Physicochemical parameters of Karamana river water in Trivandrum district, Kerala, India

The study report discusses about the analysis of various physicochemical parameters of salinity, TSS, TDS, DO, BOD, turbidity, pH, temperature, alkalinity, hardness and dissolved nutrients of surface water and sediments collected from different points (5 stations) of Karamana River were measured during March and July 2009. The highest temperature (31.0°C) noticed during premonsoon period and no influence of salinity. In the monsoon period, high DO ranges (5.4mg/L) noticed in the water of Karamana River. High BOD observed at Thiruvallam indicated the influence of effluents in these stations. TSS 17mg/L at Manakatukadavu to 40mg/L at Thiruvallam during premonsoon and 24mg/L at Manakatukadavu to 60 mg/L at Pallichal during monsoon. TDS in water samples increased from 56mg/L at station 1 to 28mg/L at station 5 during premonsoon and from 41mg/L at station 1 to 112mg/L at station 5 the high TDS might be due to the influence of seawater. Total alkalinity observed in the present study is well within the prescribed standards of drinking water (>1 20mg/L). High hardness 12 mg/L) noticed at Karamana near Siva temple during premonsoon period. Total Iron concentrations is high as 1.08 to 2.52mg/L in premonsoon and 1.51 to 2.24mg/L during monsoon recorded at station 5 might be due to the high rate of surface runoff in waters. Total phosphate value (2.56–2.19mg/kg) at Pallichal showed the deposition of nutrients during monsoon season. The distribution of heterotrophic population was highly fluctuating daring the study and the high counts (417cfu/ml to 524 dfu/ml) during monsoon at Mankattukadavu and Kundamankkadavu.