Role of Mangroves on domestic wastewater discharge: Case study at Jamnagar costal region, India

Mangroves are a diverse group of unrelated trees, palms, shrubs, vines and ferns that share a common ability to live in waterlogged saline soils subjected to regular flooding Mangroves are functioning as buffer between sea water and ground water. They are highly specialized plants that have developed unusual adaptations to the unique environmental conditions in which they are found. The wastewater is discharged into the Nagmati and Rangmati rivers without any scientific treatment. The data was collected for JADA (Jamnagar Area Development Authority) development 2030. The survey was conducted during early six menthes of 2010. The characteristics of domestic wastewater were studied and collected data correlated with the population of mangrove. Approximately 70MLD of domestic wastewater is discharged into the rivers having high values of BOD, COD, Nutrient Concentrations, Heavy Metals and Faecal Coliforms Counts. The quantity and quality of wastewater getting discharged in to the rivers, and its impact on mangroves is discussed in this paper. The survey indicates that mangrove population acts as natural wetlands for treatment of domestic wastewater getting discharged.