y o f

I n l e L a k e f r o m 2 8 . 3 . 2 0 0 6 t o 3 0 . 3 . 2 0 0 6

S a m p l e

L a y e r

S . S . 1

S . S . 2

S . S . 3

S . S . 4

S . S . 5

S . S . 6

S . S . 7

S . S . 8

S . S . 9

W

H O S t a n d a r d

D r i n k i n g

P o t a b l e

T i m e

1 5 : 3 0

1 0 : 0 0

1 1

: 4 9

1 5 : 2 5

1 7 : 4 5

1 7 : 0 0

9 : 3 0

1 4 : 4 0

1 5 : 2 0

P h y s i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c

T e m p e r a t u r e

( º C )

a b - 1 m

c

2 3 . 7

2 3 . 5

2 3 . 0

2 2 . 4

2 2 . 1

2 2 . 5

2 2 . 6

2 1 . 9

2 1 . 4

2 1 . 5

2 2 . 2

2 1 . 1

2 2 . 1

2 2 . 3

2 1 . 3

2 1 . 2

2 1 . 3

2 3 . 1

2 3 . 3

2 2 . 8

2 2 . 6

2 2 . 8

-

-

T u r b i d i t y

( N T U )

a b - 1 m

c

1 8 0

1 9 0

2 0 0

1 5 0

1 6 0

3

7

1

3

1 3 0

4 3 0

6 8 0

3 6

1 1

1 4

1 5

9 1 0

1 3

6 7 8

9 3

1 7 0

5

2 5

T D S ( m g / l )

a b - 1 m

c

3 5 0

3 5 0

3 4 0

2 6 0

2 8 0

2 6 0

2 6 0

2 2 0

2 3 0

2 4 0

1 8 0

1 8 0

2 6 0

2 7 0

2 3 0

2 0 0

2 0 0

2 2 0

1 9 0

2 0 0

1 3 0

3 0 0

1 . 0 0 0

5 0 - 1 5 0 0

C o n d u c t i v i t y

( m s / m )

a b - 1 m

c

5 3 . 8

5 3 . 0

5 3 . 0

4 0 . 5

3 2 . 0

4 0 . 4

4 0 . 7

3 3 . 7

3 5 . 3

3 6 . 2

3 7 . 7

2 8 . 3

4 0 . 8

3 2 . 0

3 5 . 0

3 1 . 0

3 1 . 1

3 1 . 9

2 9 . 9

3 0 . 6

4 7 . 0

4 6 . 9

0 . 1 5

- 1 5 . 0

4 0 0

m g / l

A l k a l i n i t y ( p p m )

a

2 3 0

2 0 0

1 8 4

1 6 0

1 2 0

2 4 0

1 4 8

1 2 8

2 0 0

2

5 0

-

C h e m i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c

p H

a b - 1 m

c

8 . 0

5

8 . 0

5

8 . 0

4

8 . 5

1

8 . 5

0

8 . 6

3

8 . 6

3

8 . 6

0

8 . 5

0

8 . 5

1

8 . 3

7

8 . 0

9

8 . 0

2

8 . 0

2

7 . 5

8

8 . 3

9

8 . 4

2

8 . 7

0

8 . 8

8

8 . 6

4

8 . 2

3

8 . 4

7

7 . 0

- 8 . 5

6 . 5 - 9 . 2

D O

( m g / l )

a b - 1 m

c

7 . 0 6 . 7 6 . 6

7 . 5 7 . 3

8

. 2

7

. 8

7 . 9 7 . 5 7 . 3

7 . 2 7 . 2

4 . 1 5 . 2

5 . 7 6 . 5 7 . 1

7 . 6 7 . 9 7 . 3

6 . 4 6 . 7

-

-

C O D

( m g / l )

a b - 1 m

c

4 5 4

3 2

1 6

7 6

8 6

8

5 5 4

3 5

1 6

6 5

2 2

7 9

2 6

5 1

3 8

5 0

6 8

4 2

5 6

6 0

-

1 0 . 0

N i t r a t e ( p p m )

b

0

0

3 . 0

1

2 . 5

2

2 . 8

7

0

2 . 8

7

0

0

1 0

5 0

P h o s p h a t e ( p p m )

b

1 . 2

4

0 . 3

6

0 . 2

4

. 1 7

. 0 3

. 1 9

. 2 6

. 1 7

. 2 4

-

-

A r s e n i c ( p p m )

b

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 . 0

1

0 - 0 . 5

B i o l o g i c a l C h a r

a c t e r i s t i c

T o t a l C o l i f o r m

a

+ 2 4 0 0

+ 2 4 0 0

+ 2 4 0 0

9 1 8

+ 2 4 0 0

+ 1 6 0 9

+ 2 4 0 0

N A

+ 1 6 0 9

0

1

* W e a t h e r C o n d i t i

o n : S t o r m a n d r a i n i n g

S o u r c e : F i e l d M e a s u r e m e n t


39/162

3 9

T a b l e 1 . 6 P h y s i c a l , C h e m

i c a l a n d B i o l o g i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f W a t e r Q u a l i t y o f I n l e L a

