Ravanaiah et al

J. Curr. Sci. 15 ( 2 ) : 321 - 334 ( 2010 ) Journal

of
Current Sciences

Water quality analysis of the pennar estuary, Nellore

G. Ravaniah , P. Georgeena Kumari and C. V. Narasimha murthy

Department of Zoology, Jawahar Bharati Degree and P.G. College, Kavali - 524 201, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh

ABSTRACT
Indiscriminate dumping of industrial wastes into streams and rivers impair the physico- chemical composition
of the receiving water and ultimately it will have an adverse effect on an aquatic life (Effler and Doerr, 1996,
Rao and Prasad 2002). With the hundreds of prawn farms and boiled rice mills along be coast along with
various industries near pennar river area of the Nellore district are polluting the Pennar estuary. In the
present study an attempt is made analyze the phsico-chemical parameters of Pennar estuarian water such
as Rainfall, air temperature, surface water temperature, pH, turbidity, salinity, BOD, COD, total alkalinity,
inorganic nitrates ,ammonia, total hardness inorganic Phosphates, sulphates, fluorides, calcium and magnesium
in different seasons during the year 2008-2009. Physico-chemical variables of the present study areas are
subjected to wide temporary variations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) clearly exhibits that all the observed
twenty physico-chemical parameters between months were significant. High temperature, salinity and
abundant growth of phytoplankton with high biological activity and atmospheric impacts would have also
increased the dissolved oxygen concentration in water. Indiscriminate use of fertilizers by the aquculturists
might have contaminated the water with rich nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates which stimulate the
growth of aquatic plants algae. Many types of fishes and bottom dwelling organisms cannot survive when
BOD levels decreases below a particular limit.
Impact of industrial pollution on the changes of physico-chemical characteristics of water of the Penaar
estuary were discussed in this paper.

Keywords : Pennar estuary Physico-chemical - parameters - Industrial effluents- water quality.

INTRODUCTION

Various large and medium industrial units that are in operation near pennar river are
releasing their waste waters that are generated from there manufacturing units. Some
industries are discharged their effluents directly into the aquatic water sources without any
treatment or after partial treatment.
Environmental parameters like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen are the first
affected and the quality and quantity of chemical parameters such as chlorides, fluorides,
alkaline components, acidity, BOD, COD and major ions like Ca++, Mg++, etc. also altered.
The overall aim of the present study is to obtain a general assessment of the relative load
and type of pollutants to the estuary by industries of Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, along
with domestic sewage and agriculture wastes.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples were collected at monthly intervals for a total period of one year that is
from July 2008 to June 2009 for the examination of selected physico-chemical parameters
at the fixed sampling stations in the Pennar estuary that is Stations 1 and 2.
Station 1: Station 1 is situated near the Kandaleru estuarine mouth, adjacent to bay of
Bengal at a distance of about 0.5 km. This is almost nearer to Krishnapatnam basin port . At
this station, dumping of fishery wastes is common. This is very much influenced by the
navigational activities also.
Station 2: Station 2 is located towards at Vutukuru which is on the northern side of Nellore
town (22 km away). There are direct discharges of industrial wastes and municipal sewage,
inputs from the boiled rice mills.
This is less polluted when compared to Station 1, due to the absence of direct
discharges of wastes as mentioned for Station 1.
Sampling Method: Two liters of water samples were collected using acid washed
polypropylene containers, from a depth of 2 to 5 cm. Five samples were taken from each
sampling station and preserved following the standard methods prescribed by APHA (1989)
and transported to Department of zoology, Kavali for water quality analyses. The samples
were collected during the morning hours, between 7.00 and 9.00 a.m.
Water Quality Analysis: The samples were preserved and analysed by adopting standard
methods for the examination of water and wastewater as prescribed by Strickland and
Parsons (1972); Trivedy and Goel (1986); NEERI (1988) and APHA (1989).
Data on rainfall and air temperature were obtained from the climatological section
of the Meteorological Department at Nellore.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results:
The results of the physico-chemical characteristics of water of the Pennar estuary
are shown in Tables 1.1 to 1.3
Rainfall: The maximum monthly average rainfall (521.1mm) was recorded at the study
area during the monsoon season (December, 2005) and the minimum rainfall (1.425mm)
was recorded during the post monsoon season (February, 2006). Rainfall was totally absent
during the post monsoon months January and March.
Air temperature: Air temperature varied from 26.6C to 32.3C during the study periods,
at both stations. Minimum (26.6C) was recorded during the monsoon season (December,
2005) and the maximum (34.0C) during the summer season (May, 2006).

