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Assessment of Physico-Chemical Water Parameters Using Correlation Analysis: A Case Study of Gangapur Dam at Nashik District (M.s.) India

2011; World Wide Journals; Volume: 4; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.15373/2249555x/mar2014/159

2249-555X

Bharati G Kolhe, S. P. Zambare, S. B. Andhale S. B. Andhale,

Water Quality and Pollution Assessment

Present investigation report shows physico-chemical parameters of water samples collected from Gangapur Dam of Dist. Nashik observed during the years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Water samples collected were analyzed for pH, electric conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), suspended solids (SS), biological oxygen demand (BOD). Average values for, pH = 7.93 to 8.00, EC = 215.04 to 292.67 μS/cm, DO = 6.23 to 6.71 mg/L, Temperature = 27.25 to 24.82 0C, TDS = 130.21 to 170.75 mg/L, SS = 25.50 mg/L, BOD = 8.04 to 8.00 mg/L during the years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively. All parameters studied were found to be within normal limits, and the water was found to be suitable for irrigation as well as different purpose. INTRODUCTION Quality of water plays an important role, whenever it is used for either irrigation to agricultural lands or for domestic purpose, includes drinking. Water pollution may change physico-chemical characters of water, and makes it unfit for either purpose. In India per capita surface water availability in the years 1991 and 2001 were 2309 and 1902 m3 respectively and these are projected to reduce to 1401 and 1191 m3 by the year 2025 and 2050 respectively (Kumar et al, 2005). It is also estimated that by the year 2025, two third population of the world would face water stress. Hence, Limnology helps to decide location specific management strategy for all freshwater bodies. Some of the studies on freshwater bodies in India include studies carried out by Subba Rao and Govind (1967), Johri et al, (1989), Tripathy (1992), and Sharma (2009). Frequent assessment is therefore essential to guard quality of water. The degree of pollution is generally assessed by studying physical and chemical characteristics of the water bodies (Duran and Suicmez, 2007). Though physico-chemical approach to monitor water pollution is most common and plenty of information is available on these aspects, it may not provide all the information required at the local level and thus assessment of water quality of all the water bodies becomes essential. Hence, a study of physical and chemical parameters was carried out at Gangapur Dam located at Gangapur village in Nashik District of Maharashtra State, during the years 20092010 and 2010-2011. Materials and Methods (i) Study area Gangapur Dam is an earth fill dam on Godavari River. It was constructed in the year 1965 and is 10 Km away from Nashik City in the Maharashtra State. The dam area fall within latitude 20°1’15.34”N and longitude 73°39’44.60”E. It has a capacity of holding 7200 mcft of water, which is mainly used for irrigation over 15,960 hectare of agricultural land, apart from its domestic use in Nashik City. Figure 1: Map of the study area. Sources: Google earth (ii) Collection of samples During present study the water samples were collected twice in a month during May to April 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Water samples (1000 ml each) were collected manually between 8 am to 10 am at a depth of 35cm from Gangapur Dam site using acid-washed (10%, v/v HCl) Polyethylene bottles. The pre-washed bottles were rinsed thrice with water samples on the site before sample collection. Water in polyethylene bottles were preserved with 2 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid (pH < 2.0). Then they were carefully sealed, labelled and kept cool using ordinary dry ice in the field and while on carrying to the laboratory. Chemical analyses were performed in the laboratory within four hours of their collection. The pH and Temperature of water was measured at the collection site, while Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Biological oxygen demand (BOD), Dissolved oxygen (DO) and Suspended solids (SS) were determined following the standard methods described by APHA (1985). All chemicals of Anal R grade were used for quantitative analysis. (iii) Statistical analysis All the data obtained subjected to statistical analysis. In statistical analysis mean, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variations (CV) and correlation coefficients matrixes were