Current World Environment

Introduction

Water is considered absolutely essential to sustain life. In India ground water has a major role to satisfy the needs of domestic and agriculture purposes. The ever growing demands for water resources coupled with the rate at which much of the earths fresh water  being adversely affected by human activities, demonstrate a developing crisis and horrible future if environmental water resources are not appropriately managed.¹ Bijapur is not an exception to this future crisis. Indeed, Bijapur with an average annual rain fall of 553 mm is a city located in an area that suffers critically from a shortage of water resources. So the conservation of improvised water resources is indispensable for the sustainability of our economic development. For this reason, in the past few decades more attention has been given to the water quality of Bijapur. Bijapur is facing water quality problems as well as drinking water shortage, specially during summer season. Many people from the city are suffering from health problems due to consumption of the available contaminated water.

There are many Talabs (lakes) and Bowdies (wells) constructed by Adil Shahi Sultans in 16^th and 17^th century were the drinking water resources for about 15 lakh population of the imperial city in those days. According the report of Sykes British surveyor there were 700 well in the Bijapur city. Out of them some are still living but not maintained. Some of them have become dumping places for garbage.  Taj Bowdy and Chanda Bowdy, the beautifully constructed wells witness the glory of the empire and architecture of the age.

Now the municipal corporation of Bijapur supplying the Krishna River water through pipe line from Alamatti reservoir which is about 45km from Bijapur. But it is also not sufficient for the need and hence the people of the city facing the severe water crises  particularly in summer.

The effective maintenance of water quality of local resources through appropriate control measures, continuous monitoring of their quality parameters and their use as a supplement to river water may reduce the water crisis of the city. Also the information on water quality of Bijapur is scanty. Hence, the present work, seasonally determining suitability of ground water for drinking and other purposes of Bijapur city area is taken up. The present study also strengthens the national and local water quality data base.

Materials and Methods

Ground water samples were collected for physico-chemical analysis from 12 sites during summer (May 2010 ), rainy ( Sepember-2010) and winter (January-2011) seasons. Ground water, samples were collected in sterilized plastic containers (PVC 1000ml) after flushing out the tube wells (minimum 10 minutes) to get the fresh ground water and grab sampling method was followed in case wells.  The containers were sealed and the samples were protected from direct sunlight during transportation. The water pH was determined by Systronics Digital pH meter standardized with buffer tablets. Electrical conductivity(E.C.) was determined using Elico digital conductometer standardized with KCl solution. Total Dissolved Solids(TDS) was determined by using digital TDS meter standardized with NaCl. Turbidity(TUR) of the samples were determined by using Systronics Nephelo Turbidity Meter-120 standardized with the mixture of solutions of Hydrazine sulphate and hexamethylene tetramine.  Fluoride(F^-), Chloride (Cl^-), Sulphate (SO₄^{- -}) were estimated with standard methods as prescribed  by Goltman et al² (1978), Trivedi and Geol (1984)³ and APHA (1998).⁴

Results and Discussion 

The seasonal variations of physico-chemical characteristics are given in the Table-1-3 for the winter, summer and rainy seasons. Climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature, pressure and humidity etc play an important role in the geology as well as terrestrial environment. A sound knowledge of these factors help in understanding the complex processes of interaction between the climate and biological processes in water bodies.

pH is the scale of intensity of acidity and alkalinity of water and measures  the concentration of hydrogen ions. In the present study, the values the pH were in the range 7.0-8.2. The least value was recorded to be 7.0 in the month of January for sample S9,  while maximum was recorded to be 8.2 in May for sample S6. Most of the biological processes and biochemical reactions are pH dependant. pH is considered as an indicator of overall productivity that causes habitat diversity.⁵ pH was found to be alkaline in nature at all the sites.⁶ The pH was observed to decline during winter and increases during the summer as is evident from the mean values.⁷ The lower value of pH during rainy season compared to summer, may be due to dilution of alkaline substance.

Physico-Chemical Parameters of water sources of municipal area of Bijapur

Table 1: In Season A: Summer 2010 Click here to View table

Table 2: In Season B: September 2010 Click here to View table

Table 3: In Season C: Winter: January 2011 Click here to View table

The electrical conductivity was recorded highest in summer for sample S6 3.5mS/m and lowest  in winter and rainy season 0.9mS/m for sample S12. There are no prescribed standards suggested by WHO for parameters electrical conductivity for drinking purpose. So no comparison can be made from observed values. The sample 4,9 and 10 show  less seasonal variation of conductance where as samples 1,2,6 and 7 show large seasonal variation.

Total dissolved salt was in the range of  360- 1020mg/L  in rainy season and 390-1950mg/L summer. TDS is the term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amount of organic matter present in solution of water. TDS values of water samples are within the highest desirable or maximum permissible limit set by WHO8 except sample no. 5,6,7 and 8 in summer where as for sample 12 within desirable limit in all the season.

The turbidity was within permissible limit except sample no. 1, 2 and 6. The variations in trend of turbidity and total solids is approximately is similar in different seasons  and the average these parameters is higher in summer  compared to rainy and winter season. It is evident that the discharge variations are commensurate with weather conditions and seasons variations.

Total hardness is the indicator of hydrogeology and aesthetic quality of water. The hardness was ranged from 720mg/L (maximum in summer) to 220mg/L ( minimum in winter). These findings suggests that the water body is moderately hard and high medium productive during present stage. Similar findings were also observed by Sehgal15 and Das16 in their studies. Water total hardness is imparted mainly by the calcium and magnesium ions, which apart from sulphate, chloride and nitrates are found in combination with carbonates

Fluoride concentration of water sample was minimum for winter (0.8 mg/L) and maximum for summer season(1.6mg/L), which are within  the permissible limit of WHO. High fluoride concentration causes dental fluorosis 9,10, while low concentration causes dental caries. Hence it is essential to maintain moderated concentration of fluoride in drinking water.

Figure 1: Click here to View figure

Figure 2: Click here to View figure

Chloride is the indicator of contamination with animal and human waste. Chloride is a common constituent of all natural  water and is generally not classified as harmful constituent.¹¹ The chloride contents varied from 490mg/L (in summer in sample S8) to 105mg/litre (in rainy season in sample S12), which indicates pollution status of  water body. Concentration of sulphate ion was minimum in rainy and winter season in sample- 12 (120mg/litre) and maximum (650mg/litre) in summer. Sulphate concentration is within the desirable limit of WHO in sample 10 and 12 in all the season while in sample 6 and 7  higher than the maximum permissible limit in the seasons. Concentration of sulphate has laxative effect¹² which is enhanced when sulphate is consumed with magnesium. Water containing magnesium sulphate (1000mg/litre) acts as purgative in human adults.

Conclusion

Analysis of Bijapur water resources in three seasons rainy, winter and summer during 2010-11, shows that Sample No 4,10 and 12  are suitable for drinking  in all the seasons while Sample No 1,2,5,6 and 7  are not suitable for drinking  in all the seasons. The effective maintenance of water quality of local resources through appropriate control measures, continuous monitoring of their quality parameters and their use as a supplement to river water  will reduce the water crisis of the city.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the B.L.D.E. Association’s SB.Arts and KCP Science College Bijapur, Com.BHS Arts and TGP Science College Jamkhandi  for providing the facility and UGC  for financial support.

References
 

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