International Journal of Chemical Sciences and Applications ISSN 0976-2590, Online ISSN 2278 – 6015 Vol 4, Issue 2, 2013, pp 97-104 http://www.bipublication.com PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THERMAL SPRING OF ATRI IN THE DISTRICT OF KHURDA, ODISHA, INDIA. Anjali Dash 1, Sharat K. Palita 2 and Hemant K. Patra 1 1Post Graduate Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar-751004, Odisha, India. 2Department of Zoology, Kendrapara Autonomous College, Kendrapara-754211, Odisha, India. Corresponding Author : E-mail : [email protected] Tel: 093813897 [Received-06/10/2012, Accepted-21/04/2013] ABSTRACT: Physico-chemical analysis of water was carried out in the terrestrial thermal spring of Atri in the district of Khurda, Odisha. It is an acrothermal spring where water temperature is very high (55.9 - 54.9 0C). Analysis was carried out on a seasonal basis (summer, rainy and winter) in the main tank and four of its overflows during 2010 and 2011. The parameters like temperature, pH, EC, turbidity, alkalinity, DO, chloride, fluoride, phosphate, sulphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium and total iron were analyzed. The water of the main tank and overflows was alkaline and pH decreased (from 8.8 -8.39) with decrease in temperature. The DO content showed a progressively increasing trend (6.095 to 7.29) with decrease in temperature from main tank to overflows. No carbon dioxide was detected during the period of study. Presence of traces of nitrate and phosphate are the characteristic feature of this hot spring. Keywords : Terrestrial thermal spring , acrothermal spring, physico-chemical properties, Atri, water sample, nutrients [I] INTRODUCTION Thermal springs are sites where warm or hot Thermal springs of the Indian subcontinent ground water issues from the earth on a regular (temperature range of about 30 0C- 100 0C), occur basis for at least a predictable period and is in groups along certain major tectonic trends, significantly above the ambient ground plate boundaries, continental margins and rifted temperature. The water issuing from a thermal [3]. Geochemical studies of thermal springs from spring is heated by geothermal energy. The India have been carried out in the past by several distinguishing features of these specialized authors [4 -12]. They found that these waters are habitats are, their elevated temperature, depressed generally associated with tectonic belts, mid- dissolved oxygen level and high radioactivity[1- continental rifts, Cretaceous-Tertiary volcanism 2]. and regional fault zones. More than 400 thermal PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THERMAL SPRING OF ATRI IN THE DISTRICT OF KHURDA, ODISHA, INDIA. springs have been analyzed and are part of the corchorifolia); Acanthaceae (Hygrophila seven major geothermal provinces [3-4], i.e. i) polyspermae); Commelinaceae (Commelina the tectonic belts of Himalaya, ii) the Sohna fault longifolia, Toningia axillaris); Cyperaceae zone, iii) Cambay, iv) the Son-Narmada–Tapi (Cyperus cephalotes); Poaceae (Panicum lineament (namely, SONATA), v) the West Coast psilopodium, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalidium fault zone, vi) Godavari and vii) Mahanadi. In flavidium); Mimosae (Mimosa pudica); Orissa, seven thermal springs of Mahanadi Euphorbiaceae (Phyllanthus simplex); geothermal province have been located and Onagraceae (Ludwigia