Physico-chemical analysis of Ken river water in Panna District

Madhya Pradesh, India

Ashwani Awasthi¹, Shashi Kant Tripathi¹, Ashok Kumar Tiwari^2*

¹Department of Energy and Environment, Faculty of Science and Environment, MGCGV, Chitrakoot,

Satna - 485334, Madhya Pradesh, India,

²Ayurveda Sadan, JRD Tata Foundation for Research in Ayurveda and Yoga Sciences, Arogyadham,

Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot, Satna - 485334, Madhya Pradesh, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gangagargi@gmail.com, ashokckt77@yahoo.com

Abstract:

The Ken river is one of the major river of Bundelkhand region of Central India. It flows through two states Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is a tributary of Yamuna river. The Ken river originates near village, Ahirgawan on the north-west slopes of Kaimur Range in Katni district of MP and travels a distance of 427 Km. before merging with Yamuna at village, Chilla of Fatehpur in UP at 25°46'N and 80°31'E. It is one of the sixteen perennial rivers of Madhya Pradesh. It flows about 55 Km. through Panna National Park from South to North. Hence it is a source of drinking water for wild animals of Panna National Park. Various samples of river water were collected from different areas in and around the Panna District, and analyzed for their physico-chemical parameters. Selected parameters were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness magnesium hardness. Water quality analysis was carried out using standard methods for examination of water and wastewater (APHA-AWWA). The results were compared with drinking water quality standards prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO). The above study will be useful to know the surface water quality and their subsequent fitness or unfitness of water for drinking purpose at selected sites undertaken. The study will also be helpful to the regulatory authorities and also to the policy makers towards river Ken basin.

KEY WORDS: River Ken, Physico-chemical parameters, Water quality

INTRODUCTION:

In recent years, because of continuous growth in population, rapid industrialization and the accompanying technologies involving waste disposals, the rate of discharge of the pollutants into the environment is far higher than the rates of their purification. The implications of deteriorating quality of the receiving waters are considerable both in the immediate situation and over the longer term. In this context, water quality assessment is critical for pollution control and the protection of surface and ground waters. In India, disposal of untreated domestic sewage from cities, towns and villages is the major source of pollution of surface water bodies leading to the outbreak of water borne diseases. Biodegradable organic matter is the contaminant of concern for dissolved oxygen concentration which is the principal indicator of pollution of surface water. According to world health organization (WHO) estimates, about 80% of water pollution in developing countries like India is caused by domestic wastes (Bhuvaneswaran and Rajeswari, 1999). In India, numbers of studies have been carried out to assess the water quality in terms of various physico-chemical / biological characteristics and heavy metals of surface and ground water at various places (Haribhau, 2012; Patil et al., 2012; Manimaran, 2012; Parihar et al., 2012; Ranjan, 2012). The growth in numbers lacking access to safe water and sanitation will be driven in large part by the growth rate of the people living in urban areas (Gleick, 1993). The objective of any water quality management is to balance the interests of users with the development of the resource, while at the same time improving and preserving environmental quality.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Taking the objectives into account, as also the various aspects, four sampling stations were selected for river quality study. River quality monitoring and assessment were carried out during different seasons. Parameters physical-chemical and biological will be studied as per method and techniques described by Standard method (Sexena, 1994; APHA, 2005; NEERI, 2010). A brief description of sampling sites for quantitative estimation of water quality parameters is presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Details of Sampling Stations

S.No.	Description of Sampling locations
1.	Nehra Ghat (1)
2.	Barouni Ghat (2)
3.	Chandoura Ghat (3)
4.	Beera Ghat (4)

Sample collection:

Water samples from the selected sites were collected in pre-cleaned blue or black coloured carbuoys of 2 liter capacity with necessary precautions during winter season 2013-14. The samples after collection were immediately placed in dark boxes and processed within 6 hours of collection.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The one year average values of all the water quality parameters at seven sampling stations during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons are shown in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. The graphical representations of the variation of all the parameters at different stations during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons are presented in Figures 1 and 7, respectively.

Table 2: Average values of physico-chemicals parameters during pre-monsoon season

S.No.	Parameters	Sampling stations
S.No.	Parameters	1	2	3	4
1.	Water temperature °C	27.0	28.0	27.5	27.0
2.	Conductivity, μS/cm	900	1200	1000	1100
3.	pH	7.21	7.76	8.25	7.35
4.	Alkalinity, mg/l	400	370	385	410
5.	Total hardness, mg/l	300	310	350	340
6.	Total dissolve solids, mg/l	330	300	280	270
7.	Dissolved oxygen (DO) mg/l	7.5	7.0	7.5	7.8
8.	Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) mg/l	2.0	2.0	2.5	2.0
9.	Total coliform (MPN/100ml)	250	200	200	300

Table 3: Average values of physico-chemicals parameters during post-monsoon season