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Table 1.3 Showing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the physico-chemical characteristics of
water of the Pennar estuary collected during July 2008 to June 2009
Parameter Groups SS df MS F-Value P-Value
Bet ween months 615212 11 55928 -5E+15 #NUM!
Rain fal l
Bet ween Stations 1 .2 E-10 1 1E-10 -1 1 #NUM!

Air Temperatu re Bet ween months 69.9438 11 6.3585 65535 #NUM!

Bet ween Stations 0 1 0 65535 #NUM!
Su rface Water Temp Bet ween months 67.4243 11 6.1295 47.1842 1E-07
Bet ween Stations 0.15042 1 0.1504 1.15789 0.3049
Turbidity Bet ween months 5299.33 11 481.76 2.30464 0.0909
Bet ween Stations 3339.4 1 3339.4 15.9751 0.0021
Sali nity Bet ween months 1916.77 11 174.25 24.8763 4E-06
Bet ween Stations 346.898 1 346.9 49.5236 2E-05
Bet ween months 5.54887 11 0.5044 7.65353 0.0011
PH
Bet ween Stations 3.18282 1 3.1828 48.2905 2E-05
DO Bet ween months 38.4032 11 3.4912 18.1754 2E-05
Bet ween Stations 24.5289 1 24.529 127.699 2E-07
BOD Bet ween months 718.207 11 65.292 2.02826 0.1282
Bet ween Stations 776.298 1 776.3 24.1154 0.0005
COD Bet ween months 2625.69 11 238.7 2.08061 0.12
Bet ween Stations 2793.98 1 2794 24.3537 0.0004
Total Alkalinity Bet ween months 163455 11 14860 2.26312 0.0957
Bet ween Stations 105629 1 105629 16.0874 0.002
Inorganic Nitrat e Bet ween months 538.411 11 48.946 6.15295 0.0027
Bet ween Stations 307.035 1 307.04 38.5967 7E-05

Inorganic Nitrite Bet ween months 598.235 11 54.385 5.40004 0.0047

Bet ween Stations 358.429 1 358.43 35.5894 9E-05
Ammonia Bet ween months 28.3807 11 2.5801 2.51738 0.0705
Bet ween Stations 54.931 1 54.931 53.5965 2E-05

Inorganic Phosphate Bet ween months 116.09 11 10.554 6.24818 0.0026

Bet ween Stations 83.5632 1 83.563 49.473 2E-05
Su lphat e Bet ween months 825563 11 75051 2.24317 0.098
Bet ween Stations 1431549 1 1E+06 42.7868 4E-05
Ch lori de Bet ween months 13.3636 11 1.2149 1.94771 0.142
Bet ween Stations 36.1609 1 36.161 57.9738 1E-05
Fl uori de Bet ween months 431.85 11 39.259 1.62653 0.2163
Bet ween Stations 768 1 768 31.8187 0.0002
Total Hardness Bet ween months 2 .3 E+07 11 2E+06 1.26014 0.354
Bet ween Stations 6 .4 E+07 1 6E+07 39.2924 6E-05
Calcium Bet ween months 518031 11 47094 1.98904 0.1347
Bet ween Stations 621380 1 621380 26.2445 0.0003
Magnes ium Bet ween months 1127281 11 102480 3.22668 0.0322
Bet ween Stations 854528 1 854528 26.9056 0.0003

