26-09-2016, 04:47 PM
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Abstract:
Water pollution is a serious problem for the entire world. It threatens the health and well being of humans, plants, and animals. As the world became more industrial and smaller due to communications and trade, accidental and purposive hazardous dumping have contributed to the problem of river pollution. All water pollution is dangerous to the health of living organisms, but river pollution can be especially detrimental to the health of humans and animals. Rivers are used as primary sources of potable water by populations all over the world. Another serious consequence of this pollution is the effect of this pollution on trade in the polluted areas. This paper examines cases which reflect different causes of river pollution, the seriousness of this pollution, the effect of this pollution on trade, and a possible global solution to this problem.Studies on diatom of river Cauvery water, Mettur and Bhavani Salem District, Tamil Nadu was made to assess the pollution of water from May 2011. Our work was focused on Physico-chemical and environmental studies of Cauvery River in parts of Tamil Nadu. Macrophytes and water samples were collected from unpolluted and polluted sites along Cauvery River course, some ions from water also analyzed. Analysis of diatom communities has been performed in order to quantity the level of pollution in Cauvery River. The present study revealed that the water of Cauvery in Mettur and Bhavani are highly polluted by direct contamination of sewage and other industrial effluents. The source of pollution is most probably the dying factory and sewage from Kumarapalaiyam. The structure of diatom communities is strongly influenced by the different pollution source from this area.
INTRODUCTION:
Rivers are the most important freshwater resource for man. Unfortunately, river waters are being polluted by indiscriminate disposal of sewerage, industrial waste and plethora of human activities, which affects their physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality . Pollution of the aquatic environment is a serious and growing problem. Increasing numbers and amounts of industrial, agricultural and commercial chemicals discharged into the aquatic environment have led to various deleterious effects on aquatic organisms. Aquatic organisms, including fish, accumulate pollutants directly from contaminated water and indirectly via the food chain .
Owing to the large quantity of effluent discharged to the receiving waters, the natural processes of pathogen reduction are inadequate for protection of public health. In addition, industrial wastes that alter the water pH and provide excessive bacterial nutrients often compromise the ability of natural processes to inactivate and destroy pathogens . The extent of discharge of domestic and industrial effluents is such that rivers receiving untreated effluent cannot provide the dilution necessary for their survival as good quality water sources. The transfer of unfavourable releases from industries is detrimental to human and animal health and safety. Disposal of sewage wastes into a large volume of water could increase the biological oxygen demands to such a high level that all the available oxygen may be removed, consequently causing the death of all aerobic species, e.g., fish.
Prevention of river pollution requires effective monitoring of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters . In most countries, the principal risks to human health associated with the consumption of polluted water are microbiological in nature. The bacteriological examination of water has a special significance in pollution studies, as it is a direct measurement of deleterious effect of pollution on human health. Coliforms are the major microbial indicator of monitoring water quality. The detection ofEscherichia coli provides definite evidence of faecal pollution; in practice, the detection of thermotolerant (faecal) coliform bacteria is an acceptable alternative.
Study Area
The present study was carried out in the Cauvery River, not for entire river but selected in two segments named as Mettur and Bhavani. The first segment area lies at 77°48’6.86’’ E to 77°49’31.94” E longitude and 11°46’53.53’’ N to 11°48’12.58” N latitude with an area of 6.17 sq. km (Fig.1). The Mettur Dam is a large dam in India built in 1934. It was constructed in a gorge, where the Kaveri River enters the plains. The dam is one of the oldest in India. The second segment area lies at 77°40’8.64’’ E to 77°42’5.93” E longitude and 11°25’43.39’’ N to 11°27’4.13” N latitude with an area of 9.05 sq. km (Fig.1). The Kalingarayan Canal is a 90km long irrigation canal in the Erode region of Tamil Nadu, India. It was constructed by Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan and completed in the year 1823. This runs parallel to Cauvery River. The canal was designed with a meandering route to maximize the amount of land which benefited.
Water Quality Analysis
Eight river water samples from above said same locations of the study area I and II were collected during pre-monsoon season (May 2011). The locations of water sampling stations are shown in the Fig. 1. Samples were stored in polythene bottles and were standardized to laboratory for further analysis. Parameters viz., pH, electrical conductance and water temperature (°C) were measured within a few hours of collection by using electro pH meter and conductivity meter respectively. Ca and Mg were determined titrimetrically using standard EDTA, and chloride was determined by silver nitrate titration (Volgel, 1968). Sodium, potassium, phosphates, Biological demand oxygen (BOD), chemical demand oxygen (COD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were analyzed in laboratory and analyses were assessed by using standard method for the assessment of water quality as mentioned in Trivedy and Goel (1986).
