An Assessment of the Impacts of Car Wash Stations Effluents on Surrounding Soil Properties in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose: This study evaluates the impact of car wash operations on surrounding soil properties in Gilgit City. The research focuses on key soil parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil texture. Understanding these impacts is crucial for assessing potential soil degradation due to car wash effluents. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: A reconnaissance survey identified three car wash sites: Danyore, Dumiyal, and Nagaral. Soil samples were collected from these locations and analyzed for pH, EC, SOM, SOC, and texture composition. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine mean differences among sites, while Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships between soil properties. Results: Significant variations were observed in soil properties across the study sites. The highest pH was recorded in Danyore (7.7), followed by Dumiyal (7.5) and Nagaral (7.2). EC was highest in Dumiyal (5.1 mS/m), followed by Nagaral (2.9 mS/m) and Danyore (2.3 mS/m). The highest SOM and SOC levels were found in Nagaral (2.6%, 1.5%), followed by Dumiyal (2.5%, 1.4%) and Danyore (1.9%, 1.1%). Soil texture analysis revealed that sand content was highest in Danyore (73.2%), while silt content was highest in Dumiyal (61.2%). Clay content remained constant across all sites. Conclusion: The findings indicate that car wash activities significantly alter soil properties, leading to chemical and physical degradation. Increased EC levels and altered SOM and SOC contents suggest contamination from car wash effluents, which can negatively impact soil health. These results highlight the need for implementing environmentally friendly car wash practices, including wastewater treatment, to mitigate soil degradation and preserve soil quality in urban areas.