Effects of seasonal variation on the water quality of the Kadalundi river, India: evaluation of water quality indices, physicochemical and biological parameters

ABSTRACT

The quality of the water depends on a variety of factors as it can contain both natural and manmade impurities. In this work, the water quality of the Kadalundi river, Kerala, India has been assessed with a special focus on the impact of seasonal variations . The quality of water for the entire year was analysed thoroughly collecting sixty water samples. The physicochemical parameters, such as turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, chlorides, iron, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand, as well as bacteriological parameters (total coliforms and Escherichia coli), were evaluated as per the Indian standard methods, IS 3025. Each parameter was compared with the standard desirable limit prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The results were further examined with the weighted arithmetic water quality index and the Nemerow’s pollution index (NPI) methods. The study reveals that the overall water quality is very poor and hence proper treatment before use is recommended. According to the NPI, turbidity and iron are the most contributing parameters to the pollution of the river.

KEYWORDS:

• Kadalundi river
• monsoon
• water quality index
• Nemerow’s pollution index
• bacteriological parameter

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the National Institute of Technology Mizoram and Kerala Water Authority for providing the necessary facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

Data will be made available as per request.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Sajeesh Adangampurath Kolothumthodi: Formal analysis, Experimental study, Writing –Original draft. Ajmal Koya Pulikkal: Conceptualisation, Visualisation, Writing – Review & editing, Supervision.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sajeesh Adangampurath Kolothumthodi

Mr. Sajeesh Adangampurath Kolothumthodi obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in chemistry from the University of Calicut, India. He obtained an M. Phil. in chemistry from Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kanyakumari, India. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the National Institute of Technology, Aizawl, India. He is working as a senior chemist in the Quality Control District Laboratory, Kerala Water Authority, Kerala, India.

Ajmal Koya Pulikkal

Dr. Ajmal Koya Pulikkal is a professor in the department of chemistry, National Institute of Technology Mizoram, Aizawl, India. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Calicut, Kerala, India and his Master's and Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He is a recipient of UGC-Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship, Govt. of India, DST-SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship, Govt. of India and SERB International Research Experience Fellowship, Govt. of India. His research interests include water quality analysis, surfactants, colloids, polymers, electrochemistry and nanomaterials.