Seasonal Variation of the Physicochemical Properties of Water Samples in Mahanadi Estuary, East Coast of India

Abstract

The two major sources which are contributing to marine pollution are natural processes as well as anthropogenic activities. The natural process includes precipitation, erosion, weathering of crystal material whereas anthropogenic activities are urbanization, industrialization, mining and agricultural activities, etc. Mahanadi is the biggest river source of Odisha which joins the Bay of Bengal at Paradip. Paradip Township is an urbanized well-developed industrial township where various anthropogenic activities are contributing pollution to the water sources. In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate and monitor the seasonal and spatial variation of physiochemical properties of the Mahanadi estuary, the East Coast coastal belt of India. The result revealed that there is a remarkable variation in the physiochemical parameters such as pH, salinity, TSS, DO, BOD, NO2N, NO3N, NH4N, TN, TP, SIO4 and Chl-a which are attributed to the runoff water getting discharged to the coastal water sources. It is being recommended to treat waste water and materials before discharging them to the marine water medium.