Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN AMBA RIVER WATER (MAHARASHTRA)

*Dr. Ishwar B. Ghorade, Vilas R. Jadhavar and Satish S. Patil

ABSTRACT

In many groundwater assessment studies, evaluation of the quality of groundwater is as important as the quantity. Industrialization brings out the abundant problems of waste disposal. The effluent discharged from industries like textile mills, distilleries, fertilizer factories, sugar factories, tanneries, mineral and metal processing industries etc. Many metals ions are released into environment as a result of anthropogenic activities. Water pollution by heavy metals is directly or indirectly altered by human activities. Large drinking water sources namely rivers, dams and lakes are contaminated with heavy metals pollutant from various sources. The fresh water ecosystem occupies a very small area in comparison to marine ecosystem. The effect of heavy metal on fresh water ecosystem has become global concern. These metals are persistent and once released the environment for a prolonged period. These heavy metals are well known pollutants, which are often encountered in many ponds, Lakes, rivers and dams of India and the most important aquatic fauna being subjected to stress caused by these heavy metals. The indiscriminate release of liquid waste of organic and inorganic nature changes physico-chemical characteristics of water and causes hazard to flora and fauna including important member of food chain of man and aquatic ecosystem. Hence the present study during the year 2014 to 2015 is aimed to investigate some of the important heavy metals contents such as Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn) Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) of the Amba river water.

Keywords: Amba River, Heavy metals, Ecosystem, Pollutants, Degradation and Environment.