Some Studies on the Water Quality Parameters of Guntur District Andhraprdesh, India

 

Chandaluri Subba Rao¹, B. Sreenivasa Rao² and A.V.L.N.S.H. Hariharan^2*

¹Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar-522 510

²Department of Chemistry, GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM University Visakhapatnam – 530 045.(INDIA)

*Corresponding Author E-mail:  ahharan@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Physico – Chemical analysis of well and bore well water samples was carried out from eleven sampling stations of Guntur District for a period of two months from August to September 2009.  The analysis of different parameters namely- pH, turbidity, color, total alkalinity, total hardness, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, TDS, DO, BOD, COD and fluoride were carried out as per standard methods. The parametric ratios and variation of temperature with D.O and Nitrate were studied. The results indicate that the fluoride and calcium in some sampling stations were found above the permissible limits.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Water is essential for the survival of any form of life. The three percent of global fresh water is large enough to meet the requirements of man for millions of years. The stupendous increase in world’s population resulting in spurt in urbanization, industrialization, agriculture etc., has put tremendous presence on the limited fresh water resources there by threatening   the fresh water bodies with pollution¹. About 95% of rural population living in India depends on ground water for domestic use². In adequate management of water resources as directly or indirectly resulted in the degradation of hydrological environment³. Therefore, a continuous periodical monitoring of water quality is necessary so that appropriate steps may be taken for water resource management practices⁴. The present investigations were carried out to assess the suitability of water collected from different areas of Guntur Dt Andhra Pradesh, India for domestic utilization.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Water samples collected from six sampling stations selected for the analysis were given bellow: S₁ Piduguralla – (Well Water), S₂ Nugendla (Bore well Water), S₃ Epuru (Well Water), S₄ Vinukonda (Bore well Water), S₅ Narmalapadu (Bore well water), S₆ Bollapalli (Bore well water) S7 Korampudi (Bore well water) and S8 Naguleru (Bore well Water).

 

Samples for analysis were collected in sterilized bottles using the standard procedure for grab (or) catch samples in accordance with standard methods of APHA.  The analysis of various physico – chemical parameters namely pH temperature, total hardness, alkalinity, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, fluoride, DO, BOD, COD, TDS etc., were carried out – as per the methods described⁵. All the chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade. D.D water was used for the preparation of solutions.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results of various physico – chemical parameters for the water samples collected are presented in Tables – 1and 2

Samplings were done in an interval of three hours commencing from 08.00 hrs. of September 2009 to 08.00 hrs of the next day.

 

Temperature:

Temperature of water is basically important because it effects bio-chemical reactions in aquatic organisms. A rise in temperature of water leads to the speeding up of chemical reactions in water, reduces the solubility of gases and amplifies the tastes and odors. The highest temperature being at 17.00 hrs and the lowest at 05.00 hrs. The average temperature of the present study ranged from 26.78 - 28.37⁰ C.

 

pH:

It is known that pH of water (6.5 to 8.5) does not has no direct effect on help. But lower value below 5.0 produce sore taste and has higher value above 8.5 and alkaline taste. The pH values of the present investigation were within the ICMR standards (7.0 – 8.5).

Table – 1: Physico – Chemical Parameters of Water Samples Collected on 11-08-2009