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Surface water temperature: Surface water temperature followed a trend similar to that
of air temperature with a fluctuation from 26.1C to 31.8C. At Station 1, it was varied from
26.1C to 31.83C. Minimum (26.1C) was recorded during the monsoon season (November
and December 2005) and the maximum (33.5C) during the summer season (May). At
Station 2, it varied from 26.6C to 31.35C. Minimum (26.6C) was recorded during the
monsoon (December) season and the maximum (31.35C) during the summer season (May
and June).
Turbidity: At Station 1, turbidity of the intertidal water was varied from 7.6 to 78.8 NTU.
Minimum turbidity (7.6 NTU) was registered during summer (May) and the maximum
(78.8 NTU) during the monsoon (November) season. At Station 2, turbidity of the intertidal
water was varied from 2.85 to 21.8 NTU. Minimum turbidity (2.85 NTU) was registered
during summer (May) and the maximum (21.8 NTU) during the monsoon (October) season.
Salinity: Salinity of the intertidal water varied from 11.55 to 37.83, at both the stations. At
Station 1, minimum (10.97) salinity was recorded during monsoon (November) and the
maximum (35.94) during the summer (May) season. At Station 2, minimum (3.66 salinity
was recorded during the monsoon (November) and the maximum (31.84) during the
summer (April) summer season.
pH (Hydrogen Ion Concentration): Seasonal fluctuations in the pH followed the trend
similar to that of salinity. pH at Station 1 varied from 7.03 to 8.9. Minimum (7.03) pH was
recorded during the monsoon season (November) and the maximum (8.9) during the summer
season (June). At Station 2, pH varied from 6.6 to 7.8. Minimum (6.6) pH was recorded
during monsoon season (December) and the maximum (7.8) during the summer season
(June) .
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Dissolved oxygen concentration of the intertidal water fluctuates
widely at both the stations. It ranged from 0.32 to 6.584 mgl-1. At Station 1, minimum (0.32
mgl-1) dissolved oxygen was recorded during summer (April) and the maximum (4.57 mgl-
1
) during monsoon (October) season. At Station 2, minimum (2.69 mgl-1) dissolved oxygen
was recorded during the summer (June) and the maximum (6.58 mgl-1) during the monsoon
(December) season
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): At Station 1, BOD values were varied from
3.762 to 31.23mgl-1. Minimum (3.762 mgl -1) BOD was recorded during monsoon
(December) and the maximum (31.23 mgl-1) during the summer (May) season. At Station 2,
it varied from 1.007 to 7.85 mgl-1. Minimum (1.007 mgl-1) BOD was recorded during the
monsoon (November) season and the maximum (7.85 mgl-1) during the summer season
(June).
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): At Station 1, COD values varied from 7.85 to 65.626
mgl-1. Minimum (7.85 mgl-1) COD was recorded during the monsoon (November) and the

