Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(1): 788-795 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 1(2016) pp. 788-795 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.501.080 Studies on the Physicochemical and Biological parameters of River Vaigai, Madurai Dist, Tamilnadu, India K. P. Karuppaiah1* and U. Ramesh2 1Research and Development, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India 2Department of Molecular Biology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T Water is one of the major components of environmental resources. Water quality has become a major concern due to ever increasing human developmental activities that over exploit and pollute the water resources. A study on physicochemical and K e y w o r d s biological characters of river water and its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes was carried out in Vaigai River of Tamilnadu. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used throughout the research. The overall purpose of this study is to find Physical out some mitigating measures for improving water quality of Vaigai River. parameters, Specifically, the objectives of the study are included: to find out the physical Chemical parameters such as temperature, colour, turbidity, electrical conductivity, suspended parameters, solids, dissolved solids and total solids of the water in Vaigai River, to examine the pH, Phytoplankton, dissolved oxygen, biological and chemical oxygen demand, carbonate alkalinity, Zooplankton, bicarbonate alkalinity of the water, to experiment and ascertain the dissolved nutrients Primary of the water such as Calcium, Magnesium, iron, Sodium, Chloride, Sulphates, Silicates, productivity, Phosphates, Nitrates, Potassium and organic carbon. To know the biological parameters Permissible limit, of the water such as Phytoplanktons, Zooplanktons, Primary productivity, Aquatic APHA, insects Benthos and Fishes. Representative of three samples were collected from WHO, ISI, BIS Kunnur (Theni Dt), Vaigai Dam and Anaipatti. The samples were analyzed for Physical Article Info parameter like temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity and total dissolved soilds by temperature sensitive probe, turbidity tube method, electrometric method respectively. Chemical parameters such as pH, CO2, alkalinity, Ca, Mg and Cl were Accepted: analyzed using Titrimetric method, SO4, NO3, PO4 and Fe were analyzed using 22 December 2015 Spectrophotometric method, Na was analyzed using Flame photometric method and Available Online: DO was analyzed by Winkler s method following the guidelines of WHO and ISI. 10 January 2016 Biological parameters like Phytoplanktons and Zooplanktons were analyzed by Lackey s drop and Sedgwick Rafter cell methods respectively. Most of the parameters in Vaigai Dam and Kunnur lie within the permissible limits whereas in Anaipatti sampling point parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity, suspended solids, total solids and magnesium were found to be higher than the WHO, BIS and APHA permissible limit. Hence it is therefore needful steps to be taken to ensure effective water resources management of Anaipatti sampling point of the River Vaigai. From this study, it is inferred that the river water is generally potable after the required water treatment. 788 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(1): 788-795 Introduction Nadu, and India. Samples were collected for a period of one year with an interval of 30 The Vaigai is a river situated in Madurai, the days. Samples were collected in a fixed Southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. It region of each sampling point. Every month originates in the Periyar Plateau of the sample was collected at the surface of the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast river at 11.30 to 12.30 pm in order to through the Cambam Valley, which lies maintain uniformity. Samples were collected between the Palani Hills to the north and in clean white polythene containers (1Lit Varushanad Hills to the South. The river Plastic cans). Collected samples were empties into the Palk Strait in brought to the laboratory and kept in the Ramanathapuram District. The Vaigai is 258 refrigerator for further analysis, kilometers (160mi) long, with a drainage basin 7,031 square kilometers (2,715 sq mi) Samples were collected from five different large. It falls within the co-ordinates of study sites included Vaigai dam, Annaipatti Latitude 7o21 00 N and Longitude solavanthan, Aarappalayam, Anna Nagar. 