94-98Tide dominated coastal plain Purna River Estuary was studied to evaluate its flushing characteristics and pollution status. The shallow estuary was generally well-mixed vertically with excellent flushing due to high seawater influx and strong tidal currents. The flushing time of pH and trace metal concentrations in water did not seem to have been grossly affected by the present wastewater inputs. Some influence was however observed on the dissolved oxygen content and BOD specially in the inner estuary