COASTAL AND GROUND WATER POLLUTION IN KAVARATTI ISLAND, LAKSHADWEEP SEA Thesis submitted to the COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE 8: TECHNOLOGY F or the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Under the School of Environmental Studies G. MADHUSOODANAN PILLAI CENTRE FOR EARTH SCIENCE STUDIES THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DECEMBER 2002 Qkcficatecf to my Kind, ever loving motfier DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis entitled COASTAL AND GROUND WATER POLLUTION IN KAVARATTI ISLAND, LAKSHADWEEP SEA”, is an authentic record of the research work carried out by me under the supervision and guidance of Dr.P.P.Ouseph, Head, Chemical Sciences Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, in partial requirements for the Ph.D. Degree of Cochin University of Science & Technology, under the Faculty of Environmental Science and no part thereof has been presented for the award of any degree in any University. 20"‘Thiruvananthapuram December 2002 G. Madhusoodanan Research Scholar Pillai Chemical Sciences Division Centre for Earth Science Studies Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram-695 031. CESS .. .—..‘~.. CENTRE FOR EARTH SCIENCE STUDIES 4/l A, An autonomous R & D institution established by Government of Kerala Q P B. No. 7250, Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram-695 031, India Dr. P.P. Ouseph Scientist-F, Head, Chemical Sciences Division & Principal Investigator, DOD-COMAPS 20.12.2002 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that this thesis entitled “COASTAL AND GROUND‘ WATER POLLUTION IN KAVARATTI ISLAND, LAKSHADWEEP SEA”, is an authentic record of the research work carried out by Mr. G. Madhusoodanan Pillai, under my supervision and guidance, at Chemical Sciences Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, for the award of the Ph.D. Degree of Cochin University of Science & Technology, under the Faculty of Environmental Science and no part thereof has been presented for the award of any degree in any University. Research Guide Phone: EPABX. 442451-442454 Fax: 471-442280, e-mail cess@ hub.nic.in ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is with deep gratitude, I express my sincere tfianks to my researcli guide, Dr.fP.'_P.OusepFi, Head, Cfiemica[.5ciences Division, Centre for Zartfi Science Studies (0555), ‘Yfiiruvanantfiapuram, for His inva[ua.6[e guidance, constant encouragement and sympatfietic approacfi t/irougfiout tfie research period. I am Fiyfify indebted to Dr.M. Dafia, Director, C'£55, for ezgtendiny His Kind approvaf for conducting tfie study. I t/ian@fii[[_y acknou/[cage t/ie provided Ey tfie Department of Ocean Devebpment, (jovt. of Imfia for carryiry out tfie work as part of its CO9VL7l£P.$ programme. It is my great privifeye to acknowfezge t/ie scfioflzré; suggestions in researcfi conductance and sincere fiefp in administrative proceedirgs fiom Dr.I.5. Driyfit Sirgfi, Reader in Mzcrofiiofoyy, Scfiooi of ‘Environmental Studies, wfio was t/ie Expert mem6er of tlie Doctoraf Committee. I am indelited to Dr.Syed Ismaif Koya, Deputy Director, Science Cb’ ‘Tee/inoflgyy, ‘Union ‘Territory of Lab/iadweep for Fiis inva[uaE[e support and fiospitafity during tfie sampling period in Kavaratti Island witflout wfiicfi tfie field study wouflf not Have Eeen a success. £Myyratefu[ness to £7\[air, former Director, (JESS, for His afi‘ect1'onate and t/ioziylitfiifencourzyement is acknou/keyed. ‘lfie support fiom tfie stafl rnemfiers of tfie Department of Science Cb’ ‘Tecfinofogy, Kavaratti, especialfy Mrs. :M15savi and !P.'V. Mutfiukoya, Mr. fl-Fufllyatfiuffa, C/iief Cfiemist and otfier of {FWD La6 (Civil), Xavaratti, is yratefidly acI€_now(e@ed. ‘Valuafile directions fiom tfte /ionoralile memfiers of tfie researcfi committee, eflicient administrative support from C‘£.S.5, especially fiom Registrar, 91/[r.CP. .5udeep and .‘Mr.fll. gopinatfian of administrative wing is gratefidly acknowlezged. I wisfi to acknowletge tfie encouragement fiom Q)r.‘.7(. fljayakumar ‘Varma, Head, ‘Environmental Sciences Division, Q)r.1M. {Mo/ian i7(umar, Q)r.5reel{umar Cfiattopadliyay, Dr. D. 1’admalal, Q)r.9l/IJM Muraleedfiaran 9\[air, '.Dr.’.P.i7(. Omana and Dr. ‘.7(. 9\[arendraEa5u, Scientists, C£55. I express my sincere t/ian&s to Q)r.9\[.C. Jlnil Kumar, 5fi.fI(.Q3. fiijumon, C..$. 5at/ieesfl Kumar, £Mrs.i7(. Lali, Q)r.C.5. ‘Walter, Sartfire flllex, 5. Sunil Kumar, 93.5. Jlsfia, 171.5. '.7{o5in, J21. Sajitli Kumar, 5. Jalaja, ‘V. £1{aviendren,, :71. flljitfikumar and Jessin £71/[atliai of COfML‘2l_’P5 project, C555, for efi‘iciently supporting tfie field programme, analytical works and discussion of tfie results. ‘17ie sincere input fiom £Miss.5.7(. flindflu in computation of tfie study results needs special reference. ‘Me assistance provided Ey ‘V. '_Pramod, 9t/[arine Sciences ‘Division, CZ55, in tfie preparation of location maps is tfianfifiilly acknowleaged. £Mr.9\@‘.7{.