Discussion:
Water Pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the effect damages individual species ,populations of species, and also causes harm to the natural biological communities. Surface water and groundwater are interrelated. Surface water seeps through the soil and becomes groundwater. Conversely, groundwater can also feed surface water sources. Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin.
1. Point sources
Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe line or a ditch.
Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm water drain.
2. Non-point sources
Non-point source pollution refers to contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source. It is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. A common example is the leaching out of nitrogen compounds and pesticides from agricultural lands. Nutrient runoff in storm water from "sheet flow" over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of Non-Point Sources of pollution.
Other contaminants
Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances.
Organic water pollutants include:
• Detergents
• Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform
• Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease
• Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds
• Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor oil), and fuelcombustion byproducts, from stormwater runoff
• Tree and bush debris from logging operations
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as industrial solvents, from improper storage.
• Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), may fall to the bottom of reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and are denser.
• Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)
•Trichloroethylene
• Perchlorate
•Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products
• Drug pollution involving pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites
Inorganic water pollutants include:
• Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants)
• Ammonia from food processing waste
• Chemical waste as industrial by-products
• Fertilizers containing nutrients--nitrates and phosphates—which are found in stormwater runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use
• Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban stormwater runoff) and acid mine drainage
• Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites.
Conclusion:
The present study provides simple representation complex of variables (physical, biological and chemical) that govern the overall water quality of surface water that are intended for potable use. It indicates that during monsoon few of the water quality parameters like phosphate, nitrate (in upstream), EC, total hardness and TDS (in downstream) is more which is due to release of agricultural runoff, domestic waste water and industrial effluent into the river. Water is non-alkaline water and it is suitable for water pipe line, Because of total hardness was higher than alkalinity, The above data on the water quality parameters of Cauvery River clearly showed that river water is safe for drinking water supply, fishery, irrigation, and industrial purposes, as most of the parameters are found within the permissible limits. The results of the physico-chemical variables investigated from sediments of Cauvery River indicated that most of the parameters did not exceed the safe limits. The mean pH of the river was still basic. Cauvery River is a good example of a site where contributions of pollutants both from natural (lithogenic) sources and anthropogenic activities. The major sources of pollution of the Cauvery River are the industrial effluents, return flows, agricultural runoff, municipal and domestic sewage besides pedogenic background contributions. During the study period, the sediment samples during Monsoon season showed significantly lower values than Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon season samples. The main reason behind the lower concentration during the Monsoon season is the dilution factor with the pollutant. The physico-chemical analysis of sediment samples of Cauvery River showed an optimum pH in the suitable range for most of the biological life because the reactions in the neutral range to slightly alkaline is most favourable. Electrical Conductivity (EC) indicates the presence of significant amounts of anions and cations and during the present study. Electrical Conductivity values of sediment samples were found to be in unsafe range. The organic carbon (%) recorded during the study period, suggested that river is getting organic loads from sewage water which is directly mixing into the river.
A Possible Solution?
Water is an essential resource to every living organism. The entire world today has serious problems with pollution in many of its bodies of water. Economic development and human disregard have caused a decline in the quality of water and marine life all over the world. Nations are taking individual steps in order to correct this problem, however, more must be done. Regional groups are also taking steps to address the question of water pollution. Under NAFTA, there was an environmental amendment added on to the original agreement. These regional agreements are also steps in the right direction.
One issue with water is that it can touch many different nations and regions. It should be considered a global resource. There is no global policy associated with the control of water pollution. The GATT has addressed many issues concerning trade. These include the lowering of trade and non-trade barriers and establishing trade rules for the entire trading community. It is now just beginning to address issues of the environment as well. Some kind of global forum, such as the GATT, must be used to debate the question of water pollution.
Trade and the environment are two very important issues which a nation must address. Trade significantly contributes to a nation's economic welfare. In the past, the environment has been sacrificed in order to help the economy. Today, nations are realizing that the environment must be preserved in order to protect living organisms and important resources such as water. Environmental sentiment and legislation seem to be growing from the national level to the regional level. A global environmental mandate would significantly improve the overall health of the world's environment. Under GATT or another global regulative body, a water policy must be developed. Companies and governments would have to abide by the policy or receive fines and/or sanctions. This water policy would have to be all encompassing to include specific amounts of different pollutants which would be tolerated. This water policy would also have to provide a clean-up schedule for areas which already have significant amounts of pollution. The monitoring would be done by non-partisan officials under the global regulative body. In order for this policy to be effective, a mutual commitment must be made by all parties involved. This commitment must include all governmental levels, from the global through the local levels. These levels of government must cooperate to enforce this policy and any fines or sanctions which result from it. This policy and its enforcement will only be effective with the participation of all levels of government. Once mutual commitment is made by all participating regions and governments, then the problem of global water pollution will begin to decrease.