Pollution Research Paper

ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY OF MAHANADI AND KATHAJODI RIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF CUTTACK CITY, ODISHA

SANJAYA KUMAR MUDULI, NARASIMHAM MANGALAMPALLI AND PRAKASH CHANDRA MISHRA

Abstract

Assessment of water quality is essential in any region whether water is used for any purpose (drinking, industrial & agriculture). Such assessment will not only establish its suitability for the purpose proposed to be utilized but also enable proper management of existing various resources of the region (both surface and sub-surface) in a judicial manner. In this context, a study is taken up to assess the surface and ground water quality being supplied to the city of Cuttack in the state of Odisha, India. Mainly the water for this city is drawn from the Mahanadi River and its distributory Kathajodi. There exists a canal (Taladanda canal) that transmits water to the city from these sources. During its travel to the city, the canal water also picks up some sediment that increases the quantity of solids in it. The study is designed to assess the water quality and sediment in the study area by collecting surface water samples at six different locations and ground water samples from 92 bore- wells. Similarly, the sediment samples were collected from six locations. Samples were collected for two consecutive years (2016-17 and 2017-18). The present paper deals with the analysis carried out with respect to surface water samples for this period. Important conclusions were obtained from the analysis with recommendations for water usage. The parameters were analyzed such as pH, Turbidity, E.C, TDS, TSS, Dissolve Oxygen, BOD, Fluoride, Chloride, Nitrate, Sulphate, Total Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Sodium, Lead, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel, Chromium and Fecal Coli form. From the analysis, it is found that maximum pH value, i.e.8.40 was observed at location L-5(Ranihat), Turbidity recorded 28 NTU at location L- 6(Nayabazar), maximum BOD value 3.6 mg/L was detected at the location L-4(Khannagar). The SO4 -concentration of 20.5 mg/L was analyzed at the site L-5 in summer season. The heavy metal parameter Fe was detected as maximum 1800 μg/L at the site L-6 in rainy season. Most of the surface water contains Iron. The maximum Lead concentration of 14.4 μg/L was detected at the site L-5 and Cr was observed 56.0 μg/L at the site L-5 in the rainy season. All sources were found Bacteriological Contamination, i.e. Fecal Coli form (FC). The maximum MPN value of FC was >92000 per 100 mL at the location L-5 and L-6 in winter and rainy season.