Impacts of Flood on Water Quality of Periyar River and Remediation Using Natural Fibers

ABSTRACT

Kerala witnessed a major flood in August 2018, which brought severe effects on the environment and ecosystem, especially affecting the quality of rivers. This study aims in analyzing the impact of the flood on water quality of the Periyar River. The samplings for the study is taken from ten points along the banks of the river Periyar and were tested for its physical and chemical properties. The present water quality of the river was compared with that of the previous year and also with water quality at the time of flood to analyze the impact of flood. The tested samples were found to be polluted, and this study suggests the application of natural fibers for treating the turbid water for safe drinking and household purposes. The fibers are added to the polluted water in proportion of 1 mg/L with a settling time of 30 minutes. In this study, the remediation using natural fibers such as rice husk ash and coir was done, and the results indicate that the application of these fibers improves the water quality parameters such as pH and turbidity.

摘要

喀拉拉邦在2018年8月发生了一场大洪水,给环境和生态系统带来了严重影响,尤其是影响了河流的质量. 本研究旨在分析洪水对Periyar河水质的影响. 这项研究的样本取自Periyar河沿岸的十个点,并对其物理和化学性质进行了测试. 与前一年以及洪水时的水质进行了比较,以分析洪水的影响. 检测样本被发现受到污染,本研究建议使用天然纤维处理混浊水,用于安全饮用和家庭用途. 将纤维按1mg/L的比例添加到污水中,沉淀时间为30分钟. 在本研究中,使用稻壳灰和椰壳等天然纤维进行修复,结果表明,这些纤维的应用改善了水质参数,如pH值和浊度.

KEYWORDS:

• Coir fibers
• natural fibers
• rice husk ash
• water pollution
• water quality

关键词:

• 椰子纤维
• 天然纤维
• 稻壳灰
• 水污染
• 水质

Highlights

• The general objective of the study is to evaluate the extent of pollution that resulted due to the Kerala Floods 2018 and to suggest a remedial measure when such calamities occur in future.

• The samplings for the study were taken from 10 points along the banks of the river Periyar and were tested for its physical and chemical properties.

• The samples were collected after the flood, and the results were compared with the collected test results obtained before and during flood time.

• This study focuses on the ability of natural fibers to act as an adsorbent in water and thus making water free from pollutants.

• In this study, the remediation using natural fibers such as rice husk ash and coir proves to be a sustainable remedial measure for improving the water quality parameters such as pH and turbidity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).