Assessment of Physico –
Chemical Parameters of Priyadarshini Jurala Project Waters in Mahabubnagar
District, Telangana State, India
T. Vinod Kumar1*,
A. Rajeshwar Rao2, Badhe Srinivas3 and C. Rajeshwari4
1Department
of Chemistry, Jayaprakashnarayan College of Engineering, Mahbubnagar – 509 001,
(Telangana State), INDIA.
2Department of Chemistry,
Narsimha Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad-500 014, (Telangana State),
INDIA.
3Department
of Chemistry, Sphoorthy Engineering College (JNTUH), Nadargul (V), Saroornagar
(M), Hyderabad – 501 510 (Telangana State), INDIA.
4Department of Civil Engineering,
Govt. Polytechnic, Masab tank, Hyderabad-500028, (Telangana State), INDIA.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: vinodtappa@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
The present work aimed at assessing the water quality of Priyadarshini
Jurala Project, near Atmakur mandal in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana state,
India. Samples collected at three sites of dam viz., S1 - upstream of the dam
i.e., one km from the dam, S2 - near the dam and S3 - downstream of the dam
i.e., one km from the dam. Water samples were analyzed for various physical
parameters viz., temperature, PH, conductivity, turbidity and chemical
parameters viz., Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, PO43-, DO, BOD, COD and
hardness. The analytical results shows that the values of most of the
parameters are within the limits of WHO and ISI specifications. It is therefore
recommended that the proper filtration are required to control the turbidity
and dissolved solids and also disinfection and pathogenic tests are recommended
to make it safe and healthy water for drinking purpose.
KEYWORDS: Priyadarshini Jurala Project,
Mahabubnagar district, physicochemical parameters, turbidity, dissolved solids,
pathogenic test.
One of the nature’s greatest gifts to mankind is clean
water. Today water became a precious commodity throughout the world and
unfortunately the clean water sources are shrinking globally in size and also
getting polluted due to intense urbanization, industrialization and
indiscriminate usage of fertilizers in agriculture sector. Now it is the time
to save the purity of our great nature’s gift water.
The Jurala project, which is also known as the
Priyadarshini Jurala Project is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from
Kurvapur village in the Mahabubnagar district of Telangana1. Laid
over the Krishna river the reservoir is at a level of 1045 feet. This power
project, which has a water storage capacity of 11.94 TMC, was inaugurated in
the year 1995.
This is the only Hydro Electric Project in the state
which has the water throughout the year.
Mahabubnagar district2 is located at 16°
73' N and 77° 98' E. The district is well known in the country for drought and
severe water scarcity. Demand for potable water is very high. River Krishna
with its vast river basin (Fig. 1), is the most important river for three
neighboring states ie., Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who depend on
the river waters for their drinking, agriculture and hydroelectric
generation needs. Though the river Krishna flows in the
Mahabubnagar district more than 200km, the district head quarter is facing
severe scarcity of potable water. Now, the Priyadarshini Jurala Project is the
only main source which can serve the needs of drinking water to towns and
villages of Mahabubnagar district and it is going to be water bowl of
Mahabubnagar district in the coming years.
The above forecast prompted the authors to study the
physico-chemical parameters of the Priyadarshini Jurala Project water for
critical analysis.
EXPERIMENTAL:
Fig.2: Jurula water project. Images of sample collectin – i)S1, ii)S2
and iii)S3
Sampling:
Three points were selected to collect the water
samples from the project. Samples were collected at three sites of dam and
labeled accordingly viz., S1-upstream of the dam i.e., one km above
the dam, S2-near the dam and S3-downstream of the dam
i.e., one km below the dam (Fig. 2) for
convenience of study. The water samples were collected three different days
between months of April and May’ 2015. Water samples were collected in two
liter white color plastic bottles and preserved in the laboratory refrigerator
for analysis.
Analysis of
Water Samples:
Physico-chemical parameters of collected samples were
analyzed by standard methods3-7. Water temperature is recorded on
the spot using mercury thermometer. PH was measured using standard PH
meter, total dissolved solids (TDS) by digital TDS meter model 514, electrical
conductance was measured by digital conductometer. Calcium content was measured
by EDTA titrimetric method while alkalinity, hardness and Mg were measured
volumetrically by standard procedures. The BOD and COD determined by open
reflux method and chloride by turbidity method. Fluoride ion was determined by
fluoride ion specific electrode and using a reference PH meter.
All the chemicals used in the water sample analysis
were of AR grade. All the experiments were carried in triplicate and the
results were found reproducible with ±2% error.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Temperature:
Temperature is the most important ecological factor
which controls the solubility of gases and salts in water. The temperature
depends on the season and time. Since the samples were collected on the same
day and the sample sites are within the range of 2km, there was no much
difference in the temperature of the samples. At the downstream, the
temperature is little high compared to upstream, may be due to running water.
The temperature ranges from 29 – 30oC which is suitable for aquatic
life and also for drinking purpose.
PH Values:
The PH values were varied from 7.26 to
8.25. Significant change in PH was not found during the study
period. The levels were within the limits set by the BSI8 and WHO9.
Electrical conductivity and Total dissolved solids:
The electrical conductivity depends on several factors
viz., concentration, mobility of ions, oxidation state and temperature. Electrical conductivity also related to the
total dissolved solids. Approximate TDS values can be computed from the
measured electrical conductivity by converting it with the factor of 0.7 for
fresh water.(R). The analyzed TDS values computed against measured electrical
conductivity has shown close agreement. The electrical conductivity values
range between 490 and 640 mhos cm-1 which were below the permissible
limit. Total dissolved solids are an important parameter to ascertain the
vulnerability of salt content in dissolved state. The total dissolved solids
are well below the ISI limits.