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maximum (65.626 mgl-1) during the summer (June) season. At Station 2, the variation was
from 3.658 to 15.64 mgl-1. Minimum (3.658 mgl-1) COD was recorded during the monsoon
(October) season and the maximum (15.64 mgl-1) during the summer (May) season .
Total Alkalinity: Minimum (26.6 mgl-1) and maximum (413.25 mgl-1) total alkalinity values
were observed during monsoon (December) and summer (May) seasons, respectively, at
Station 1 and minimum (11.4 mgl-1) maximum (131.1 mgl-1) of it were observed during
monsoon (November) and summer (June) seasons at Station 2, respectively ).
Inorganic Nitrate: Inorganic nitrate concentration of the intertidal water varied from 0.68
to 26.96 M. At Station 1, minimum (4.57 M) of it was recorded during the summer (April)
season and the maximum 26.96 M) during the monsoon (December) season. At Station 2,
minimum (0.646 M) of it was recorded during summer (May) and the maximum (10.32
M) during the monsoon (December) season).
Inorganic Nitrite: Inorganic nitrite concentration of the intertidal water varied from 0.798to
26.96 M. At Station 1, minimum (4.427 M) of it was recorded during the summer (May)
and the maximum (26.96 M) during the monsoon (December) season. At Station 2, minimum
(0.798 M) of it was recorded during the summer (June) and the maximum (11.34 M)
during the monsoon (November) season .
Ammonia: Ammonia concentration of the intertidal water at Station 1 varied from 1.596 to
7.258 M. Minimum (1.596 M) ammonia was recorded during the summer season (April)
and the maximum (7.258 M) during the monsoon (October) season. At Station 2, it was
varied from 0.171 to 1.777 M. Minimum (0.171 M) ammonia was recorded during the
summer (May) and the maximum (1.777 M) during the monsoon season (November).
Inorganic Phosphate: Inorganic phosphate concentration of the intertidal water varied
from 0.96 to 11.66 M. At Station 1, minimum (2.936 M) of it was recorded during the
summer (June) season and the maximum (11.62 M) during the monsoon (November)
season. At Station 2, minimum of it (0.96 M) was recorded during the summer (May) and
the maximum (5.339 M) during the monsoon (October) season .
Sulphate: Sulphate values at Station 1 were observed to be minimum (186.2 mg/L1) during
the monsoon (December) and the maximum (1150 mg/L1) during the summer (May) season,
while at Station 2, it was minimum (24.7 mgl1) during the monsoon (November) and the
maximum (254.6 mgl1) during the summer (May) season.
Chloride: Chloride concentration was minimum (0.589 ) during the monsoon (December)
and the maximum (5.539) during the post monsoon (February) season at Station 1, whereas,
it was minimum (0.019) during the monsoon (October) and the maximum (0.77) during
the post monsoon (March) season at Station 2.

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Fluoride: At Station1, minimum (0.722 mgl-1) and maximum (25.99 mgl-1). Fluoride
concentrations were recorded during the monsoon (October) and post monsoon (March)
seasons, respectively, while at Station 2, it was minimum (0.086 mgl-1) and maximum (3.639
mgl-1) during the monsoon (November) and post monsoon (February) seasons, respectively
Total Hardness: Total hardness was registered to be minimum (988 mgl-1) during the
monsoon (November) and the maximum (6897 mgl-1) during the summer (April) season, at
Station 1. It was registered to be minimum (79.8 mgl-1) during the monsoon (November)
and the maximum (594.7 mgl-1) during the summer (May) season, at Station 2.
Calcium: At Station 1, calcium concentration of estuarine water varied from 102.6 to 897.7
mgl-1. Minimum (102.6 mgl-1) calcium was recorded during the monsoon (October) and the
maximum (897 mgl-1) during the summer (May) season. At Station 2, calcium concentration
varied from 9.5 to 172 mgl-1. Minimum (9.5 mgl-1) calcium was recorded during the monsoon
(November) and the maximum (172 mgl-1) during the summer (April) season.
Magnesium: Magnesium concentration of the intertidal water at Station 1 varied from
150.1 to 1186.6 mgl-1. Minimum (151.1 mgl-1) magnesium was recorded during the monsoon
(November) and the maximum (1186.6 mgl-1) during the summer (June) season. At Station
2, minimum (13.3 mgl-1) magnesium was recorded during monsoon (December) and the
maximum (363.85 mgl-1) during the summer (June) season.
Discussion:
Physico-chemical variables of the present study areas (Stations 1 and 2) are subjected
to wide temporal variations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) clearly exhibits that all the
observed twenty physico-chemical parameters between stations and months were significant.
Rainfall is the most important cyclic phenomenon in tropical countries, as it brings
about important changes in the hydrography of the coastal and estuarine environments
through land run-off, terrigenous deposits and input of nutrients. In the present study, bulk
rainfall was recorded during the monsoon season owing to the influence of north-east monsoon,
during which period only, the South East Coast of India experienced heavy downpour and
minimum in post monsoon season.
The maximum air temperature was recorded during the summer season owing to
the clear sky with more solar radiation. Less solar radiation with cloudy sky and more
rainfall during the monsoon season greatly reduced the air temperature, as evidenced by
Sampathkumar and Kannan (1998) and Karuppasamy et al., (1999).
Higher water temperature during the summer season in the present study could be
due to the meteorological characteristics, shallowness of the estuary and its proximity to
land, resulting in rapid changes in temperature in accordance with the changes in atmospheric
temperature (Karunagaran, 1990). The slight higher water temperature values at Station1 is
probably due to the thermal pollution caused by wastewater from Nellore district.