perennis); Malvaceae studied till the date, but their detail characteristics (Sida acuta) and Amaranthaceae (Alternanthera are not available. Those are Attri, Tarabalo, sessilis . Among these Panicum psilopodium Deuljhori, Magarmuhan, Bankhol, Taptapani and under Family Poaceae is the predominant species Boden [13 - 19]. [21]. Amongst Thermal springs present in Odisha, Atri The physical and chemical parameters of (20 0 12 ′ N and 85 0 30 ′ E) ) is situated in the groundwater play a significant role in classifying eastern part of Odisha, in a small village at and assessing water quality. The hydro-chemical Baghmari under Khurda district, at a distance of study reveals quality of water that is suitable for 43 kms from Bhubaneswar, the state capital irrigation, agriculture, drinking and industrial (Figure 1). purposes [22]. Atri, being a acrothermal, The thermal spring at Atri has a circular main terrestrial hot spring water sample analysis for tank of 161 ′′ diameter and 168 ′′ depth (artificially various parameters holds a lot of importance for constructed) having a rocky bottom with water future scientific studies. depth of 139 ″, from where water and gases In the present investigation an attempt has been escape in the form of bubbles. The water being made to study the physico-chemical parameters extremely hot near the origin is channelized into of the main tank and its overflows of the thermal three nearby cemented bathing tanks called spring seasonally (summer, rainy and winter) overflows where people take their dip (Figure 2). over a period of two years (2010-11 and 2011- The present investigation was carried out in main 12). tank and its three overflows. These overflows are [II] MATERIALS AND METHODS in the form of rectangular reservoirs (Figure 2). Surface water samples were collected from the The 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd overflows are placed at 77 ″, main tank and three overflows for various 96 ″ and 334 ″ distance from the main tank with an physical and chemical analysis following area of 135 ″×135 ″, 120 ″×120 ″ and 200 ″×200 ″ standard procedures and methods as outlined in respectively. All the tanks have around 40’ of standard methods of APHA [23]. Surface water water height throughout the year and from these temperature, pH and EC were measured in situ by tanks water flow to the surrounding field. using WTW kit. Alkalinity, turbidity, total The maximum temperature of the main tank is chloride, fluoride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrates, 55 0C and remains almost constant throughout the calcium, magnesium, total iron was measured by year. As the temperature remains above 50 0C, standard methods of APHA. this thermal spring is classified as “acrothermal” Statistical Analysis [20]. Relationships among variables were explored The vegetation of the soil around overflows is using Pearson Correlation Coe fficients (PC). represented by 15 species under eleven Families Statistical correlations were done using the i.e. Convolvulaceae (Evolvulus nummularius, program SPSS 13.0 and included all seasonal Ipomoea sepiaria); Sterculiaceae (Melochia data during the year 2010-11. Sharat K. Palita, et al. 98 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THERMAL SPRING OF ATRI IN THE DISTRICT OF KHURDA, ODISHA, INDIA. Fig: 1. Map showing the location of the thermal spring at Atri, Odisha Fig.2. Main tank and its overflows