Comparative Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Water Sources in Kanyakumari, Thoothoor and

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems serve as productive ecosystems with numerous services both ecologically and socio economically. However, anthropogenic activities have led to degradation in the quality of seawater. The objective of this paper is to compare the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of seawater from Trivandrum (Kerala), Kanyakumari, and Thoothoor (Tamil Nadu), India. Physicochemical and microbiological analysis was carried out on the selected parameters using the APHA standards for seawater. It has been observed that there were some significant spatial differences among these three coastal zones. Kanyakumari showed high levels of total hardness and fluoride levels, whereas Kerala had high levels of phosphate and sulphate concentrations, and Thoothoor had high levels of potassium concentration. Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, sulphite reducing anaerobes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and yeasts/moulds proved the presence of microbial contamination due to anthropogenic activities.