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Spatial differences (i.e., Station1 with more air and surface water temperatures
than Station 2) observed in water temperature could be due to the variable intensities of
prevailing currents and the consequent mixing of water as evidenced by Mitra et al., (1990);
Shirodkar and Jayakumar (1990); Reddi et al., (1993) and Ananthan (1995). Further, it has
shown existed positive correlation between air and surface water temperature and negative
correlation between rainfall and temperature, at both the stations.
Salinity at both the stations was high during the summer season and low during
monsoon season. The resulted maximum salinity during summer season was due to the high
degree of evaporation of surface water and the domination of adjacent neritic waters and
less wave and tidal action with decreased freshwater inflow and land drainage. Similar
observations were also made by Das et al., (1997) in Mahanadi estuary. The minimum
salinity during monsoon season was due to the monsoonal rain, flooding and freshwater
input into the study areas.
In the present study, it has been observed that Station 2 has recorded more salinity
compared to Station 1, since, it is situated near to the estuarine mouth, adjacent to the Bay
of Bengal.
Turbidity exhibited positive correlation with rainfall. Further, inundation by land run-
off, wave action, wind agitation and freshwater discharge and churning of bottom sediments
might also serve as the main factors in governing light penetration in the study area. Least
amount of turbidity was recorded during the summer season, at both the stations, due to the
bright sunshine, clear water conditions and removal of suspended materials from the water
column and cessation of freshwater flow, thereby, reducing abiogenic turbidity. It is evident
from the present study that turbidity in the water column was comparatively very low at
Station 2 than at Station 1, as Station 1 receives terrigenous organic load directly in the form
of domestic sewage from Nellore Township and industrial wastewater from Nellore district.
In the present study, turbidity exhibited positive correlation with rainfall, dissolved
oxygen, nutrients and negative correlation with BOD and COD.
The pH of river water entering estuaries is high during dry season and decreases
markedly during monsoon. During dry season, the river flow is governed by the seasonal
water pH, which would depend on the type of strata through which it flows. On the other
hand, the river flow during monsoon is dominated by the rainwater, which generally has
lower pH.
pH remained alkaline throughout the study period at both the stations indicating that
the estuarine water having high buffering capacity resulting limited change of pH values as
evidenced by Jameel (1998) in Uyyakondan channel of Cauvery river. The maximum pH
values occurs during the summer season could be explained by the uptake of C02 by the
photosynthesizing organisms, especially phytoplankton, from the seawater could have
increased the levels during the summer season (Murugan, 1990) Generally rainfall showed
negative correlation with pH, salinity and temperature.

