A comparative hydrobiological study on Authoorangal channel and Srivaikuntam channel and their role as sustainable water resources

Abstract

A hydrobiological study conducted in two different river channels of two different taluks of south Tamil Nadu showed that the concentrations of Physico-chemical parameters like turbidity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate, carbonate, bicarbonate, total coliform and faecal coliform were deteriorating water quality rapidly due to intense and excessive amounts of fertilizers, manures, pesticides and insecticides. In the present investigation among the two channels, maximum values of the physical parameters with a mean of turbidity 6.5±0.070 NTU, temperature 33.9±0.7070C, pH 8.7±0.707, dissolved oxygen 7.9±0.707 mg/l, electrical conductivity 3.08±0.632 ds/m, total dissolved solids 15.7± 3.162mg/l, total hardness 25.6±6.324 mg/l, and total alkalinity 50.1±1.140 mg/l was recorded. The maximum values of the chemical parameters with a mean of calcium 10.0±1.702 mg/l, magnesium 11.6±0.378 mg/l, sodium 8.48±2.828 mg/l, potassium 0.23±0.012 mg/l, chloride 16.1±2.607 mg/l, sulphate 11.9±3.224 mg/l, carbonate 0.3±0.070 mg/l and bicarbonate 2.8±0.050 mg/l was noticed. The maximum values of the coliform parameters with a mean of total coliform bacteria 390±0.707 (MPN/100 ml) and faecal coliform 37±0.707 (MPN/100 ml) was also recorded. The results of this study point out the fact that the water quality of both the channel waters are slowly deteriorating.