Seasonal Variations in Physico-Chemical Parameters of Sri … 2/Seasonal... · 2018-08-09 · 3.1.4 Total solids (mg/l) The maximum total solids were recorded as 139 mg/l in monsoon

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 126-133

126

Seasonal Variations in Physico-Chemical Parameters of Sri

Kamatchiamman Temple Pond Chidambaram Taluk, Tamilnadu

B. Elayaraj and M. Selvaraju*

Division of Environmental Science, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, Tamilnadu,

India.

Received: 02/02/2015 Accepted: 08/06/2015 Published: 30/06/2015

Abstract

In present work an attempt has been made to study the physico-chemical water quality parameters of Sri

Kamatchiamman temple pond (SKT pond), which is an ancient water body located in Kavarappattu village, Chidambaram

taluk. The study was carried out for a period of one year from January to December 2014. Monthly details were collected

and represented seasonally. Different physico-chemical parameters like Air and Water temperature, Turbidity, Electrical

conductivity, Total solids, Total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, Total alkalinity, Total hardness, pH, Free CO2,

Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Calcium, Magnesium,

Chloride, Phosphate and Nitrate were analysed. The result indicates that the pond water is in eutrophication and polluted

condition.

Key words: Sri Kamatchiamman temple pond, Physico-chemical parameters, Eutrophication.

1 Introduction1

Water is one of the most important resources,

whether it is for irrigation, power generation or for

purposes of drinking, manufacturing, etc. The quality of

water is getting vastly deteriorated due to unscientific

waste disposal, improper water management and

carelessness towards the environment; this has led to

scarcity of potable water affecting the human health.

About 71% of the earth surface is covered with water in

which Marine (97.3%), only freshwater (2.7%). Out of

this (freshwater) rivers and lakes form 0.01%, ground

water 0.59% and ice and glacier 2.1%. India is bestowed

with vast freshwater regimes consisting of 45000 km of

rivers, 26,325 km of canals, 2.36 million hectares of

ponds/tanks and 2.05 million hectares of reservoirs. The

water quality in ponds, rivers and streams may vary

depending on the geological morphology, vegetation and

land use (modification by human activities such as

agriculture, industrialization and urbanization) in the

catchment.

Industries, agriculture and urban settlements produce

nutrients (sewage effluent and fertilizers) and toxic

substances, such as organic and inorganic pollutants, and

other chemicals including heavy metals. Water pollution

occurs when these substances, which degrade the water

quality of river, enter the waterway and alter their natural

function. Where ponds and lakes have been profoundly

altered and have lost much of their value, the scientific

understanding of these water bodies is being used in

prescribing restoration methods [1]. Recent reviews

indicate that land degradation, forest loss, biodiversity

and habitat degradation, scarcity and pollution of fresh

Corresponding author: M. Selvaraju, Division of

Environmental Science, Department of Botany,

Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002,

Tamilnadu, India. Email: [email protected],

Phone: +919443876130

water are increasing hence this limnological study is

important. There are many man-made ponds in the

village and water from these ponds in used for drinking

purposes. The pond is very economical and eco-friendly

management for harvesting rain water to check the

ground water level depletion. Industrial sewage and

municipal wastes are being added to water reservoirs

affecting physico-chemical quality of water and making

unfit for use of livestock and other organism [2].

Physico-chemical factors are very important in

pollutant or contaminant. The chemical and biological

factors are interrelated and interdependent. The main

objective of the physico-chemical analysis of water is to

determine the status of different chemical constituents,

which are present in the natural and disturbed aquatic

ecosystem. The quality of water may be affected in

various ways due to pollution. The pollution manifests

itself either by altering the existing elements in the water

or by generating new substances (e.g. Ammonia, nitrates,

etc.). Hence, an attempt was made to analyse the

physico-chemical parameters of Sri Kamatchiamman

temple pond water at different seasons.

2 Materials and Methods 2.1 Study area

The pond selected for the present investigation, is Sri

Kamatchiamman Temple Pond (SKT pond) near

Kavarappattu Village and it is situated at 11º 22' N

latitude and 79º 44' E longitude at an elevation of 7.00 m

above the msl., at a distance of about 7 Km, South East

of Chidambaram Taluk in Cuddalore district of

Tamilnadu state (Fig. 1).

Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

J. Environ. Treat. Tech. ISSN: 2309-1185

http://www.jett.dormaj.com/





127

Fig. 1. Satellite map of SKT pond in Kavarapattu, Chidambaram taluk (TN)

2.2 Sampling collection and analysis

This rain fed pond is partly loaded by the inflow of

municipal sewage and also anthropogenic activities.

Present investigation was carried out to study the

physico-chemical parameters of the Sri Kamatchiamman

temple pond (SKT pond) for four seasons post-monsoon

(January to March), summer (April to June), pre-

monsoon (July to September) and monsoon (October to

December). The sampling stations were selected on the

basis of nature and degree of pollution load being added

to the pond. The water samples for the present study

were collected at a monthly interval for a period of one

year from January to December 2014. Samples were

collected every month from the surface of the pond at

09.00 am - 11.00 pm in order to maintain uniformity.

Since the pond is shallow, samples were collected from

the surface level so as to give integrated sample [3]. The

analysis was carried out as per APHA [4] method.

3 Results and Discussion 3.1 Physical parameters

3.1.1 Air temperature and Water temperature (ºC)

The air temperature was recorded high 37.2ºC in

summer season and low 28.0 ºC in monsoon season and

the maximum temperature of pond water was recorded as

36.8ºC in summer season and minimum of 27.4 ºC

monsoon season (Fig.2.). Temperature plays an

important role, which governs the seasonal succession of

the biota. Temperature was high in the months of May

and June which is associated with decreased solubility of

gases in the pond. This investigation is also in close

conformity with the findings of [5 and 6].

3.1.2 Turbidity (NTU)

Turbidity reduces the amount of light penetrating the

water due to the presence of various suspended particles

such as clay, silt, plankton, algae, etc. These suspended

particles absorb more light and results in rising of the

water temperature. High value of turbidity (59.1 NTU)

seen during summer season and low value (31.7 NTU)

during monsoon season respectively (Fig.2.). The high

turbidity during summer season might be responsible for

the higher water temperature because suspended particles

absorb heat from the sun light making the water warm

[7].

3.1.3 Electrical conductivity (µS) The electrical conductivity (EC) was maximum

(788.9 µS) in monsoon season and minimum (619.5 µS)

in summer season respectively (Fig.3.). The high values

of EC are due to high concentration of ionic constituents

present in the water bodies and reflect the pollution by

domestic wastes. EC is found to be good indicators of the

overall water quality [8, 9].

3.1.4 Total solids (mg/l)

The maximum total solids were recorded as 139 mg/l

in monsoon season and the minimum of 113 mg/l was

noted during summer season in pond water (Fig.3.).

According to [3] total solids in the most of the cases are

organic in nature and pose serious problems of pollution.

These observations also support the findings of [6, 9 and

10].

3.1.6 Total suspended solids (mg/l) The maximum TSS was recorded as 51.7 mg/l in

summer season and minimum of 42.0 mg/l in monsoon

season (Fig.4.). Solids refer to suspended and dissolved

matter in water. They are very useful parameters in

describing the chemical constituents of the water and can

be considered as a general of edaphic relations that

contribute to productivity within the water body [14].

3.2 Chemical parameters

3.2.1 Total alkalinity (mg/l)

Total alkalinity was high (103.2 mg/l) during

summer season and low (81.2 mg/l) in monsoon season

(Fig.5.). The higher alkalinity values may be due to the

discharge of municipal sewage, domestic sewage and

urban wash off into the fresh water bodies. The

maximum alkalinity was obtained in summer season

whereas minimum in monsoon season may be because of

presence of bicarbonate and hydroxide of Ca, Mg, Na, K

and protein in pond water. The result is also in close

conformity with the findings of [5 and 9].


