The Seasonal Variation of Physic-Chemical Parameters in Surface Water of Kollidam Estuary, Nagapattinam, Se Coast of India

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF PHYSIC-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN SURFACE WATER OF KOLLIDAM ESTUARY, NAGAPATTINAM, SE COAST OF INDIA RAMESH P*, JAYAPRAKASH M, GOPAL V Dept of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai 600025, India Abstract The physic-chemical properties and enrichment of nutrients were analyzed at 20 stations in Esturine surface water of Kollidam Estuary, Southeast Coast of Tamil Nadu. The analyses were carried out in pre-and post-monsoon of year 2016. The analyzed parameters in premonsoon are pH: 7.2-7.9, DO: 7.9-8.9 mg/l, salinity: 26.8-35.1ppt, PO4: 2.8-6.5 mg/l, Nitirite: 0.12-0.53 mg/l, Nitrate: 26-55 mg/l, silicate: 20.6-42.5 mg/l, Ca: 100-152 mg/l. Mg: 206-356 mg/l, Na: 6.8-12.6g/l and K: 45.3-83.5 mg/l. During postmonsoon, the recorded parameters as pH: 7.9-8.1, DO: 7.6-8.6 mg/l, salinity:27.1-32.7ppt, PO4:4.3-9.36 mg/l, Nitirite: 0.21-0.59 mg/l, Nitrate:33.1-62.9 mg/l, silicate: 24.3-47.1 mg/l, Ca: 64-90 mg/l. Mg: 181-374 mg/l, Na: 76.2-111.1 g/l and K: 9.4-29.7 mg/l. Keywords: Kollidam estuary, Physico-chemical parameters Introduction Coastal water bodies are complex and dynamic in nature due to the complex hydrodynamic process (Morris, et al., 1995). The hydrodynamics of the estuarine water bodies are complex and it influenced by river flow, tide, wind, water density factors and the estuarine geometry. The estuaries are complex systems where huge amount of chemical constituents reach from different sources. All types of dissolved and solid materials are diluted due to tidal influences over a period of time and generate greenhouse gases through digenesis-autogenic process which affect the overall elemental compositions (Brich et al., 1996). The rivers are discharging integrate contaminant inputs into the sea such as for the disposal of industrial, agricultural and urban wastes. The presence of increased level of pollution in aquatic environment has been of much concern due to its adverse effect on living organisms and leading to man in food chains (Forstner et al., 1979; Farmer, 1991; Yang et al., 2003; Zhao et al., 2019). Rivers are the main inland water resources for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes and often carry large municipal sewage, industrial Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 5761 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 wastewater discharges and seasonal run-off from agricultural land to the coastal region. It is for this reason that the river water is mostly enriched in nutrients compared to other environments (Panda et al., 2006). In atmospheric sources, nutrients may fall to the land or estuary either directly or along with precipitation by burning fossil fuel of power plants and automobiles. Surface water inputs include point and non-point source discharges such as effluent from wastewater treatment plants, urban storm water runoff, lawn and agricultural fertilizer runoff, industrial discharges and livestock wastes. Groundwater sources are primarily by under water seepage from agricultural fields and failing septic systems.The physico-chemical and nutrients characterized of Indian estuaries was carried out by several researcher’s (Govindasamy et al., 2000; Rajasegar, 2003; Rajaram et al., 2005; Ajithkumar et al., 2006; Ashok Prabu et al., 2008; Saravanakumar et al., 2008; Gowda et al., 2009; Vengadesh et al., 2009). Study area Kollidam estuary is located at Pazhaiyar in northernmost tip of Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, SE coast of India (Fig.1). Kollidam estuary was formed by connecting Kollidam river with Bay of Bengal which was divided from Cauvery river at Srirangam (Trichy, Tamil Nadu). The main water source of Cauvery river is rainfall of South West monsoon and it orginate from Coorg, Karnataka. The study area is located between 11° 21’ 28.1” N / 79° 49’ 33.1”E and 11° 20’ 03.09” N / 79° 49’ 36.3”E. The study area is receiving rainfall from two monsoon viz. North East monsoon and South West monsoon. The geology of the study area was indicated the presence of Pre-Cambrian Granitic rock followed by Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments. Methodology The surface water samples were collected at 20 stations in pre-and post-monsoon seasons by stratified random sampling technique. The exact co-ordinates of sampling location were collected in handheld global positioning system (GPS, Garmin eTrex). The samples were collected in pre-cleaned plastic bottles and kept in an ice box and transported immediately to the laboratory. Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 5762 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 The Manganese hydroxide and alkaline iodide were added immediately in 100 ml of surface water samples to preserve the Dissolved Oxygen (DO). During the sample collection, Temperature and pH were determined by using calibrated thermometer with a resolution of 0.1 and Elico portable water quality analyser respectively. Result and discussion The analyzed physico-chemical parameters, nutrients and major ions were presented in Fig. 2& 3. In both seasons, there is no significant change in the distribution. However, the quality of estuarine water has analyzed in the view of environmental impacts for further research. The recorded temperature was ranged between 30.7°C to 30.2°C in pre- and post-monsoon and there is no major difference in both monsoons.The recorded pH has fluctuated between 7.9 - 7.2 in pre-monsoon and 8.1 - 7.9 in post-monsoon and it reflects dominate of marine influences. The observed DO range 7.9 to 8.9 mg/l with an average 8.5 mg/l and 7.6 to 8.6 mg/l with an average 8 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. Higher dissolved oxygen concentration in the monsoon season at all the stations may be due to the instruction of fresh dissolved oxygen rich water from the river into the coastal waters (Prabavathy et al., 2010).The low DO leads decomposition of organic matter (Richards, 1965) and it due to anthropogenic activity, industrial effluents and high organic inputs from river.The observed salinity range 7.2 ppt to 7.9 ppt with an average 7.7 ppt and 7.9 ppt to 8.1ppt with an average 8 ppt in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The tidal activity also may affect salinity (Srilatha et al., 2012). The high salinity is due to seawater influx, tidal activity and solar radiation and low salinity is due to flood water sources in monsoon seasons (Satpathy et al., 2010). The presence of phosphate varies from 2.8 to 6.5 mg/l with an average of 3.9 mg/l and from 4.3 to 9.36 mg/l with an average of 6.25 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The high phosphate content is due to intrusion of upwelling seawater (Nair et al., 1984).The analyzed Nitrite is from 0.12 to 0.53 mg/l with an average of 0.41 mg/l in premonsoon and from 0.21 to 0.59 mg/l with an average of 0.43 mg/l in postmonsoon. The high concentration and seasonal variation of Nitrite is due to the effect of sewage dumping, river run-off, variation in phytoplankton, excretion and oxidation of Ammonia (Kannan and Kannan, 1996);Whereas low Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 5763 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 concentration is due to freshwater input, high salinity and pH (Patterson and Ayyakannu, 1991).The presence of Nitrate is from 26 to 55 mg/l with an average of 44 mg/l and from 33.1 to 62.9 mg/l with an average of 45.6 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The presence of nitrate could be due to the anthropogenic sources like domestic sewage, agricultural wash offs and other waste effluents which containing nitrogenous compounds.The observed concentration of silicate is from 20.6 to 42.5 mg/l with an average of 31.2 mg/l and from 24.3 to 47.1 mg/l with an average of 35.6 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The major sources of silicate in the ecosystems are the continental fluvial system and groundwater discharges (Frings et. al., 2016) and weathering from the agricultural soils which it is transported through the aquatic medium. The analyzed concentration of Ca range is from 100 to 152 mg/l with an average of 126 mg/l and from 64 to 90 mg/l with an average of 78.7 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The elevated level of Calcium may be due to the seepage of domestic works of due to the cationic exchange of sodium. The Mg in the study area is varied from 206 to 356 mg/l with an average of 272 mg/l and from 181 to 374 mg/l with an average of 289 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. Magnesium derived chiefly from the weathering of rocks which containing Ferro magnesium alumino minerals includingfew carbonate rocks. The concentration of Na from 6.8 to 12.6 g/l (ave: 9.4 g/l) in premonsoon and 76.2 to 111.1 g/l (ave: 96 g/l) in post monsoon are observed. The potassium range has varied from 45.3 to 83.5 mg/l with an average 65.6 mg/l and 9.4 to 29.7 mg/l with an average 17.17 mg/l in pre- and post-monsoon respectively.The more observed values of sodium and potassium at the estuary mouth indicates the dominance of tides and sea water intrusion (Ramanathan et al., 1988).

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