Turbidity:
It is the measure of suspended matter in water, like
particles of mud, clay and slit. Turbidity may be due to the very poor flow of
river water. The turbidity levels are within the ISI limits set for drinking
water. Water in all three sites was clear and non opaque.
Alkalinity:
The total alkalinity of the water samples was below
the permissible and desirable criteria for domestic water supply.
Bicarbonate, Calcium and Magnesium:
Bicarbonate content determines the alkalinity of river
water. The possible sources of bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium in the river
water may be majorly due to dissolution of calcite, limestone and dolomites
during the course of flow of the river. The bicarbonate is the most abundant
ion in all three samples. This may be due to the chemical weathering taking
place throughout the river basin.
Sodium, Potassium and Chloride ions:
Sodium is the principal cation and chloride is the
major anion next to the bicarbonate ion. The source of cations in the water is
due to weathering of rocks and nature of soils through which river flows.
Table 1: Physicochemical parameters of Priyadarshini
Jurala Project water samples
|
Parameter |
Site-1 (S1) |
Site-2 (S2) |
Site-3 (S3) |
Average |
|
Color |
Clear |
Clear |
Clear |
– |
|
Odor |
Unobjectionable |
Unobjectionable |
Unobjectionable |
– |
|
Taste |
Acceptable |
Acceptable |
Acceptable |
– |
|
Air Temp. (oC) |
37 |
36 |
36.5 |
36.5 |
|
Water Temp. (oC) |
30 |
29 |
30 |
29.66 |
|
PH |
7.52 |
7.59 |
7.60 |
7.57 |
|
Conductivity
(µs/cm) |
490 |
525 |
540 |
518 |
|
TDS (mg/L) |
368 |
395 |
402 |
388.33 |
|
Turbidity (NTU) |
22 |
24 |
25 |
23.66 |
|
DO (mg/L) |
7.2 |
7.8 |
7.7 |
7.56 |
|
BOD (mg/L) |
3.8 |
4.1 |
4 |
3.96 |
|
COD (mg/L) |
20 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
|
Hardness (mg/L or
ppm) |
90 |
110 |
112 |
104 |
|
Na |
54 |
64 |
65 |
61 |
|
K |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.53 |
|
Ca |
48 |
52 |
52 |
50.66 |
|
Mg |
19.34 |
20.12 |
20.12 |
19.86 |
|
Cl |
59 |
64 |
65 |
62.66 |
|
SO4 |
17 |
19 |
19 |
18.33 |
|
NO3 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
|
HCO3 |
122 |
140 |
147 |
136.33 |
|
PO4 |
2.3 |
2.37 |
2.4 |
2.35 |
|
TDS/ Conductance |
0.75 |
0.75 |
0.74 |
0.746 |
Phosphate, Nitrate, Fluoride and Sulphate:
Low values of fluoride and nitrate were recorded
(Table 1). The main source for the formation of nitrate is the decomposition
and biodegradation of organic matter. The low level of nitrates in water
samples indicates its suitability for drinking purpose and livestock
consumption. The source of phosphate may be due to agriculture runoff from the
fields, industrial effluents in the upstream of the river, washing activity at
the banks of the river bed and weathering of rocks. Sulphates are common in
natural water but levels can be increased from industrial contamination.
DO, BOD and COD:
These three factors are very much important in
deciding the purity quality of water. Aquatic life depends on these factors.
Dissolved oxygen is critical factor in water quality assessment. The dissolved
oxygen adds taste to the water. It depends on the temperature and place. In
present study, the average of the dissolved oxygen was found to be 11.2. The
Biological Oxygen Demand is the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria in the
decomposition of organic material, including the oxygen required for the
oxidation of various chemicals such as sulphides, ferrous iron and ammonia
resent in the water. Lower the BOD value, higher will be the quality of water.
Non-polluted natural water should have BOD of 5mg/L or less. The average BOD of
the samples is found to be 6.7. The chemical oxygen demand is used as a measure
of the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter content of a sample that is
susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant. COD is similar in
function to BOD. The average COD of three samples was found to be 7.2.
Analytical data is presented in Table 1.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study of physicochemical parameters of water
provides a considerable insight into the quality of Jurala project water.
Conclusions were drawn on the basis of analysis, interpretation and discussions
of the numerical data. Authors feel that, even though the physicochemical
parameters are within the limits of WHO and ISI, it is not fit for drinking as
it is. Disinfection is necessary and requires analysis of bacterial studies and
other pathological parameters, to make it suitable for safe drinking. Since the
turbidity and total dissolved solids changes from time to time, it requires
proper filtration to make it a safe drinking water.
REFERENCES:
1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurala_Project
2.
mahabubnagar.tripod.com/mbnrinfo.htm
3.
APHA
(1998) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste water, 20th
edition. Washington D.C.
4.
APHA
(1992) Standard Methods of the Examination of Water and Waste water, 20th
edition. Washington. USA.
5.
Chandra Sekhar, M. & Anand Raj, P. (1995). Land use
Water Quality Modeling : A Case Study, International
Journal of Water Science & Technology, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 383-386
6.
Jain
and Jain (2007), Engineering Chemistry, 13th edition, Dhanpath Rai
Publishing Company, New Delhi, India.
7.
Rani FH
and Thatcher LL (1990), Methods for Collection and Analysis of Water Samples,
U.S Govt. Office, Washington, USA.
8.
ISI,
Indian Standard Specification for drinking water, IS10500 (2004), New Delhi.
9.
WHO,
Guidelines for drinking water quality, 2004, Geneva
Received on
05.08.2015 Modified on 22.08.2015
Accepted on
26.08.2015 © AJRC All right
reserved
Asian J. Research Chem. 8(8): August 2015; Page 521-524
DOI: 10.5958/0974-4150.2015.00082.6