Water quality modeling for seasonal fluctuation of Ichamati river, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess some physico-chemical water quality parameters and pollution scenario of the Ichamati river. Water samples were collected from nine different selected stations at origin of the river Majhdia to Taki end portion of the Ichamati river during the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon periods. A seasonal variation in these parameters was observed throughout the study period and monthly comparisons were made as monsoon, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. The results of the present investigation was undertaken to asses seasonal and spatial variation in pH, Electrical Conductivity, Turbidity, Salinity, Chlorophyll, DO and Water Temperature are compared with literature values and investigation reveals that there is a fluctuation in the physico-chemical characters of the water, this will be due to ebb and flow and change in the temperature and salinity as season changes. All parameters except turbidity and conductivity have shown high concentration in pre-monsoon-monsoon and post-monsoon, overall the concentration of water quality parameters were governed by flushing of rainfall, river water flow, sea water intrusion runoff from agricultural fields. Turbidity content in the study area was higher because the Ichamati river is dynamic zone of lower stretch. This river only depends on upper stretch rainy season rain water; no tidal fluctuation but lower stretch of the river is high tidal fluctuation the salinity is must high then upper stretch the value of Salinity 3–8.5 ppm that the parallely fluctuation the huge amount of sediment continuing; the turbidity is very high 600–700 NTU.