128

Fig.2. Seasonal variations of Air temperature, Water temperature and Turbidity of SKT pond

Fig. 3: Seasonal variations of Electrical conductivity and Total solids of SKT pond

Fig. 4: Seasonal variations of Total dissolved solids and Total suspended solids of SKT pond

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Air temperature (º C) Water temperature (º C) Turbidity (NTU)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)

Post-monsoon January Post-monsoon February Post-monsoon March Summer April

Summer May Summer June Pre-monsoon July Pre-monsoon August

Pre-monsoon September Monsoon October Monsoon November Monsoon December

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Electrical conductivity (µS) Total solids (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)




0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Total dissolved solids (mg/l) Total suspended solids (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)





129

Fig. 5: Seasonal variations of Total alkalinity and Total hardness of SKT pond

3.2.2 Total hardness (mg/l)

The maximum value of total hardness in pond water

was observed as 67.1 mg/l during summer season.

However the minimum value was observed as 56.7 mg/l

in the monsoon season (Fig.5.). The increase in hardness

can be attributed to the decrease in water volume and

increase in the rate of evaporation at high temperature,

high loading organic substances, detergents, chlorides

and other pollutants [15].

3.2.3 pH

The maximum pH value was recorded as 9.09 in

summer season and minimum of 7.67 in monsoon season

(Fig.6.). The lower pH during monsoon is due to high

turbidity and in summer the temperature enhances

microbial activity, causing excessive production of CO2

and reduced pH. Higher pH value was normally

associated with the high photosynthetic activity in water.

Mishra et al, [9] also found the pH in alkaline trend

throughout the study period. This investigation is also in

close conformity with the report of [5].

3.2.4 Free Carbon dioxide (mg/l)

Carbon dioxide in a water body may be derived from

the atmospheric sources, biotic respiration, inflowing

ground water which seep into the pond, decomposition of

organic matter due to bacteria and may also from within

the water body itself in combination of other substances

mainly calcium, magnesium etc. The maximum (3.38

mg/l) free carbon dioxide (FCO2) was observed during

summer season and minimum (2.91 mg/l) value was

observed during monsoon season (Fig.6.). The maximum

free carbon dioxide in summer is due to the

decomposition of organic matter and the respiration of

aquatic flora and fauna, however minimum free carbon

dioxide during monsoon is probably due to a decrease in

the photosynthetic activity of aquatic flora. This

investigation is also in close conformity with the report

of [16].

3.2.5 Dissolved oxygen (mg/l)

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the important

parameters in water quality assessment. Dissolved

oxygen was high (7.65 mg/l) during monsoon season and

low (6.01 mg/l) in summer season during the study

period (Fig.6.). During summer low value of DO was

noticed which may be due to increase values of

phytoplankton or decrease of photosynthetic activity. DO

is regulator of metabolic activities of organisms and thus

governs metabolism of the biological community as a

whole and also acts as an indicator of trophic status of

the water body [17]. Dissolved oxygen showed inverse

relationship with water temperature [18].

3.2.6 Biological oxygen demand (mg/l)

The Biological oxygen demand (BOD) was

maximum (4.68 mg/l) during summer season and the

minimum (2.57 mg/l) during post-monsoon season

(Fig.7.). The increased levels of BOD and COD

indicated the nature of chemical pollution by the entry of

sewage water and industrial effluents. The reason for

high BOD in summer was several microbes present in

the water bodies accelerated their metabolic activities

with concentrated amount of organic matter in the form

of municipal and domestic wastes discharge into water

bodies and hence required more amount of oxygen and

so the demand of O2 increased [19].

3.2.7 Chemical oxygen demand (mg/l)

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of

oxygen required for complete oxidation of organic matter

by a strong oxidant. The Chemical oxygen demand was

high (7.84 mg/l) during post-monsoon season and low

(5.58 mg/l) in pre-monsoon season during the study

period (Fig.7.). During the course of study the value of

COD were found to be higher than BOD values. The

high COD values indicate that some degree of non-

biodegradable oxygen demanding pollutants were

present in the water. The values of COD in conjugation

with BOD are helpful in knowing the toxic conditions

and presence of biologically resist organic substances.

These observations support the findings of [20 and 21).

The other factor responsible for increased COD

concentration might be the establishment of human

colonies at the bank of pond who are responsible for

adding domestic sewage thus resulting in higher COD

[22 and 23].

