PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN RELATION TO WATER QUALITY AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ALONG THE SHUTANGA RIVER, LIFE-LINE OF MATHABHANGA SUBDIVISION TOWN OF COOCHBEHAR DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

The physico chemical parameters such as water temperature, turbidity, pH, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid , total
solid conductivity (?s/cm), dissolved oxygen, free CO2,salinity , BOD, nitrate , phosphate ,silicate , chloride , total
alkalinity were evaluated at selected three sites of Shutunga river, a tributary of Jaldhaka river traversing through
Coochbehar district of West Bengal, India to study the seasonal alteration of physico-chemical factors .The study was
carried out for a period of three seasons (Pre-monsoon, monsoon and Post-monsoon) from February,2012 to July, 2013. The
river is subjected to rigorous domestic and sewage pollution. Agricultural land utilises the water source for plantation and
drain off the used surplus water which carries different pesticides and fertilizers to the river .The fisherman make the most of the downstream of this river for fish capture. Slum-dwellers take advantage of the water resource for bathing, washing of cloths etc. Sewage from municipality, garbage from market and ash of cremation openly combine with this river. As a result the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the river water are gradually changing and producing the harmful effect on aquatic biota and thereby human beings. The present studies indicate that increase water pollution levels in the river near urban environment due to discharge of various types of waste water, sewage and various effluents from the domestic sewage, garbage from market, leaching of fertilizers & pesticides from agriculture land, use of ichthyotoxic substances for fish capture and also ashes of cremation directly mix up with Shutunga river.