Physico-chemical Properties of Water Samples from Manipur River System, India

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters were carried out during April 2008 to March 2009 from four rivers namely the Imphal, Iril, Thoubal and Manipur located in Manipur, a north-eastern State of India bordering Myanmar. Sites I, IV, V and VI were subjected to various anthropogenic activities of man, passing through the urban residential areas while sites II and III from Manipur river were located in a forested watershed and free from human disturbances. Maxima of TDS 870 mg/l, conductivity 467μS/cm, NO3-N 0.550 mg/l, PO4-P 0.068 mg/l and K 9.00 mg/l were recorded during rainy season while maxima of free CO2 22.3 mg/l, total alkalinity 168.0 mg/l, Chloride 42.63 mg/l and total hardness 136.0 mg/l were observed during summer from the rivers indicating degradation of water quality during rainy season than summer. Values of DO was below the minimum permissible limit (4.43 mg/l) and free CO2 beyond the maximum limit (22.30 mg/l) during summer season at site V .The values of the studied parameters were more during rainy season in Thoubal river followed by Imphal, Iril and Manipur rivers. The results indicated that most of the physico-chemical parameters from Manipur river system were within the WHO limits for drinking water and, therefore, may be suitable for domestic purposes.