Impact of dredging on coastal water quality of dhamra, Orissa

Abstract

Present investigation deals with the study of impact of dredging on water quality of Dhamra estuary, by evaluating the samples collected bi-monthly from various sampling stations during April-2008 to March-2010. Study revealed that the dredging operation has drastic impact on water quality of Dhamra, as total suspended solid and turbidity of both surface and bottom waters are high at dredging channel. Similarly, higher concentration of nutrients in dredging channel and disposal site shows clear impact of dredging. However, in certain points higher dissolved oxygen were observed in surface water at dredging channel may be due to higher phytoplankton production. But Biochemical Oxygen Demand of both surface and bottom water was intensely influenced by dredging due to release of organic rich sediment.