An Integrated Hydro geological Study of the Muvattupuzha River Basin, Kerala, India

The present investigation on the Muvattupuzha river basin is an integrated approach based on hydrogeological, geophysical, hydrogeochemical parameters and the results are interpreted using satellite data. GIS also been used to combine the various spatial and non-spatial data. The salient finding of the present study are accounted below to provide a holistic picture on the groundwaters of the Muvattupuzha river basin. In the Muvattupuzha river basin the groundwaters are drawn from the weathered and fractured zones. The groundwater level fluctuations of the basin from 1992 to 2001 reveal that the water level varies between a minimum of 0.003 m and a maximum of 3.45 m. The groundwater fluctuation is affected by rainfall. Various aquifer parameters like transmissivity, storage coefficient, optimum yield, time for full recovery and specific capacity indices are analyzed. The depth to the bedrock of the basin varies widely from 1.5 to 17 mbgl. A ground water prospective map of phreatic aquifer has been prepared based on thickness of the weathered zone and low resistivity values (<500 ohm-m) and accordingly the basin is classified in three phreatic potential zones as good, moderate and poor. The groundwater of the Muvattupuzha river basin, the pH value ranges from 5.5 to 8.1, in acidic nature. Hydrochemical facies diagram reveals that most of the samples in both the seasons fall in mixing and dissolution facies and a few in static and dynamic natures. Further study is needed on impact of dykes on the occurrence and movement of groundwater, impact of seapages from irrigation canals on the groundwater quality and resources of this basin, and influence of inter-basin transfer of surface water on groundwater.

Salinity Intrusion and Seasonal Water Quality Variations in the Tidal Canals of Cochin

The study conducted on the salinity intrusion and seasonal water quality variations in the tidal canals of cochin. The main objectives are, salinity intrusion profile, water quality variation of the surface water of the canals,hierarchical utility of the water bodies and to understand the non-conservative components in the water body. The parameters monitored werepH,temperature,alkalinity,conductivity,DO(dissolvedoxygen),COD(chemical oxygen demand),BOD(biochemical oxygen demand0,chloride, total hardness, calcium hardness, dissolved phosphate, nitrate, total iron, sulphate, turbidity, total coliform and SUVA at 254nm. The tidal canals of GCDA were found to be creeks extending to the interior, canals inter connecting parts of the estuary or canals with seasonally broken segments. Based on utility the canals could be classified as: canals heavely polluted and very saline,canals polluted by urban waste , canals having fresh water for most part of the year and not much polluted, fresh water bodies heavily polluted. During the rainy months carbon fixation by plankton is nonexistent,and during the dry months Chitrapuzha becomes a sink of phosphate. The study indicated abiotic subrouts for dissolved phosphate and revealed the potential pitfalls in LOICZ modeling exercise on sewage ladentidal canals. It was also found that all canals except for the canals of West cochin and chittoorpuzha have fresh water for some part of the year. The water quality index in the durable fresh water stretches was found to be of below average category.

Surface Active Substances in the Cochin Estuarine System

This study focuses on the fractionation and quantification of chlorophenols, the most important and potential pollutant in this category, the distribution and seasonal dynamics of MBAS, phenols and clorophenols and development of a model to describe the chemical reactivity of the estuary are utilizing the dynamics of boron. The CES is highly influenced by various anthropogenic activities like discharge of agricultural, industrial and urban wastes operation of shipyard, oil and other transporting activities, fishing, dredging etc. Seasonal values of MBAS showed high values in the surface water during monsoon compared to premonsoon and postmonsoon. In the Cochin estuary o-chlorophenol and p-chlorophenol showed low values in the surface water compared to bottom water in the northern part of the estuary and higher values in the surface water in the southern part