k e f r o m 2 . 9 . 2 0 0 6 t o 4 . 9 . 2 0 0 6

S a m p l e

L a y e r

S . S . 1

S . S . 2

S . S . 3

S . S

. 4

S . S . 5

S . S . 6

S . S . 7

S . S . 8

S . S . 9

W H O S t a n d a r

d

D r i n k i n g

P o t a b l e

T i m e

P h y s i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c

T e m p e r a t u r e

( º C )

a b c

2 7 . 8

2 8 . 0

2 7 . 6

2 3 . 6

2 3 . 7

2 3 . 3

2 3 . 1

2 3 . 1

2 8 . 2

2 8 . 0

2 8 . 0

2 6 . 0

2 5 . 4

2 5 . 1

2 6 . 3

2 5 . 7

2 7 . 4

2 6 . 7

2 6 . 5

2 6 . 5

2 7 . 5

2 6 . 4

2 5 . 8

2 9 . 1

2 9 . 2

2 8 . 8

-

-

T u r b i d i t y

( N T U )

a b c

5 4 0

5 6 0

5 9 0

1 5 0

2 1 0

5 0 0

4 5 0

4 3 0

2 5

5 3

5 4

1 9

2 2

2 1

4 0

4 1

6 2

1 8

1 9

2 6

2 6

3 0

3 4

1 9 0

1 6 0

1 3 0

5

2 5

T D S

( m g / l )

a b c

1 5 0

1 5 0

1 5 0

2 1 0

1 9 0

2 0 0

1 9 0

1 8 0

2 6

0

2 4

0

2 4

0

2 7 0

2 4 0

2 3 0

2 3 0

2 2 0

3 3 0

2 1 0

2 3 0

2 0 0

1 8 0

1 7 0

1 7 0

4 3 0

2 2 0

2 1 0

1 . 0

0 0

m g / l

5 0 - 1 5 0 0

C o n d u c t i v i t y

( m s / m )

a b c

2 3 . 5

2 3 . 8

2 3 . 7

3 1 . 7

2 9 . 8

3 1 . 6

2 8 . 9

2 7 . 1

4 1 . 0

3 6 . 7

3 6 . 5

4 1 . 5

3 7 . 0

3 6 . 2

3 5 . 1

3 4 . 3

5 2 . 1

3 2 . 5

3 5 . 1

3 0 . 9

2 7 . 2

2 6 . 8

2 6 . 5

3 4 . 8

3 3 . 3

3 2 . 8

0 . 1

5 - 1 5 . 0

4 0 0

m g

/ l

A l k a l i n i t y ( p p m )

a

2 0 0

2 1 0

1 9 0

1 4

5

1 1 5

2 2 5

1 4 5

1 2 0

2 2 0

2 5 0

-

C h e m i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c

p H

a b c

7 . 9

5

7 . 9

2

7 . 9

2

7 . 9

0

8 . 1

0

7 . 1

0

7 . 4

0

8 . 1

0

7 . 6

5

8 . 0

5

8 . 1

4

7 . 1

0

6 . 9

0

7 . 2

0

7 . 6

6

7 . 8

2

7 . 7

0

7 . 5

0

7 . 3

0

7 . 8

0

8 . 8

5

9 . 0

2

8 . 9

9

7 . 7

7

7 . 9

0

8 . 0

1

7 . 0 - 8 . 5

6 . 5 -

9 . 2

D O

( m g / l )

a b c

7 . 1 7 . 0 7 . 0

6 . 0 6 . 1

8 . 2 8 . 1 8 . 0

8 . 3

8 . 0

8 . 0

5 . 7 4 . 3 3 . 1

2 . 1 3 . 2 3 . 8

2 . 6 4 . 1 4 . 6

8 . 5 9 . 0 8 . 7

6 . 3 6 . 4 6 . 2

-

-

C O D

( m g O 2

/ l )

a b c

4 5 2

3 0

4 5 9

9 3 9

3 3

2 4

4 8

3 2

4 6 0

2 6

2 7

7 0

2 0

3 0

4 5

3 5

4 8

5 9

3 9

5 0

5 5

2 0

-

1 0 . 0

N i t r a t e ( p p m )

b

0

0

2 . 9

8

2 . 0

0

3 . 0

5

0

3 . 0

0

1 . 0

1 0 m g / l

5 0 m

g / l

P h o s p h a t e ( p p m )

b

0 . 4

4

0 . 2

9

0 . 2

4

0 . 3

9

0 . 1

7

0 . 2

4

0 2 4

0 . 2

1

0 . 5

5

-

-

A r s e n i c ( p p m )

b

0

Changes of water quality and water surface area in Inle Lake (Myanmar) : facts and perceptions

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Transcript of Changes of water quality and water surface area in Inle Lake (Myanmar) : facts and perceptions