Assessment of surface water quality in eight major ponds of Coimbatore city and potential risk on ground water quality.

ABSTRACT

Water samples were collected from eight different water tanks located in the Coimbatore city during the study period of six months. Major surface water quality parameters such as turbidity, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chlorides, hardness, COD, BOD, DO, alkalinity, Calcium, Sodium, Sodium Absorption Ratio and Potassium were analysed. It was observed that the water quality gets deteriorated due to the continuous discharge / entry of domestic / industrial wastewater into these tanks. It was noted that the concentrations of all parameters follow a rising trend of variation with the time. Measures for the minimisation of organic load and suspended solids loading are to be made. It is evident that the discharges of domestic and industrial sewage into these ponds cause the deterioration in the water quality over the period.