Parameter	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8
Temperature0 C	28.08	26.90	28.03	27.84	28.32	27.02	27.82	27.50
pH	7.65	7.68	7.35	7.93	7.84	7.80	7.82	7.60
Electrical Conductivity	1.3	1.9	0.4	1.8	0.5	0.5	1.7	1.6
TDS	580	729	305	632	365	385	690	572
TSS	57.9	42.0	46.2	39.6	26.7	22.7	34.7	57.0
Hardness	592.5	304.2	220.4	340.6	238.6	289.6	478.6	489.4
Calcium	157.2	126.1	85.4	159.3	89.04	129.2	198.8	94.2
Magnesium	68.5	56.0	27.0	66.0	25.7	48.5	66.6	32.4
Chloride	89.2	68.7	103.7	126.3	92.3	115.2	142.7	96.3
DO	5.2	4.0	5.0	4.5	5.7	4.6	4.3	4.5
BOD	1.6	0.5	1.2	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.7
Sulphate	130.8	82.0	142.2	135.0	73.4	128.5	156.5	129.0
Alkalinity	198.6	156.0	108.5	122.5	162.3	160.4	140.4	115.8
Nitrate	2.47	2.03	1.80	2.13	1.22	1.65	2.25	2.10
COD	5.2	5.8	3.2	5.3	6.0	4.9	6.2	5.2
Iron	0.002	0.004	0.004	0.001	0.002	0.003	0.004	0.005
Fluoride	1.24	1.48	0.38	2.06	2.25	0.18	1.65	1.20

All the parameters expressed in mg/lit. except  pH and EC (mmhos); All the values are the average of 3 determinations.

 

Table – 2: Physico – Chemical Parameters of Water Samples Collected on 14-09-2009

Parameter	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8
Temperature0 C	28.13	27.12	27.05	28.20	27.09	27.04	28.37	26.78
pH	7.16	8.11	7.85	8.06	8.14	7.57	7.8	7.58
Electrical Conductivity	0.5	1.4	0.6	0.5	1.8	1.7	1.8	0.8
TDS	408	543	415	396	548	584.	576	474
TSS	63.2	47.2	48.4	58.3	68.3	58.4	53.2	42.3
Hardness	515.8	408.7	232.4	209.3	290.3	248.0	387.5	368
Calcium	82.3	64.5	78.4	53.8	52.8	49.3	89.4	74.6
Magnesium	76.2	57.2	36.2	25.8	40.2	32.5	38.2	33.8
Chloride	212.4	163.4	69.05	74.3	67.6	79.4	89.2	80.4
DO	4.8	5.2	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.6	5.2
BOD	1.3	1.2	0.7	0.9	1.3	1.4	1.2	1.5
Sulphate	146.8	130.8	143.7	138.9	149.7	78.2	1.36	98.5
Alkalinity	133.4	168.5	117.9	153.4	183.3	132.6	141.0	113.6
Nitrate	2.21	1.38	1.08	1.61	1.23	1.82	1.55	2.07
COD	5.7	5.2	3.2	3.8	6.3	5.6	5.0	6.0
Iron	0.007	0.004	0.005	0.004	nd	0.003	0.005	0.003
Fluoride	0.33	1.25	0.43	0,96	2.08	1.43	1.78	1.30

All the parameters expressed in mg/lit. except pH and EC (mmhos); All the values are the average of  3 determinations

 

Table – 3: Mean values of Physico –Chemical Parameter of Water samples

S. No.	Parameter	8.00 hrs	11.00	14.00	17.00	20.00	23.00	2.00	5.00	8.00 hrs
1	Temperature0 C	27.84	28.50	29.38	29.35	28.52	28.05	27.85	27.24	27.83
2	D.O	4.20	4.56	4.80	4.62	4.54	4.40	4.23	4.13	4.20
3	Nitrate	1.08	0.96	0.82	0.62	0.54	0.72	1.03	2.30	1.08

 

Table-4: Parametric ratios of water samples

Parameter	Minimum	Maximum	Average	Parametric ratio	Values found
Temperature	26.78	28.37	27.575	pH / TDS	0.05337
pH	7.16	8.14	7.65	pH / Cl	0.19696
Electrical Conductivity	0.4	1.9	1.5	pH / AlK	0.1796
TDS	305	729	517	pH / Cal	0.2223
TSS	22.7	68.3	45.5	pH / DO	5.685
Hardness	209.3	592.5	400.9	pH / COD	5.8053
Calcium	49.3	198.8	124.05	Ec / Cal	0.00927
Magnesium	25.8	76.2	48.05	Ec / Cl	0.008214
Chloride	67.6	212.4	140.0	Ec / SO4	0.010004
DO	4.0	5.7	4.85	Cl / TDS	0.2708
COD	3.2	6.3	4.75	H / TDS	0.7754
Sulphate	73.4	156.5	114.95	----	-----
Alkalinity	108.5	198.6	153.55	-----	----
fluoride	0.18	2.25	1.215	----	-----

 

 

Electrical Conductivity:

It is an important parameter for determining the water quality for drinking and agricultural purposes. Many dissolved substances may produce an esthetically displeasing colour, taste and odour. The average values obtained are in the range 0.4 to 1.9 mmhos.

