Water quality surveillance of a fresh water pond in Shivamogga taluk of Karnataka
K. Harish Kumar
Department of Environmental Science, Maharani Science college for Women, Mysuru - 570005 India
ABSTRACT
Appraisal of physico-chemical characteristics of water in two sampling sites in fresh water Santhekadur pond of Shivamogga taluk, Karnataka was carried out during February 2017 to October 2018. This water body is situated 5 Km away from Shivamogga with the total area of about 8 hectares. Several water quality parameters were estimated as per standard procedure and compared with WHO and BIS standards. The water temperature was between 22.5O and 32.5O C. pH of the water ranged from 6.70 in site II to 7.12 in site I, which is in the desired limit values of WHO and BIS standards. The turbidity of water ranged 89 to 125 NTU. The lowest EC value in the rainy season. The oxygen content varied between 2.54 mg/l in site I and 6.8 mg/l in site II. The calcium concentration in water varied between 15.85 and 20.25mg/L. Magnesium concentrations (5.9-10.76 mg/L) was also within acceptable limits. The chloride content ranged from 14.7 mg/l at Site II to 38.7 mg/l at Site I, Alkalinity ranged from 52.5 mg/L at site I to 64.5 mg/L at site II, with lower alkalinity at site I due to increased rainwater inflow into the pond during the rainy season. BOD values varied between 1.93 and 5.8 mg/ L and were lowest at site I. Sulfate content varied between 30.05 and 40.48mg/LPhosphate concentrations in water samples varied from 0.018 to 0.05 mg/L. Nitrate content was highest with 0.8 mg/L at site II during the rainy season and lowest with 0.025 mg/L at the site I during the winter season. TDS content varied between 40.6 mg/l at site I and 68 mg/l at site II, The total hardness values compared with different standards were 40.8–49.5 mg/l. Acidity levels varied from a minimum of 3.98 mg/Lat site I to a maximum of 6.4 mg/L at site II. Water quality is influenced by environmental factors, which cause variations in nutrients. Seasonal variations in water quality are due to extrinsic and intrinsic factors of the water body. The physico-chemical analysis of water in this pond showed that the water is within the safe limits of irrigation, fisheries and is included under mesotrophic category.