The Impact of Land Use on the Surface and Groundwater Quality of Ghataprabha Subbasin

Human activities have modified the environment for thousands of years. Land use and agriculture play a vital role in sustaining the health, nourishment and economy of the world’s population. At the same time, some land use practices can degrade the quality of our soils, waterways, air and other natural resources. Ghataprabha river is one of the major and important river in Kolhapur (Maharashtra) and Belgaum (Karnataka) districts, which has undergone tremendous changes over the last 15–20 years. Therefore, it is essential to know the impact of land use on water quality (both on surface and groundwater). In the present study an attempt is made to monitor the surface and groundwater water quality parameters to determine the impact of land use on the surface and groundwater quality of Ghataprabha Subbasin. Water sampling was done both in the surface water of river and the groundwater sources near the river. The water samples were analyzed for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), sulphates, chloride, bicarbonates, nitrates, phosphates, fluoride, sodium, potassium using the standard methods recommended in the manuals (APHA, 2005). Land uses in the area significantly affected the concentration of EC, TDS, sulphates, potassium and sodium while pH, dissolved oxygen, chloride, bicarbonates, nitrates, phosphates did not significantly fluctuate with land use changes in the area. To minimize the destruction of hydro-systems and the degradation of their water quality due to land use, multidisciplinary studies are required at the design stage of the project, and an integrated water resources management approach where all users should take an active role in the conservation of Ghataprabha  River catchment in order to avoid further degradation of the catchment through different land uses. Keywords: River Ghataprabha, physicochemical parameters, land use changes, pollutio

A Case Study of Water Quality Index of the Bellary Nala, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

Streams which are in many areas serving the basic needs of water, plays a significant role in shaping the environmental and ecological balance of the region through which it flows. Despite of all these versatile contributory roles, knowingly or unknowingly are being used as a dumping site for disposal of municipal and industrial waste waters with intention that streams will take care of these wastes. The main goal of this study was to characterize the combined industrial and municipal wastewater of Bellary Nala in terms of physico-chemical parameters. For this purpose, 10 sampling stations were selected. Parameters analyzed onsite included temperature, pH, turbidity, DO, BOD. Etc. All the collected samples were analyzed as per methods listed in the Standard Methods (APHA, 2005). The Bellary Nala was found significantly contaminated with pollutants and their concentrations were significantly higher as compared to General standards for discharge of Environmental Pollutants: Effluents. The study related to the assessment of water quality parameters of Bellary Nala was carried out to evaluate the various water quality parameters and to calculate water quality index. Keywords: Bellary Nala, physicochemical parameters, pollution, water quality index