EVALUATION OF PHYSICO -- CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND MICROBIOLOGICAL POPULATIONS OF CAUVERY RIVER WATER IN THE PALLIPALAYAM REGION OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Vijayalakshmi .G, Ramadas .V, H.Nellaiah

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate physico-chemical parameters and total heterotrophic bacterial and fungal populations from Cauvery River water in the Pallipalyam region during the period from January 2009 to December 2009 . Physicochemical parameters were analyzed using APHA standard procedure and microbiological count done by standard pour plate technique. The Physico-chemical parameters like temperature, hydroxyl ionic concentration (pH), electrical conductivity recorded were in a range of 24.7 - 29 C o , 7.5 - 9.2, and 406 - 982 µS/cm respectively. Besides, turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS ), Total hardness and Total alkalinity of river water samples recorded were in the ranges of 7 – 11 NTU, 5 - 12mg/L, 291-701mg/L , 3 - 5mg/L, 228-364mg/L, and 139 - 245mg/L respectively. Nitrite, Phosphate, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Chloride of the river water exhibits within the ranges of 0.012 - 0.102 mg/L, 0.019 -.023 mg/L, 41.08 - 77.24 mg/L, and 53.56 - 143.16 mg/L respectively. A calcium and magnesium levels of the water samples during the study period were analyzed and the results recorded were in the ranges of 57.31 - 101.4 mg/L and 27.22 - 57.35 mg/L respectively. The amount of Sodium, Potassium and Ammonical nitrogen of the water samples estimated were in the ranges of 35.44 - 88.57 mg/L and 3 - 8 mg/L, 5.83 and 3.26 mg/L respectively. Bicarbonates and carbonates levels analyzed during the study period recorded were in the ranges of 164.7-303.78 mg/L and 2.4 - 9.6 mg/L respectively. The total bacterial and fungal populations were recorded during the study period. The maximum and minimum values of population density were ranged between 4.3 - 0.5 X 103 CFU/ml, and 3.2 - 0.1 X 103 CFU/ml respectively. The values of Physico-chemical parameters recorded were indicated that, the river was polluted in terms of increased accumulation of xenobiotics compounds by anthropogenic activities .The immediate attention from the concerned authorities is required to protect river from further pollution

Keywords: River Cauvery, Physico-Chemical parameter, Microbial Population, Statistical analysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2013.0203014