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Physico-Chemical Analysis of Korapuzha River and Estuaries




Author(s)

Subburaj M1, Mity Thambi2 and Mahesh G3

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5879/2015.03.004

1. Jr. Research Officer, Government of Kerala, RAL, Calicut, Kerala 673009, India;
2. Department of Chemistry, University of Calicut, Keral, 673635, India;
3. R&D Department, Eureka Forbes Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Korapuzha is a short river of 40 km with a drainage area of 624 km2, flowing from dense forest and empties into the Arabian sea. It is formed by the confluence of two streams Agalapuzha and Punnoorpuzha. In this study the samples were collected from Agalapuzha, Punnoorpuzha and Korappuzha, Korapuzha estuaries. The temperature and pH were monitored on the site and the remaining parameters were analyzed in the laboratory. The physical quality parameters such as color, odor, appearance and chemical quality parameters such as pH, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, total solids, total hardness, and iron have been evaluated. Compare the physical and chemical parameters. The physico-chemical analysis shows that the samples have high level of salinity, sulphate, total solids and total hardness. The results show that the water is affected by the intrusion of sea water into the river by excess excavation of sands from river for the construction of buildings and other anthropogenic activities which leads to environmental destruction.

Korapuzha River, physico-chemical, pollution, degradation.