 

Total Dissolve Solids:

TDS values are useful to determine whether water is suitable for drinking purpose, agriculture and industrial purposes. The TDS values in the present study ranged within 305 to 729 mg/lt.

 

Hardness:

Water with Hardness above 200 mg / lit. may cause scale deposition in the distribution system and results in excessive soap consumption and subsequent scum formation. Soft water with hardness of less than 100 mg/ lit may have lower buffer capacity and more corrosive to water pipes⁶. The hardness values in the present investigation were found to range between 209.3 to 592.5 mg/lit.

 

Calcium is one of the most abundant metals which play an important role in biological system. Magnesium though an essential and beneficial metal is toxic at higher concentrations. Magnesium hardness particularly associated with sulphate ion has laxative effect an persons un accustomed to it⁷. In the present study calcium and magnesium contents are found in the range of 49.3 – 198.8 and 25.82-76.2 mg/lt respectively.

 

Chloride:

Chloride occurs in all types of natural waters. The high concentration of chloride is considered to be an indication of pollution by sewage waste of animal origin. Industries are also important sources of chloride in water. Chloride values obtained in the study are found to be higher (212.4 mg / lt) in S₁ sampling station than other stations.

 

Fluoride:

The major sources of fluoride in ground water are fluoride bearing rocks such as fluorspar, cryolite, fluorspatite and hydroxylapatite etc. in India, approximately 62 million people including 6 million children suffer from fluorosis  because of high consumption of high fluoride content⁸. Excess fluoride consumption affects plants and animals. The fluoride concentration in the water samples (0.18-2.25mg/lt) are above the permissible limits.

 

Sulphate:

Sulphate ion if present in excess amount produces cathartic effect upon human beings⁹. The sulphate ion concentration of the present study varied from 72.8-156.5 mg/lt.

 

Alkanity:

Most of the alkalinity in natural water is formed due to dissolution of carbon dioxide in water. Carbonates, bicarbonates, thus formed are dissolved to yield hydroxyl ions. In the present investigation the total alkalinity of the water samples is found in the Range 108.5 to 198.6 mg/lt.

Nitrate:

Nitrate is the most important nutrients in an ecosystem. The maximum value for the observed at 5.00 hrs while minimum at 20.00 hrs. Which is inversely related to surface water temperature (Table-3). Generally water bodies polluted by organic matter exhibit higher values of nitrate¹⁰. In the present study water samples from different sampling points stations (s₁ to s₈) showed low concentrations of nitrate (1.08 to 2.47 mg/lt) well below permissible levels as per the standards.

 

Dissolved Oxygen (DO): It is an important parameter which is essential to the metabolism of all aquatic organisms that posses aerobic respiration. Presence of DO in water may be due to direct diffusion from air and photosynthetic activity of autotrophs¹¹. Oxygen can be rapidly removed from the waters by discharge of oxygen demanding wastes. The DO values obtained in the present study are within ICMR standards.

 

BOD and COD: These are the parameters used to asses the pollution of surface water and ground waters.  Both these of the parameters (BOD and COD) values obtained in the present study are within permissible levels (Table 1 and 2).

 

CONCLUSION: The fluoride content is beyond the limit prescribed by ICMR standards.  Since drinking water is a basic need, the people should consume protected water containing fluoride within the prescribed limits. Hence the future generations in these areas have to take necessary steps to protect themselves from attacking dental and skeletal flurosis.

 

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Received on 18.03.2010        Modified on 01.04.2010

Accepted on 18.04.2010        © AJRC All right reserved