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In the present study, dissolved oxygen concentration was higher during the monsoon
season at both the stations was due to the monsoonal floods, turbulence of water caused by
the freshwater mixing with the seawater as suggested by Zingde et al., (1987); The
occurrence of high oxygen values during the summer season at Station 1 suggested that
photosynthesis by phytoplankton acted as the major factor influencing the oxygen distribution
as opinioned by Gouda and Panigrahy (1993). The dissolved oxygen was found to decrease
with increasing BOD and COD. Higher dissolved oxygen is found in higher pH suggesting
the abundant growth of phytoplankton and related zooplankton, leading to high biological
activity.
The low dissolved oxygen concentration observed during the post monsoon season
could be attributed to the lesser input of freshwater into the study area, as opinioned by
Ananthan (1991&1995). Sampathkumar and Kannan (1998) and Karuppasamy et al., (1999)
have stated that the low dissolved oxygen was due to the biochemical oxidation of organic
matter and the combined effects of temperature, salinity and photosynthetic activity. Further,
the dissolved oxygen concentration showed negative correlation with BOD and COD.
Insufficient dissolved oxygen in the water column causes the anaerobic
decomposition of any organic material present, which tends to cause the formation of noxious
gases such as hydrogen sulphide and development of C02 and methane in the sediments,
which bubble to the surface or tend to float on the settled sludge as mat, which are
decomposed of various organic materials (Karunagaran, 1990). Obnoxious hydrogen sulphide
smell as well as sludge mats were also found at the wastewater discharging points in the
study area. In the present study, both the stations recorded higher values of BOD during the
summer season. This could be due to the microbial utilization of oxygen and occasional
freshwater input. Fairly high level of dissolved oxygen recorded during the summer season
and low BOD values recorded during the monsoon season at both the stations indicted the
effective assimilalation of organic load, as reported by Nandan and Azis (1990).
Maximum COD was observed during the summer season, due to decrease in
freshwater inflow, land drainage, domestic sewage and industrial inputs (Pillai, 1994) and
increase in salinity, temperature and phytoplankton productivity and microbial utilization of
oxygen at the time of decomposition. Low COD was observed during the monsoon season
may be due to the presence of heavy river run-off, decreased mixing of agricultural and
domestic wastes, land drainage into the estuary and decreased biological activity due to
decreased salinity and temperature.
It is evident that the BOD and COD showed positive correlation with salinity, pH,
total alkalinity, sulphate, total hardness, calcium and magnesium and negative correlation
with rainfall, dissolved oxygen and nutrients.
The distribution and behavior of nutrients (P04, N02, N03 and NH3) in the coastal
environments, particularly in the near shore waters and estuaries, would exhibit considerable

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seasonal variations depending upon the local conditions of rainfall, quantum of freshwater
inflow, tidal incursion and on some biological activities like phytoplankton uptake and
regeneration (Choudhury and Panigrahy, 1991)..
In the present investigation, inorganic phosphate of the intertidal waters registered
its peak values during the monsoon season and there was a decrease in the concentration
during the post monsoon season, at both the Stations 1 and 2. High concentration of phosphate
observed in the present study during monsoon season might have been due to heavy rainfall,
inputs of domestic sewage, fertilizers from the adjacent agricultural land..
The minimum inorganic phosphate content during the post monsoon season was
probably due to the utilization of this nutrient by the micro and macrophytobenthic communities
of the area (Pillai, 1994) and also due to the decreased land drainage, sewage and fertilizer
disposal from the agricultural lands.
In the present investigation, Station 1 registered more concentration of phosphate
than Station 2. The high phosphate concentration is an important feature associated with
sewage and industrial pollution in the estuarine environment and hence, the P04 concentration
could be taken as an index to identify the extent of pollution in the estuarine environment.
Inorganic nitrate concentration showed an increase during the monsoon season and
it gradually decreased during the summer season, at both the stations. High concentration of
nitrate observed during the monsoon season might be due to the heavy rainfall, resultant
river run-off, land drainage and input of fertilizers from the adjacent agricultural fields and
oxidation of ammonia (Raman, 1995)..
In the present study, higher nitrate content in the intertidal waters was recorded at
Station 1 than at Station 2. This could be possible, as Station 1 is a polluted station with the
direct discharges of organic wastes in addition to the discharge of industrial wastes, the
input from the nearby coconut husk retting grounds and dumping of fishery waste as suggested
by Pillai (1994). Most of the nitrate might have been derived from the decomposition of
organic wastes (Satpathy, 1996).
Inorganic nitrite concentration was found to be lower than nitrate probably due to
its very unstable nature and it perhaps gets immediately converted to ammonia or nitrate
and evaporated (Jacob et al., 1994) and its seasonal distribution was similar to that of
nitrate. Inorganic nitrite concentration at both the stations was high during the monsoon
season and low during the summer season. The peak values of nitrite during the monsoon
season may be attributed to the influence of seasonal flood as has been observed in the case
of phosphate and nitrate (Mitra et al., 1995). Further, excretion of phytoplankton, reduction
of nitrate and oxidation of ammonia may all contribute together or individually for an
increase in the concentration of nitrite in this environment, as suggested by Joe (1993).
Low values of nitrite observed during the summer season might be due to the lesser amount
of freshwater inflow and higher salinity (Singh et al., 1997).