S.No.	Parameters	Sampling stations
S.No.	Parameters	1	2	3	4
1.	Water temperature °C	26.0	27.5	28.0	26.5
2.	Conductivity, μS/cm	600	1100	900	1000
3.	pH	7.22	7.80	8.43	7.38
4.	Alkalinity, mg/l	380	360	375	400
5.	Total hardness, mg/l	325	300	320	330
6.	Total dissolve solids, mg/l	300	290	250	235
7.	Dissolved oxygen (DO) mg/l	8.5	9.2	9.0	9.2
8.	Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) mg/l	1.8	1.8	2.0	1.7
9.	Total coliform (MPN/100ml)	200	150	150	150

Water temperature:

Temperature governs to a large extent the biological species present and their rates of activity. The variation in temperature in different seasons in the present study was mainly due to the climatic changes of the environment. In pre-monsoon season, the average water temperature ranged from 27 to 28°C between stations 1 to 4. During post-monsoon season, temperatures ranged from 26 to 28°C, respectively.

Conductivity:

Conductivity is a numerical expression of the ability of an aqueous solution to carry an electric current. In pre-monsoon season, the values ranged from 900 to 1200 μmhos/cm from stations 1 to 4. During post-monsoon season, the values ranged from 600 to 1100 μS/cm, respectively (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Seasonal variations of Conductivity in Ken River water

pH:

With relatively small changes in pH, a significant change in water quality may take place. Many activities like trace metal complication, precipitation, biological uptake and their respective reverse pathways are all highly pH dependent. Several authors have observed alkaline pH values in the riverine systems (Khare and Unni, 1986; Unni, 1985; Pal et al., 1986; Singh D.K. and Singh; 1990; Swarnalatha N. and Narsingarao; 1992).

Variation in pH during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at station 1 was 7.21 and 7.22, respectively. These values varied from 7.76 to 8.25 and 7.38 to 8.43 during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. The results showed that the river water at all the seven stations was slightly alkaline in nature.

Alkalinity:

Alkalinity is a measure of the ability of water to neutralize acids. The relative quantities of the alkalinity species are pH dependent. In large quantities, alkalinity imparts bitter taste to water. The principal objection to alkaline water, however, is the reaction that can occur between alkalinity and certain cat-ions in the water. The resultant precipitate can foul pipes and the water-system appurtenances. In pre-monsoon season, the values ranged from 370 to 410 mg/l from stations 1 to 4. During post-monsoon season, the values ranged from 360 to 400 mg/l, respectively (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Seasonal variations of Alkalinity in Ken River water

Total hardness:

Hardness is the concentration of multivalent metallic cations in solution. The hardness that is equivalent to the alkalinity is termed carbonate hardness, with any remaining hardness being called non carbonate hardness. For all practical purposes, hardness may be represented by the sum of the calcium and magnesium ions. In pre-monsoon season, the values ranged from 300 to 350 mg/l from stations 1 to 4. During post-monsoon season, the values ranged from 300 to 330 mg/l, respectively (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Seasonal variations of Total hardness in Ken River water

Total dissolved solids (TDS):

The quantity of total dissolved solids is in general proportional to the degree of pollution. In pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, the average TDS values at station 1 to 4 sampling stations were 270 to 330 mg/l and 235to 300 mg/l during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Seasonal variations of Total dissolve solids in Ken River water

Dissolved oxygen (DO):

A stream must have a minimum of about 2 mg/l of dissolved oxygen to maintain higher life forms. At least 4 mg/l of DO is required for game fish and some species may require more. DO is also important because the end products of chemical and biochemical reactions in anaerobic system often produce aesthetically displeasing colors, tastes, and odors in water. In the present investigation, during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, the average values of dissolved oxygen at station 1to 4 were 7.0-7.8 and 8.5-9.2 mg/l, respectively (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Seasonal variations of Dissolve oxygen in Ken River water

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD):

The oxygen-demanding nature of biodegradable organics is of utmost importance in natural water systems. In the present study, the average BOD values at station 1 to 4 during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons were 2.0-2.5 and 1.7-2.0 mg/l, respectively (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Seasonal variations of Biochemical oxygen demand in Ken River water

Total coliform:

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals. The source water may have been contaminated by pathogens or disease producing bacteria or viruses which can also exist in fecal material. Fecal coliform bacteria may occur in ambient water as a result of the overflow of domestic sewage or nonpoint sources of human and animal waste. In the present study, the average values of total coliform count in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at station 1 to 4 were 200-300 and 150-200 MPN/100 ml (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Seasonal variations of Total coliform in Ken River water

CONCLUSION:

The water quality assessment of 4 km stretch of river Ken was undertaken in terms of various physicochemical and biological parameters. Based on the results of the study the following conclusions were drawn.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Authors are thankful to the Vice- Chancellor of MGCGV, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) and Organizing Secretary of Arogyadham, Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot Satna (M.P.) for providing facilities to carry out this research work.

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Received on 27.12.2017 Modified on 27.02.2018

Research J. Science and Tech. 2018; 10(2):131-136.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2018.00019.0