£Pra&asan, Regional Centre, C£55, i7(ocfli, for His wliole-fiearted assistance during the field programme at Kavaratti, tfie typograpfiical assistance from .‘Mr.‘V.7(risFinan, and tfie fielp provided 6y .5Fi.g.’.PusFipangadan in field workis also duly acknowledged. I owe a great to tfie dreams of my parents, sisters, Erotfiers and fiiends in tfiis endeavour. Constant encouragement and afi’ectionate support of my wife is tfianfifully remembered. (Q. fllacfiusoodiznan Tillai) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The tiniest Union territory of India, Lakshadweep, is an archipelago, with an area of 32 Sq. km. consisting of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks, lies between 8° and 12°30'N latitudes and 71° and 74" E longitudes. It is one of the most important and critical territories of India from economic and defence point of view. Specialised environment having typical geological set up, Lakshadweep is ecologically sensitive to even slight climatic or anthropogenic interference. Pollution of coastal seas, over exploitation and contamination of the fresh water sources are thus become great concerns to the existence of the island. Typical geological set up and interference cause threat to the ecology of the fragile environment and resources of the island as well as its resources. Marine pollution and ground water contamination are concerns in this regard. Even though attentions were made to assess the physico—chemical and bacteriological status of the marine and groundwater systems separately, an integrated approach has not been evolved. The present study with its broad objectives is attempted for an integrated assessment of microbiological, physico­ chemical and biological characteristics of the surrounding seawater and microbiological and physico—chemical characteristics of the ground water in Kavaratti island. The entire study has been organised in 4 chapters. vii The introductory chapter deals with a comprehensive discussion of the significance of the study, highlighting the contemporary status on marine and ground water pollution in national and global scenario. Background of the study area is given, citing the uniqueness of the specialised habitat. History, geology, people, administration, flora and fauna, and natural resource of the island are briefly described. Pertinent research works related to the study undertaken in Lakshadweep islands and elsewhere are reviewed and the significance of assessing the marine as well as ground water sources in the fragile island is appraised. The second chapter deals with the methodology of the collection, preservation and analysis of water samples for diflerent parameters; analytical techniques for physico-chemical parameters are described highlighting the principle behind the procedure used. The ingredients of bacteriological media and methods regarding isolation of diflerent species are shown in this chapter. Chapter III details the results of the analysis, which is divided into two segments; such as results and discussion of Seawater analysis and results and discussion of well water analysis. The first segment contains the microbiological, physico­ chemical and biological parameters of the marine pollution monitoring over the period of 4 years. The data are summarised in tables and plotted in charts. The results are discussed, comparing with similar studies. Study highlights that the heterotrophic bacterial population due to the increased input of organic wastes into coastal waters has considerably increased over the years, which reduces the viii overall primary productivity, and affect the very basic sustenance of corals. The sharp increase in the counts of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci in the lagoon, are too high to the prescribed limits for recreational purpose. Salmonella, Shigella and Proteus, Klebsiella, and Vibrio cholera like organisms isolated from the lagoon waters of Kavaratti clearly proves the faecal contamination, which is of epidemiological significance. The overall distribution of dissolved oxygen and nutrients especially in the lagoon doesn't depict a healthy picture. The primary productivity, chlorophyll concentration and phytoplankton count reveals that the lagoon is comparatively lower productive and the enhancement of macro algal growth due to waste addition was found to be attributing to this. The second segment comprises the results of well water studies in 30 dug wells and 2 tube wells over a period 1997-2001 (December 1997, April 1999, August 2000 and May 2001). Results of bacteriological parameters like total viable count, Coliforms, Salmonella like organisms, Faecal streptococci etc., are tabulated and elaborated with charts and significance discussed. The isolation of E.coli, enteropathogenic indicator bacteria from 50% of the wells is alarming. The causative agents of typhoid fever, cholera and diarrhoea are