STUDIES ON POLLUTION INDICATOR SPECIES AND WATER QUALITY STATUS OF ARUNAVATI RESERVOIR OF DIGRAS, MAHARASHTRA.

SANJAY M. DEOSTHALE*1, RAJESH R. WANKHADE1, DINESH K. DABHADKAR2 AND JALIL J. BHATNASE3 1 Department of Botany, B.B. Arts, N.B. Commerce and B.P. Science College, Digras- 445203 1 Department of Chemistry, B.B. Arts, N.B. Commerce and B.P. Science College, Digras- 445203 2 Department of Zoology, Govt. Vidarbha Institute of Science of Science and Humanities, Amravati- 444 604 3 Water Quality Research Center, Eureka Forbes Ltd. New Delhi. 110075. Email- smdeosthale@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT: The study of phytoplankton is an important aspect of aquatic biology. Aquatic floral species were very sensitive and in a given aquatic body, these species serve as indicator to pollution. Phytoplankton species respond to physico-chemical factors and tend to represent variously in a given time. In the present paper it was tried to document the group of such species and their seasonal presentation in relation to physico-chemical factors. Arunavati aquatic body was selected to analyze physico-chemical parameters in relation to pollution indicator species noted. This study was carried out during the period 2010- 2011.The result revealed that there was significant seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters, which correlates with the distribution of pollution indicator species. Most of the parameters in the present study were in acceptable range and from results it is concluded that the reservoir remained semieutrophic. The parameter such as temperature, DO, TDS, phosphate, nitrate and sulphate were studied. Key words: Arunavati reservoir, Physico-chemical Parameters, Phytoplanktons.

INTRODUCTION:
Water is a vital resource used for various activities such as drinking, irrigation, fish production, industrial cooling, power generation and many other (Sathe et al., 2001).The increased anthropological influence in the recent years in and around aquatic system and their catchment areas have contributed to a large extent to deterioration of water quantity and dwindling of water bodies leading to their accelerated eutrophication (Bhatt et al., 1999). Phytoplankton constitutes the very basis of nutritional cycle of an aquatic ecosystem. They form a bulk of food for zooplankton, fishes and other aquatic ecosystem dependents on the abiotic properties of water and the biological diversity of the ecosystem (Harikrishnan et al., 1999). The phytoplankton study is a very useful tool for the assessment of water quality in any type of water body (Pawar et al., 2006). Algae are natural pollution indicator of water and system growth of algae is usually limited by the small quantities of inorganic nutrients dissolved in surface waters. Study on physicochemical and biological parameters of aquatic bodies has been done by many researchers in India (Pendse et al., 2000 and Sivakumar et al., 2000). The present investigation was carried out to study various physicochemical parameters and phytoplanktons of Arunavati reservoir of Digras in Yavatmal district. Study Area: Arunavati Irrigation project is a major project near Digras of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra state. Arunavati river is a major tributary in Godavari basin which travels about 70 kms to reach the dam site towards the east of Digras township. Dam site extends between 200 7' 10" N latitude and 770 47' 0" E longitudes with an altitude of 518.2 MSL. The project is an earthen dam about 4.8 km in length 29.6 m in height. It is a man made reservoir where water is stored and supplied for domestic use. In the surrounding of the reservoir has agriculture land where Cotton, Sugarcane, Paddy, Maize and vegetables are grown. Anthropogenic activities such as washing of cloths,
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animal, vehicle and waste water from Digras city, which was responsible for algal growth and increase in the water pollution of reservoir.

Fig 1: Satellite map of study area

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The water samples were collected from upstream and downstream sites of dam during winter, monsoon and summer seasons for the period of 2010- 2011 in pre- washed polythene containers. The sampling was always done during early hours of morning at all sites. Samples collected were accompanied by a sampling date and site tag. Algal samples were identified in laboratory by using phase contrast microscope and by following algal taxonomy books. Few parameters like Water Temperature, pH, Transparency, DO were recorded at the sampling site and other parameters like alkalinity, Magnesium, Sulphate, Phosphate and Nitrate were estimated
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in laboratory by using standard methods for the estimation of water (APHA, 1992).

