27 Department of Environmental Science Shivaji University, Kolhapur Proceeding of International Conference SWRDM-2012 Water quality of a Temple pond (Khajod) of Surat District, India Ansari Ekhalak, Gadhia Mohini and Surana Ranjana E-mail: aquatic44@yahoo.com, mohinigadhia@yahoo.co.in, ranjanajain27@yahoo.com Department of Aquatic Biology Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Surat (Gujarat) India Abstract- Khajod temple pond is located in Khajod village of Surat District of Gujarat. Water quality parameters (temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), magnesium hardness, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chloride, phosphate, silicate, nitrate, nitrite and ammonical nitrogen) of pond for aquaculture were analyzed for a period of six months from December 2011 to May 2012. Correlation coefficients were also studied for inter-relationship. Results of study indicated that the pond could be used for fisheries and even recreation, after managing the pond for water quality. Key words: Temple pond, water quality, Surat. Introduction Temples are main centers of worship for Hindus and Sikhs. Many temples in Gujarat and other states of India have ponds in their vicinity called as temple ponds which are polluted by human activities like dumping of ritual materials, washing and bathing etc. There are some studies conducted by Anithakumari et al., (1989); Maya et al., (2000, 2001), Maya (2002) on temple ponds. The healthy condition of an aquatic system depends upon its physicochemical and biological characteristics so the water quality of temple pond of Khajod village of Surat District of Gujarat was undertaken. The present study is an attempt to assess the water quality of Khajod temple pond in a Surat district for sustainably use for fisheries and even recreation. Material and Methods Water samples were collected every month in the morning in acid washed polythene bottles. Water sampling was carried out for six months from December 2011 to May 2012. Sample for dissolved oxygen were collected in 300 ml capacity BOD bottles and fixed at the site itself. Air, water temperatures and pH were also measured on the spot. Water samples were brought immediately to laboratory of Department of Aquatic Biology, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat for analysis of total hardness (TH), magnesium hardness, total alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chloride, phosphate, silicate, nitrate, nitrite and ammonical nitrogen following standard methods of APHA (2005), Trivedy and Goel (1986); and Gupta (1999). Correlation coefficient was also calculated using SPSS software. Results and Discusion The quality of natural water is generally governed by various physicochemical parameters. Results are depicted in Table 1. Parameters December January February March April May *Standard Temp. (˚C) 24 20 24 26 29 30 25-32 pH 8.2 8.2 8.4 8.3 8.4 8.5 7-9 TDS (mgl -1 ) 195 340 350 390 390 410 500 TH (mgl -1 ) 126 128 134 168 150 146 30-180 Magnesium (mgl -1 ) 11.2 12.18 12.18 17.54 16.08 18.51 - TA (mgl -1 ) 126 146 156 164 158 154 50-300 DO (mgl -1 ) 1.62 1.62 4.05 4.05 2.02 3.24 5-10 BOD (mgl -1 ) 5.67 3.65 3.24 3.64 3.65 5.27 <10 Chloride (mgl -1 ) 63.9 63.9 85.2 113.6 92.3 120.7 31-50 Phosphate (mgl -1 ) 0.207 0.238 0.405 0.142 0.074 0.115 0.005-0.2 Silicate (mgl -1 ) 0.13 0.098 0.049 0.062 0.089 0.139 4-16 Nitrate (mgl -1 ) 2.682 1.702 1.067 1.608 3.014 1.976 0.1-3.0 Nitrite (mgl -1 ) 0.011 0.011 0.014 0.012 0.01 0.009 0-0.5 Ammonical Nitrogen (mgl -1 ) 0.026 0.031 0.014 0.018 0.057 0.03 - Table 1. Water quality of Khajod temple pond * Aquaculture pond water standard; (Boyd, 1998)