Assessment of Water Quality – A Case Study of Temple Ponds in Kanchipuram

Abstract

Kanchipuram is an ancient city dotted with legendary temples. Temple tanks are water storage structures, and a number of festivals were conducted in pond water. Industries generation and anthropogenic activities create pollution, and a low level of temple pond water, leaving people around the temples facing water scarcity. The research work focused on finding the quality, pollution level of temple pond water, and the nature of its usage. Samples were collected and analyzed in seventeen legendary temple ponds for four years, from January to March. The measured physical and chemical parameters are pH, color, biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chloride, sulphate, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, total silica, total nitrogen, ammonical nitrogen, total phosphate, iron, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and biological parameter total coliform count. The outcomes were associated with BIS Surface Water standards of class C. Heavy metals and other measured parameters are within Class C standard limits. Analyzing the results confirms that pond water is not fit for direct drinking usage. It can be uses for other purposes washing, bathing, holy dip, etc.