Abstract :
The present study, the water samples were collected from 15 different places within the Periyar river during monsoon 2015 for physiochemical, heavy metal and bacteriological analysis. In monsoon 2015, the mean values of pH, TDS, EC, DO, BOD, COD, TA, TH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, CO3, Cl, SO4, N-NO2 and O-PO4 were 7.82, 551.35, 871.56 (μS/cm), 4.35, 6.85, 13.51, 119.83, 85.37, 39.70, 28.06, 51.31, 20.81, 105.93, 125.45, 77.28, 5.67 and 8.28 mg/L, respectively. In heavy metal studies, the mean values of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were 0.24, 0.12, 0.35, 1.36, 0.14, 0.3 and 1.12 mg/L, respectively. The range of TVC, TC, TS, FC, FS, VC, SAC, SHC and PC were 7200 – 263000, 230 – 13900, 30 – 1020, 0 – 2800, 0 – 1600, 0 – 1000, 0 – 170, 0 – 220 and 0 – 1800 CFU/mL, respectively. The level of PI (FC/FS) in S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, S10, S11, S12, S13, S14 and S15 was 0, 0, 1.3, 3.8, 5.0, 6.7, 5.0, 12.7, 6.8, 12.4, 13.6, 13.6, 10.8, 2.0 and 1.8, respectively. Most of the sites included in this study are not suitable for bathing/other purpose with respect to the maximum permissible limits of FC and FS counts as per the standards laid by BIS (2009) and WHO (2003). Based on the detailed investigation, S8, S13, S14 and S15 are identified as highly vulnerable zones because of receiving large quantities of municipal/industrial wastes, human/animal excretions and other of Periyar river basin.
Author Name : S. Prasanth & V. Mahesh
Keywords: Periyar river basin, Pollution index, Heavy metals, Pseudomonas sp.
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