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Total alkalinity (mg/l) Total hardness (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)





130

Fig.6. Seasonal variations of pH, Free CO2 and Dissolved oxygen of SKT pond

Fig. 7: Seasonal variations of Biological Oxygen Demand and Chemical Oxygen Demand of SKT pond

3.2.8 Calcium (mg/l)

Calcium is an important nutrient for aquatic

organism and it is commonly present in all water bodies

[24]. The maximum (36.2 mg/l) amount of calcium in the

water was recorded during summer season and minimum

(26.61 mg/l) amount was recorded during monsoon

season (Fig.8.). Calcium is present in water naturally, but

the addition of sewage waste might also be responsible

for the increase in amount of calcium [25 and 26]. The

decrease in amount of calcium may be due to its

absorption by living organisms.

3.2.9 Magnesium (mg/l)

Magnesium is found in various salt and minerals,

frequently in association with iron compound.

Magnesium is vital micronutrient for both plant and

animal. Magnesium is often associated with calcium in

all kind of water, but its concentration remains generally

lower than the calcium [27]. The maximum (15.8 mg/l)

amount of magnesium in the water was recorded during

summer season and minimum (9.48 mg/l) amount was

recorded during monsoon season (Fig.8.). Decrease in

level of magnesium reduces the phytoplankton

population [28] suggested that the considerable amount

of magnesium influence water quality. Various sub-

processes like bating, picking, tanning, dyeing and fat

liquoring causes water pollution [29).

3.2.10 Chloride (mg/l)

The chloride content was maximum (70.88 mg/l)

during summer season and minimum (59.64 mg/l) during

post-monsoon season (Fig.8.). The higher concentration

of Chloride is considered to be an indicator of higher

pollution due to higher organic waste of animal origin.

Moundiotiya et al, [10], Mishra et al, [9] and Arya et al,

[5] also reported similar results. Govindan and

Sundaresan [30] observed that concentration of higher

Chloride in the summer period could be also due to

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

pH Free Carbon dioxide (mg/l) Dissolved oxygen (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)




0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Biological Oxygen Demand (mg/l) Chemical Oxygen Demand (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)





131

sewage mixing and increased temperature and

evaporation by water.

3.2.11 Phosphate (mg/l)

The maximum phosphate content was recorded (2.26

mg/l) during summer season and minimum (1.8 mg/l) in

monsoon season (Fig.9.). Phosphate has a few sources in

nature and also acts as a regulating factor for

productivity of water body. Phosphate may occur in lake

as result of domestic waste, detergent and agricultural

run-off containing fertilizer [31]. Higher concentration of

phosphate is an indicator of pollution, which induce

possibility of eutrophication [32].

Fig.8. Seasonal variations of Calcium, Magnesium and Chloride of SKT pond

Fig.9. Seasonal variations of Phosphate and Nitrate of SKT pond

3.2.1 Nitrate (mg/l)

During the study period pond water showed the

maximum nitrate content 3.27 mg/l respectively during

post-monsoon season and minimum of 2.78 mg/l in

summer and monsoon season respectively (Fig.9.). The

different water sources showed significant effect on pond

water nitrate content. Nitrogen-nitrite is the middle step

of nitrogen. Oxidation of ammonia first produces nitrite

and then nitrate. Lower concentration of nitrite in

summer and monsoon may due to the utilization by

eutrophication [33].

4 Conclusions The critical parameters like TS, TDS, TSS, total

alkalinity, total hardness, BOD and COD are above

prescribed limits. The summer and post-monsoon season

are more polluted when compared to other seasons. The

pond water is highly polluted and unsafe for human use.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Calcium (mg/l) Magnesium (mg/l) Chloride (mg/l)

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg/L

)




0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Phosphate (mg/l) Nitrate (mg/l)





132

The analysis of physico-chemical parameters had

indicated the wider human activity and influx of

domestic waste in ponds which caused eutrophication.

Therefore it can be concluded through this study that the

Sri Kamatchiamman temple (SKT) pond with social and

cultural importance is degrading at an alarming rate. It is

suggested that an awareness programmes should be taken

up in the adjoin area to educate people about the adverse

effect of water pollution. Also, periodic monitoring of

water quality in the pond to ensure no further

degradation has been recommended.

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Seasonal Variations in Physico-Chemical Parameters of Sri … 2/Seasonal... · 2018-08-09 · 3.1.4 Total solids (mg/l) The maximum total solids were recorded as 139 mg/l in monsoon