Water quality index of Kabini River in the Kallahally Village of Nanjangud Taluk, Mysore District, Karnataka (India).

ABSTRACT

The people of Kallahally and nearby villages are drinking Kabini river water because of ground water pollution caused by the release of industrial effluent from Jubilient Pharmaceutical Industry. To know the potability of Kabini river water, water samples were collected from 3 sites for six months, i.e. from October 2004 to March 2005 and analyzed for parameters such as pH, Dissolved Oxygen, free carbon dioxide, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, chloride, COD, BOD, TDS and total acidity. The mean values of these parameters were compared with WHO, ICMR and ISI standards. Out of 12 analyzed parameters, 9 parameters were considered for the computation of water quality rating and water quality index. Except dissolved oxygen (DO), other parameters were found within the permissible limits. DO was found below the prescribed standard. The water quality indices of upstream, Kallahally and downstream were found 58.6, 67.82 and 69.63 respectively. This clearly indicated that, the pollution load increase as the river flows further. The river water was found safe for human consumption.