An Assessment of Water Quality and Identification of Problems: A Case Study of Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat, Northern Province
Journal Title: International Journal of Current Science Research and Review - Year 2024, Vol 7, Issue 09
Abstract
The Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat (DS), located in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, is underlain by Miocene limestone, which is considered to have aquifer properties favourable for groundwater storage and discharge. Given that groundwater serves as the primary water resource for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes, maintaining its quality is a significant concern. This paper aims to assess the water quality in the region, identify associated problems, and investigate potential causes and preventive measures. A purposive sampling method was employed to select six sample Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions. In addition, 100 questionnaires were administered, and 36 water samples were collected for the study. These water samples were tested based on eight major water quality parameters: Electrical Conductivity (EC), Salinity, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Fluoride (F-), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Turbidity (Tn). Furthermore, secondary data were gathered from previous literature. Both primary and secondary data were analysed using Minitab and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The measurements were then compared to the desirable limits set by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI). This study revealed that the highest recorded values for EC, Salinity, pH, TDS, F-, N, P, and Tn were 2480 µS/cm, 1254 ppm, 8.6, 632 ppm, 1.1 ppm, 7,9 ppm, 3.8 ppm, and 36.7 NTU, respectively. These values exceed the standard limits set by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI). The pollution in the area can be attributed to various factors, including topographical conditions, improper agricultural practices, inadequate sanitation methods, dumping sites, war activities, and industrial waste. As a result, these issues have led to serious health problems, reduced crop yields, insufficient drinking water, and the degradation of groundwater resources. Therefore, this study recommends the adoption of green agriculture practices, the installation of water treatment plants, the promotion of rainwater harvesting systems, and the enforcement of land and irrigation-related laws. Moreover, hazardous waste material must be disposed of at designated sites to protect water resources.
Authors and Affiliations
Vainavi Sivarajah,
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP744536
- DOI 10.47191/ijcsrr/V7-i9-18
- Views 54
- Downloads 0
Strategic Decision-Making: Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Customer Experience in XYZ Electricity
This case study outlines the challenges in resolving customer complaints at XYZ electricity provider, where the industry achieves only 89.16% against a 100% service level agreement, leading to poor customer experience (C...
A Symbol of Tolerance and Friendship in Jamiy’s Work “Bahoriston”
In this paper analyzes the problem of tolerance and ethics on the basis of the work “Bahoriston”. The importance of Jami and his scientific heritage today has been explored. Didactic works and Bahoriston were studied com...
Envisioning the Future: A Quantitative Analysis of Architecture Students' Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence Integration in Architectural Design across Region III, IV-A, and NCR, Philippines
In an era characterized by modernization and technological advancements, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought changes to the different processes of various industries, including the field of architec...
Adaptive Approaches to Software Testing with Embedded Artificial Intelligence in Dynamic Environments
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly being integrated into application domains such as autonomous vehicles, health care, and cybersecurity; therefore, the requirements for dependable and robust AI-embedded systems are...
Optimizing Prompt Length and Specificity for Enhanced AI Chatbot Responses
Language models have revolutionized natural language processing by greatly improving text generation and comprehension. Optimizing their functioning is related to how one designs prompts because the kind and quality of r...