Table 2: Physico- chemical characteristics of water from Arunavati reservoir during 2010- 2011.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Distribution of phytoplankton and their variation at different zones of a water body is known to be influenced by the physico-chemical parameters of water (Yeragi et al., 2003). Environmental condition is the main controller for the formation of the phytoplankton. Phytoplankton study provided relevant and convenient point of focus for research on the mechanism of eutrophication and its adverse impact on an ecosystem. Phytoplanktons were found to be temperature dependent particularly during summer and winter months. Phytoplanktons population of the reservoir showed bimodal pattern in summer and winter. Physical factor such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, free CO2 total alkalinity control phytoplanktons diversity and density. The increase in the phytoplanktons density and diversity indicate that the pollution get rise in the given reservoir. Water temperature is one important physical parameter which directly influences some chemical reactions in a water body. In present investigation, the species composition of phytoplankton revealed a total number of 13 species from different seasons indicates pollution status (Table-1). The seasonal variation was noted, water temperature was higher in summer and lowest in winter season. The fresh waters are generally alkaline. The observed pH was above 7.00 in all seasons. Water become clearer during summer and thus transparency was higher during summer and lower during rains. The total dissolved solids of water ranges from 390- 460 mg/lit. and recorded highest in rainy season and lowest in winter season. The alkalinity of water ranges between 120- 170 mg/lit and was recorded highest during winter (George, 1962). Dissolved oxygen ranged between 7 to 8 mg/lit. The values of Ca++ and Mg++ are in acceptable range. Sulphate, phosphate & Nitratre values are also in acceptable range (Table- 2 and Fig1). Table 1: List of some pollution indicator phytoplanktons species from Arunavati reservoir of Digras

Values are expressed in mean for the period 2010- 2011

Rainy Season, Summer Season, Winter Season

REFERENCES:
APHA (1995). Standard Methods of Examination of Water and Wastewater. 19th edition, APHA, AWWA, WCPF, Washington D. C. Bhatt L. R., Lacoul P., Lekhad H. D. and Jha P. K. (1999). Physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton of Taudaha lake, Kathmandu, Poll Res, 18 (4), 353- 358. George M. G. (1992). Occurrence of a permanent algal bloom in a fish tank at Delghi with respect to factor responsible for its production. Acad Proc Ind Sci, 56:354- 362. Harikrishnan K., Sabu Thomus., Sanil George., Paul Murugan R., Mundayyoor S. and Das M. R. (1999). A study on the distribution and ecology of phytoplankton in the Kuttanad wetland ecosystem, Kerala. Poll Res, 18 (3): 261- 262. Pawar S. K., Pulle J. S. and Shende K. M. (2006). The study on phytoplankton of Pethwadaj Dam taluka Kandhar- district Nanded, Maharashtra. J Aqua Biol, 21(1): 1-6. Pendse D. C., Shastri, Yogesh, Barhate V. P. (2000). Hydrobiological study of percolation tank of village Dasane. Eco Env Cons, 6(1): 9397. Sathe S., Suresh A., Khabade and Hujare M. (2001). Hydrobiological studies on two Manmade reservoirs from Tasgaon Tehsil (Maharashtra), J Aqua Biol, 19(2): 12-16. Shivakumar R., Mohanraj R. and Azeez P. A. (2000). Physicochemical analysis of water sources of Ooty, South India. Poll Res, 19(1): 143- 146. Yeragi S., Aaragi, Yeragi S. G. and Yeragi. (2003). Bidiversity of marine phytoplankton in a marine ecosystem, Acharya Creek, Maharashtra. J Aqua Biol, 18(2):27- 32.
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U.S. = Up Stream, D.S. = Down Stream

CONCLUSION:
It may be concluded that the variation in physico-chemical parameters are responsible for the fluctuation in the pollution indicator species diversity of the phytoplanktons of Arunavati reservoir. Dominant species are reported to be the most important indicators, as they receive the full impact of the habitat and are effective to assess the changes caused by anthropological activities.
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VOL. 5 (2 - II) NOV. 2012