Impact of Textile Dyeing and Bleaching Effluents on Surface Water Quality of River Noyyal at Tirupur, Tirupur Dist, Tamilnadu, India
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Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences International Bimonthly ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1I / Issue 9 / December 2011 © IJONS RESEARCH ARTICLE Impact of Textile Dyeing and Bleaching Effluents on Surface Water Quality of River Noyyal at Tirupur, Tirupur Dist, TamilNadu, India. P. Udayakumar1, S. Dhanakumar2 and M. Lekshmanaswamy*1 1PG and Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore- 641 029,TamilNadu,India. 2Department of Environmental Management, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli-620024, TamilNadu,India Received: 9 Nov 2011 Revised: 23 Nov 2011 Accepted: 29 Nov 2011 *Address for correspondence Dr.M. Lekshmanaswamy, Associate Professor, PG and Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore- 641 029,TamilNadu,India. EMail ID : ml_swamy64@ yahoo.co.in, Contact No: 07708570555 ABSTRACT River Noyyal is a seasonal river and it flows through the two urbanised and well known industrial cities namely Coimbatore and Tirupur before it reaches River Cauvery as a tributary. More than 700 textile dyeing and bleaching units are situated in Tirupur region across the river basin release partially or untreated effluents into R.Noyyal.To understand the extent of pollution on surface water quality, physicochemical characteristics of surface water were analyzed monthly at selected sites of River Noyyal during January 2008 to December 2010. Maximum level of total dissolved solids, total hardness, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, sodium and nitrate were recorded as 9100, 3100, 611, 155, 4992 and 48 mg/l, respectively. Key words: physico-chemical characteristics, dyeing and bleaching effluents, River Noyyal, anthropogenic pollution 604 Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences International Bimonthly ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1I / Issue 9 / December 2011 © IJONS Udayakumar Udayakumar et al INTRODUCTION Freshwater ecosystem offers numerous ecosystem services to humanity and it act as a prime inland water resources for domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose. Rapid urbanization, mushrooming of industries and its associated economic activities creates tremendous pressure on water resources. Evidently, rivers and their tributaries passing through the cities are receiving huge amount of contaminants released from point and non-point sources of pollution [1]. Further, seasonal variations in rainfall, surface run-off, interflow, groundwater flow and pumped in and outflows have a strong effect on river discharge and subsequently on the concentration of pollutants in river water [2]. In India, industry and agriculture coexist in the same geographical area and share the same water resources of a river basin as like other developing countries. Industries and cities withdraw large quantities of water from rivers for cater their needs and discharge more or less an equal amount of wastewater into the river. Disposal of untreated/ partially treated or diluted industrial effluents on surface water bodies could transfer a large cost to society in terms of environmental pollution and related human health hazards. Broadly, industrial pollutants often alter the physico- chemical characteristics, such as temperature, acidity, salinity, or turbidity of receiving water bodies, leading to ecosystem alterations and also lead to higher incidence of water-borne diseases. It is estimated that industries are responsible for dumping 300-400 million tons of heavy metals, solvents, toxic sludge, and other waste into water bodies each year in worldwide [3]. According to recent estimates, more than 70 per cent of industrial wastes in developing countries are dumped untreated into adjacent waters resources [4]. Such kind of industrial pollution was reported in most of river basins in India [5-11]. The River Noyyal a tributary of the Cauvery, originates from Velliyangiri hillocks on the Western Ghats and flows from this mountain valley region towards fairly level areas in the lower catchments and it reaches the river Cauvery about 170 km downstream. The total catchment area is 3510 km2 and is located between 10°56’ N, 76°41’E and 11°19’ N, 77°56’E. Noyyal is a seasonal river, fed by the monsoons. The water flow is moderate for a short period during the monsoon season. The basin annually receives more than 3000 mm and 600 mm of rainfall during the southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon, respectively [12]. River Noyyal receives massive quantity of industrial effluents and municipal waste water while flowing through urban areas. A well known 'industrial city' Tiruppur is located on the bank of the Noyyal River. In this city, about 9000 knitting, processing and manufacturing units are functioning at present [13]. The bleaching and dyeing units consume large quantities of water, but most of the water used by these units is discharged as effluents containing a variety of dyes and chemical (acids, salts, wetting agents, soaps, oil etc.). These units discharge nearly 90 MLD of effluents into the Noyyal