American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (6): 1182-1185, 2015 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2015.15.6.94241 Corresponding Author: Zubia Masood, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. 1182 Physiochemical Analysis of Water and Soil from Gomal Zam Dam of Khajuri Kach in South Waziristan Agency of Pakistan, with Special Reference to Their Impact on Fish Growth and Survival Hameed-Ur-Rehman, Zubia Masood, Shagufta Saddozai, Wali Muhammad Achakzai, 1 2 3 4 Fariha Mengal, Saima Durrani, Huma Tareen, Farhana Khan and Humara Zahid 3 3 5 3 3 Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science and Technology, 1 Kohat District, KPK Province, Pakistan Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan 2 Department of Zoology, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 3 Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan 4 Department of Chemistry, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 5 Abstract: A study on physicochemical parameters of water and soil was carried out on Gomal Zam Dam situated in Khajuri Kach of South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan,with special reference to its impact on fish growth and survival. The physicochemical characteristics of both water and soil analyzed in the present study includes i.e., color, odor, elasticity,temperature, pH, conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results of present analysis revealed that the temperature of dam water and soil was above the tolerable range of fishes, hence not suitable for fish survival and growth, whereas the remaining other parameters like color, odor, elasticity, pH, EC, TDS were found in suitable range, which indicates the better quality of water and soil of Gomal Zam dam. Therefore, from the result of the present study, it was concluded that GomalZam dam is good to support the survival and production of aquatic life, especially fish fauna. Furthermore, this dam wasalso found safe to be used for irrigation purpose, domestic water supply and other related water usage. Key words: GomalZam dam Physicochemical characteristics Water Soil INTRODUCTION absorption and emission [2]. Water is a vital natural Gomal Zam Dam is a multi-usagedam, situated at importance in daily life makes it crucial that Khajuri Kachin South Waziristan Agency of Federally physicochemical examinations can be conducted on Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from about 100 water [3]. Quality of water is determined by various kilometers from Tank in Tank district of Khyber physicochemical and biological factors, as they may Pakhtunkwa province, Pakistan. The dam impounds the directly or indirectly affect the water quality and therefore Gomal River, a branch of the Indus River, where the Gomal its suitability for the production and distribution of fish River passes through a deep gorge ravine as shown in and other aquatic animals [4]. Figure 1. The purpose of the dam is irrigation, flood The equilibrium of an aquaculture system is also control, fish cultivation and hydroelectric power dependent on its soil properties. Soil properties have a generation [1]. dynamic role in endurance and growth of marine Fish is a cheap source of protein and an important organisms. The soil serves as a biological filter through cash crop in many parts of world. Water is the absorbing fish excretions, organic residues of feed and fundamental physical sustain in which fish can perform also controls the salinity, maintains pH of aquaculture their each life functions i.e., feeding, swimming, breeding, systems [5]. All living organisms have tolerable limits of resource, a fundamental require of all living beings and its