Evaluation of water quality of Bhitarkanika mangrove system, Orissa, east coast of India

Abstract

The nutrient and dissolved metal concentration in Bhitarkanika mangrove system, Orissa, east coast of India had been examined. Surface water samples were collected from the different regions of mangrove-estuarine complex during the post monsoon season. There was distinct variation in chemical constituents of water among the estuarine, mangrove and bay region. Physicochemical parameters like pH, EC and TDS and nutrients like NO₃, PO₄ varied significantly among three sectors. The cations like K⁺, Ca²⁺, NH₄ and anions like SO₄²⁻, HCO⁻₃, SiO₂ didn’t showed any significant variation. There is high concentration of dissolved metal in this mangrove system. The above fact will reveal that mangrove is facing severe threat due to industrial pollution. The metals, Cu, Zn and Co showed higher affinity, while Pb and Cr also result in strong coupling with each other.