P.B. Vyas
Abstract
Reservoirs and~lakes with clear cut boundaries represent one of the most versatile ecosystems on the surface of the earth. Like any other systems, reservoirs are characterized by inputs and outputs of materials and hence represent an ongoing chemical process. The sediments that are carried to the reservoirs by catchment erosion, get progressively sedimented to the bottom and the rapid interaction of sediment and water aided by biological activities makes reservoir an interesting laboratory. In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the suitability of reservoir water for drinking and irrigation by taking two reservoirs, viz., Malampuzha and Pothundi, located towards the north and south respectively of Palakkad Gap - a prominent structural discontinuity in the Western Ghats of Dharoi Dam.