Studies on Mangalore coastal water pollution and its sources

Abstract

Mangalore coast is a stretch of about 22 Kms at the western part of the Western Ghats of the Indian peninsula. This area is receiving huge quantity of pollution load from the major industries and factories located nearby. This pollution load is discharged into the sea either directly or through the major west flowing rivers of the region, Nethravathi and Gurupura. The pollution load includes runoff of the sediment, waste from oil refineries, nutrients and pesticides, iron ore residues from the nearby iron are company and chemicals from the chemical factory from the point source. Water quality is also altered due to the addition of municipal and sewage wastes discharged into the sea. The pollutants encountered include both the biodegradable (vegetable waste & dead fish) and non-biodegradable (plastic bags, cans and metal materials). The samples analyzed for the various physico-chemical parameters revealed the alkaline condition and low in dissolved oxygen concentration. The concentration of these components were compared with WHO standards and found to be deviated highly. ©Indian Society for Education and Environment (iSee).