Variation on Water Quality Parameters Including Trace Elements of Brahmani River over a Stretch of Six Districts in Orissa, India

Abstract

Surface water samples from river Brahmani of Orissa, India were collected from 17 locations
of 6 districts all along the northwest and southeast of Orissa in three different phases; winter,
pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. The collections were done in the month of January, May
and September. Samples were tested for each category, viz. physical, chemical and trace
elements and their average values were considered for a more approximate comparison. In
each case the readings were carefully analyzed to come for a final conclusion. Individual
changes in the physical properties from location to location were quite erratic but the
interesting part is the comparative factors among the properties of each location. The results
reveal a drastic variation in the quality of water of river Brahmani passing through the
industrial areas, meandering through mining zones and the coastal tract. It was quite
fascinating specially to see the changes when DO, BOD and COD were compared. A sharp
rise in COD is marked in the Jajpur region adjoining to the coastal line is due to the impact
of saline water into the stream. Excluding the concentration of chromium the other trace
elements have uniformity from location to location as well as element to element.