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Lower concentrations of ammonia during the summer and higher during the monsoon
season, at both the stations, could be coupled with the said reasons for other nutrients. The
other possible reason may be due to the decomposition of organic matter in the sediments as
domestic sewage and industrial effluents lead to increase its concentration (Shrihari and
Venkatesa, 1994).
In the present study, sulphate is high during summer and low during monsoon season.
Its low in monsoon could be due to the dilution effect. Its high in summer may be due to
leaching from catchments (Mitra, 1998) and due to decomposition of sulphide bearing minerals
and sulphate rich effluents from husk retting grounds.
The alkalinity of natural or treated wastes is the capacity of some of its components
to accept protons that is to bind an equivalent amount of strong acids like hydroxyl ions and
anions of weak acids (e.g. bicarbonates and carbonates). It is therefore, a measure of the
buffering capacity of the water (Train, 1978). It is commonly used as an index of potential
sensitivity because it express, in part, the acid- neutralizing capacity of water bodies; thus
their relative tolerance of potential sensitivity to acidic inputs. The bicarbonates, carbonates,
chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates are present in the form of Na+, K+, Mg++, Ca++ and
Fe+ and are mainly responsible for the alkalinity and hardness of water (Jameel, 1998).
In the present study, higher values of both the total alkalinity and total hardness
could be attributed to the discharges of Nellore district industries.
Calcium and magnesium are two major elements occurring normally, among eleven
ions of seawater and are considered as major constituents, which are leached into the
aquatic system by weathering process. In coastal waters comprising near shore, the
concentration of these two ions varies with the factors such as land drainage, precipitation
and dissolution. The characteristics could also be pertinent to the shallow aquatic system
besides the biological uptake. The high concentrations of calcium and magnesium in summer
can be attributed to their release from the exchangeable sites of majority of riverine clays
with other cations in the early stages of estuarine mixin So, the higher values of these two
parameters can be attributed to the industrial pollution from Nellore.
Both the calcium and magnesium showed positive correlation with salinity, pH,
BOD, COD, total alkalinity, sulphate and total hardness and negative correlation with rainfall,
turbidity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients.
The high chloride concentration in water indicates the presence of large amount of
organic matter (Dhanapakiyam et al., 1999). The higher concentration of chloride in water
is an index of pollution of animal origin and there is a direct correlation between chloride
concentration and pollution levels. Human excreta and industrial wastes are rich in chlorides
(Naik and Purohit, 1997).
In the present study, chloride is minimal in monsoon and maximal in summer seasons,
at both the stations. The possible reason for lower concentration of chloride may be due to
the lesser input from the industrial activity while, higher concentration of it may be due to

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seawater intrusion coupled with huge influx of sewage and industrial wastewater. Chloride
showed positive correlation with salinity, pH, BOD, COD, calcium, magnesium and fluoride
and negative correlation with rainfall and nutrients.
The observed characteristics of the Pennar estuary exceed the tolerance limits for
disposal of wastes into water bodies prescribed by BIS (1983).
In the present study, it is well established that the concentrations of the observed
physico-chemical parameters in the down stream of Pennar estuary (Station 1) are many
folds higher than the upstream (Station 2). The polluted nature is substantiated by much
higher levels of BOD, COD, total alkalinity, total hardness, sulphate, chloride, fluoride and
very low dissolved oxygen at Station 1, which are pollution parameters and hence it is
inferred that Station 1 is more polluted than Station 2. The present status of pollution at
Pennar estuary is due to the organic pollution, the possible sources being fallouts of Nellore
district industrial wastewater and domestic sewage. Hence, the potential point source for
aquatic pollution in the Pennar estuary, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh is no doubt, the wastewater
discharged from Industries of Nellore district, Nellore. The non-point sources are predicted
to be the domestic sewage from Nellore Township, husk retting waste, agricultural run-off,
along with other natural and anthropogenic sources.

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