79o00 00 E. Vaigai Dam is built across the Vaigai River flowing through Madurai, Methods for Physicochemical and Pollution of rivers in India has now reached Biological Analysis in Water and to a point of crisis due to unplanned Sediments urbanization and rapid growth of industrialization (Saksena et al., 2008). Temperature, color, Turbidity, Electrical Many researchers have carried out research conductivity, Suspended Solids, Dissolved on water quality of rivers in different places Solids and Total solids. pH, Dissolved and in each place it has received greater oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand, attention. For good and long life the good Carbonate alkalinity, Bicarbonate alkalinity, quality of water is very important. Present Chemical Oxygen Demand. Phytoplanktons, scenario Vaigai is mostly polluted by Zooplanktons, Micro flora, Micro fauna, various pollutants and anthropogenic Primary productivity, Aquatic insects activities so with this aspect, this project Benthos and Fishes. focuses on the effect of pollutants in Vaigai river. Result and Discussion The main objectives of this study includes, Physico Chemical Parameters of Study to study the Vaigai River Ecosystem. Also, Sites (January to December 2014) assessment of Water Quality in the Vaigai River. Effects of pollutants on the Temperature Biodiversity of Vaigai River. Then, Screening of pesticides Degrading During the study period the water Microorganisms Vaigai River. temperature was in range between 25°C to 32°C. The lowest temperature recorded in Materials and Methods the sampling point Vaigai Dam was 25 °C. Study increase in water temperature was Sample Collection noticed in the River Vaigai from origin to Anaipatti. There might be increase in water The water and sediment samples were temperature after discharge of effluents into collected from Vaigai River, Madurai, Tamil the sampling points includes Anaipatti 789 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(1): 788-795 solavanthan, Arapalayam , Anna Nagar was 338 to 2965, 350 to 2965 and 365 to 2965 recorded. mg/l respectively. The lowest value (135 mg/l) was observed in Vaigai Dam and the Color highest value (2965 mg/l) was obtained from solavanthan, Arapalayam and Anna Nagar. The water flow in the river was found to be brownish in color during rainy season. In the pH sampling point Vaigai Dam it was found to be colorless in most of the months. In The pH value of the sampling point Anaipatti solavanthan, Arapalayam , Anna Annaipatti solavanthan, Arapalayam, Anna Nagar it was brownish in most of the months Nagar was ranging from 7.5 to 8.1. In the in water. sampling point Vaigai Dam the pH value was ranging from 7.1 to 7.8. The minimum Turbidity pH value was recorded as 7.1 in the sampling points Vaigai Dam. The maximum The turbidity value was in range between 14 pH was recorded at the sampling point - 22 N.T.U (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) Annaipatti solavanthan, Arapalayam, Anna at Solavanthan. In the Vaigai Dam it ranges Nagar. All the three sampling points from 11 - 20 N.T.U. In Anaipatti, showed an alkaline condition throughout the solavanthan, Arapalayam and Anna Nagar study period. it was ranging from 25 to 32 N.T.U. The minimum turbidity value of (11 N.T.U) was Dissolved Oxygen recorded in Vaigai Dam. Whereas the maximum value of (32 N.T.U) was recorded The dissolved oxygen values were found to in Arapalayam and Anna Nagar. be ranging from 1.1 to 2.9 mg/l in the unit Arapalayam , Anna Nagar. In the Vaigai Electrical Conductivity Dam sampling point the dissolved oxygen values were ranging from 4.1 to 6.4 mg/l. In In the Solavanthan sampling unit electrical the sampling point Annaipatti solavanthan, ,, conductivity value of the water ranging from the dissolved oxygen values were ranging 180 to 270 µMho. The electrical from 3.0 to 3.8 mg/l. The minimum value conductivity value of the Sampling point (0.3 mg/l) was recorded at the sampling Vaigai Dam was ranging from 250 to 329 point Annaipatti solavanthan, Arapalayam , µMho. In Arapalayam, Anna Nagar the Anna Nagar, . Maximum value of (6.4 mg/l) electrical conductivity values were ranging was recorded in the sampling Vaigai Dam. from 950 to 2900 µMho. The minimum electrical conductivity value (180 µMho) Biological Oxygen Demand was recorded at the sampling point Solavanthan and maximum electrical BOD values were ranging from 53 to 300 conductivity value of (2900 µMho) was mg/l in the sampling point Annaipatti recorded in the Arapalayam and Anna solavanthan, Arapalayam , Anna Nagar. In Nagar. the Vaigai Dam the BOD values were ranging from 9.5 to 16.8 mg/l. In the The value of total solids (suspended and sampling unit Annaipatti solavanthan, dissolved) in Vaigai Dam, Anaipatti, Arapalayam, Anna Nagar, the BOD. Values Solavanthan, Arapalayam and Anna Nagar were ranging from 96 to 338 mg/l. The was ranging from 135 to310, 135 to 2815, minimum BOD. 790 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(1): 788-795 Table.1 Physico Chemical Parameters Physico Chemical Parameters Sample Temperature AlkalinityColor TurbidityElectrical DO BOD COD Sites pH Conductivity Vaigai Dam 25-28 7.1- 4.1-6.4 Colourless 14-22 108-270 4.1- 9.5- 12-62 7.8 6.4 16.8 Anaipatti 26-30 7.5- 2.0-3.8 Brown 16-25 250-329 3.0- 96- 110- 7.8 colour 3.8 338 150 Solavandhan 28-30 7.3- 3.0-3.9 Brown 21-30 280-2000 2.0- 110- 100- 7.9 colour 3.8 338 150 Arapalaiyam 25-32 7.3- 1.1-2 Brown 26-32 850-2900 0.3- 53- 160- 8.1 colour 0.2 300 250 Anna Nagar 30-32 7.5- 1.1-2.9 Brown 29-32 950-2900 0.3- 45- 173- 8.1 colour 0.2 300 299 Table.2 Micro organisms Isolated from Various Sites S.