River, leading to contamination of surface and groundwater and soil in and around Tirupur and downstream. Most of published reports mainly concentrated on groundwater contamination in this region. There is no detailed study on surface water quality in River Noyyal was undertaken. In this context, the present study is focused to assess the impact of industrial effluents on surface water quality of River Noyyal in downstream region. MATERIALS AND METHODS Surface water samples were collected in acid washed polythene bottles from River Noyyal in three sites (Kasipalayam, Orathupalayam reservoir and Muthur barrage) during January 2008 to December 2010 at monthly intervals. Sampling site characteristics are as below, 605 Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences International Bimonthly ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1I / Issue 9 / December 2011 © IJONS Udayakumar et al 1. Kasipalayam – The sampling site receives industrial effluents and municipal sewages from Tirupur city. 2. Orathupalayam reservoir – The reservoir is located about 20 km downstream of Tirupur on the border between Kangayam and Perundurai Taluks. It receives huge amount of industrial effluents and municipal sewage from upstream industries and urban settlements. 3. Muthur barrage – The sampling site is located about 15 km downstream of Orathupalayam reservoir and ahead of mixing point of River Noyyal and River Cauvery. The parameter such as pH, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were measured in the field using portable water monitoring kit (make: Deep vision). Total alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride were estimated by titration method. Sodium and potassium level was measured using flame photometer (make: Systronics). Sulphate, nitrate and phosphate were estimated spectrophotometrically. All the analysis was carried out as per standard methods of APHA [14]. The results obtained were evaluated in accordance with the norms prescribed under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World Health Organization (WHO). Correlation analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The descriptive statistics of physico-chemical characteristics of surface water are given in Table 1. Irrespective of sampling locations, pH value of the surface waters samples ranged between 7.06 and 8.82. The minimum pH value was recorded as 7.06 during the month of March (2010) at Muthur barrage. The maximum pH level (8.82) was recorded at Kasipalayam during the month of February. In all the three sample sites, alkaline condition was observed throughout the study period and falls within the maximum permissible limit of World Health Organization (6.5 to 9.2). Electrical conductivity (EC) is an indicative of the total concentration of total dissolved ions in water [15]. EC value of the water samples ranged between 0.82 and 8.85 mS/cm in the River Noyyal. The maximum (8.85 mS/cm) and minimum level (0.82 mS/cm) of EC was recorded during the month of May (2009) and October at Orathupalayam reservoir. The value of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) was figured from 590 to 9100 mg/l and 215 to 1392 mg/l, respectively. Enhanced level of EC and TDS attributed to discharge of ionic content rich bleaching and dyeing effluents into river system. Significant reduction in the TSS and TDS during the period of September to December was noted in all three sampling sites implies monsoonal influenced dilution. The turbidity value was ranged between 5 and 22 NTU. Maximum level of turbidity recorded at Orathupalayam during the month of June (2008 and 2010). The lowest value was observed at Kasipalayam during monsoon months (September and October). In general, higher level of turbidity was recorded during summer season (February to June). High level of turbidity observed all three sites might be attributed to dyeing and bleaching effluents which are released by industries located on either sides of the river basin. DO may be a potential indicator of river quality in assessing urban impacts on river ecosystem [16]. DO level was found between 0.20 and 5.40 mg/l. Very low level of DO recorded at Orathupalayam (0.8 to 4.2 mg/l) throughout the study period. The level of DO at Kasipalayam and Muthur barrage was observed in the range from 0.2 to 4.8 and 2.15 to 5.40, respectively. While comparing with Kasipalayam and Orathupalayam site, Muthur barrage recorded moderately high level of DO throughout the study period. The low DO levels observed in Kasipalayam and Orathupalayam may be an indication of oxidative decay of organic debris by utilization of DO, it indicates the unhealthy condition of the River, a scenario similar to Hooghly estuary on the east coast of India [17]. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of organic matter in the sample including biological as well as chemically degradable fractions which survive bacterial attack. Level of COD in water samples found between 39 and 611 mg/l. Maximum level of COD was observed at Muthur barrage during the month of May (2008) and minimum level was recorded at Orathupalayam in the month of October (2010). The mean COD level at Kasipalayam, Orathupalayam and Muthur barrage were recorded as 330.6, 356.2 and 299.3 mg/l, respectively.