of the thermal spring of Atri Tank Type 2010 2011 Average of 2011 & 2012 Parameters S R W S R W S R W Main Tank 55.1 56.8 55 55.9 55.4 54.9 55.5 56.1 54.95 Temperature 1st OF 50.4 51.6 48.3 51.4 52.9 47.6 50.9 52.25 47.95 (0C) 2nd OF 46.2 48.7 40.4 45.7 49.6 41.5 45.95 49.15 41.05 3rd OF 37.6 38.2 25.4 36.9 37.9 27.8 37.25 38.05 26.6 Main Tank 8.9 8.6 8.9 8.5 8.5 8.7 8.7 8.55 8.8 1st OF 8.9 8.6 8.8 7.9 8.7 8.5 8.4 8.65 8.65 pH 2nd OF 8.6 8.6 8.8 7.6 8.5 8.7 8.1 8.55 8.75 3rd OF 8.8 7.6 8.3 7.3 7.9 8.4 8.05 7.75 8.35 Main Tank 923 690 1074 913 685 1064 918 687.5 1069 1st OF 935 690 1078 925 689 1071 930 689.5 1074.5 EC (mho/cm) 2nd OF 942 720 1048 931 700 1050 936.5 710 1049 3rd OF 967 680 1054 937 670 1048 952 675 1051 Alkalinity Main Tank 32 38 15 30 36 18 31 37 16.5 (mg/l) 1st OF 40 32 44 38 32 45 39 32 44.5 Sharat K. Palita, et al. 99 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THERMAL SPRING OF ATRI IN THE DISTRICT OF KHURDA, ODISHA, INDIA. 2nd OF 42 40 48 39 38 47 40.5 39 47.5 3rd OF 38 42 48 35 40 47 36.5 41 47.5 Main Tank 0.6 0.59 0.37 0.9 0.58 0.39 0.75 0.585 0.38 Turbidity 1st OF 1.1 0.8 0.65 1 0.7 0.62 1.05 0.75 0.635 (mg/l) 2nd OF 0.8 0.67 0.29 0.8 0.68 0.35 0.8 0.675 0.32 3rd OF 1.2 0.28 0.37 1.1 0.25 0.39 1.15 0.265 0.38 Main Tank 6.14 6.11 6.09 6.13 6.1 6.1 6.135 6.1 6.095 1st OF 6.35 6.28 6.23 6.37 6.24 6.23 6.36 6.26 6.23 DO 2nd OF 6.55 6.45 6.39 6.51 6.43 6.38 6.53 6.44 6.385 3rd OF 7.29 7.23 7.15 7.29 7.21 7.19 7.29 7.22 7.17 Main Tank 274 262 260 269 254 267 271.5 258 263.5 1st OF 270 268 260 260 253 259 265 260.5 259.5 Cl (mg/l) 2nd OF 266 255 248 256 253 246 261 254 247 3rd OF 282 253 248 264 251 245 273 252 246.5 Main Tank 7.7 4.48 3.32 7.5 4.43 3.29 7.6 4.455 3.305 F 1st OF 7.45 4.5 3.48 7.2 4.49 3.37 7.325 4.7 3.425 (mg/l) 2nd OF 7.6 4.48 3.4 7.4 4.39 3.41 7.5 4.435 3.405 3rd OF 7.7 4.7 0.48 7.6 4.54 0.56 7.65 4.62 0.52 Main Tank 33 30 30.4 32 30.2 31.4 32.5 30.1 30.9 Sulphate 1st OF 31.3 28.8 33.2 30.1 29.5 32.9 30.7 29.15 33.05 (mg/l) 2nd OF 36 28.4 27.8 35 29.6 28.5 35.5 29 28.15 3rd OF 33 27 32.8 31 28.6 32.3 32 27.8 32.55 Main Tank 0 0.02 0 0 0.05 0 0 0.035 0 Phosphate 1st OF 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.04 0.05 0.015 (mg/l) 2nd OF 0.07 0.08 0.05 0.09 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.06 3rd OF 0.03 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.1 0.035 0.04 0.08 Main Tank 0 0.01 0.1684 0.01 0 0.1684 0.005 0.005 0.1684 1st OF 0 0 0.0802 0.062 0 0.0901 0.032 0 0.0851 Nitrate (mg/l) 2nd OF 0 0.073 0.3288 0.073 0.079 0.3158 0.036 0.076 0.322 3rd OF 0 0.062 0.1524 0.89 0.068 0.1494 0.445 0.065 0.1509 Main Tank 8.8 11 11.2 8.5 11.1 10.2 8.75 11.05 10.7 1st OF 9.6 11.2 12 8.6 11.2 11 9.1 11.2 11.5 Calcium (mg/l) 2nd OF 12 12.6 12.8 11.9 12.5 12.5 11.95 12.55 12.65 3rd OF 12 12.8 12.8 11.6 12.7 12.3 11.8 12.75 12.55 Main Tank 3.8 3.682 3.346 3.6 3.594 3.246 3.7 3.634 3.47 Magnesium 1st OF 3.8 3.682 3.402 3.2 3.587 3.305 3.5 3.634 3.353 (mg/l) 2nd OF 3.4 3.303 2.916 2.9 2.879 2.811 3.15 3.091 2.863 3rd OF 3.8 2.186 2.916 3.3 2.544 2.901 3.55 2.365 2.908 Main Tank 0.11 0.158 0.056 0.11 0.185 0.066 0.11 0.171 0.061 Total Iron 1st OF 0.182 0.186 0.198 0.252 0.243 0.181 0.217 0.214 0.189 (mg/l) 2nd OF 0.496 0.382 0.304 0.356 0.397 0.294 0.426 0.389 0.299 3rd OF 0.362 0.291 0.026 0.398 0.342 0.036 0.38 0.316 0.031 1st OF- First Overflow, 2 nd OF- Second Overflow, 3 rd OF- Third Overflow Table: 1.