Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS WATER BODIES OF SELECTED AREAS OF KODAIKANAL, INDIA

D. Illakkiam and Usha Raja Nanthini A.

Abstract

An increase in human activities leads to decrease in water quality of drinking water. In order to prevent the increased level of contamination in water, it is important to monitor the quality of water regularly. The present study has been carried out during the month of November, 2015 in which water samples from ten different sampling stations were collected and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters such as colour, turbidity, alkalinity, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, nitrite, nitrate, chloride, fluoride, sulphate and phosphate. Sampling stations were falls, rivers, lakes, ground water and spring water localized in different areas of Kodaikanal. A comparison was made with Standards prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) to monitor the quality of water. pH value is a good indicator of whether water is hard or soft. All water samples have shown pH value range from 5.7 to 6.7. The maximum value was found in sample 8, ground water from Packiyapuram area and it falls in soft water category which is in the prescribed limit of BIS. The value of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ranges from 21 – 182 mg/L, which is below the prescribed limit. At this level, TDS contributes to the palatability of water. Total Hardness ranges from 10-60 mg/L which is not within the prescribed limit of BIS. The river water from Packiyapuram area has shown the total hardness 60 mg/L and it falls in soft water category. It depicts that it does not contain appreciable amount of Calcium and Magnesium ions which ranges from 3-15 mg/L, and 2-6 mg/L, respectively. There is no requirement of chlorine solution since there is no iron content in all the water samples. It is observed that the maximum value is found in sample 8 (ground water from Packiyapuram) followed by sample 10 (river water from Packiyapuram) and sample 5 (water from Silver Falls). The analytical data of various physico-chemical values of all water samples are found below the prescribed limit. It was concluded that the water from various regions of Kodaikanal is not potable.