ABSTRACT

Effluents of thermal power plants contain trace elements and heavy metals, needs remediation before discharging to the environment.  Heavy metals tend to bio accumulate in a biological organism such as fish and thus enter the human food chain. Present study has been carried out to assess the contamination of water sources in Yellur and surrounding villages closer to a thermal power plant in Udupi district, Karnataka State, India. Water samples from 6 Km buffer zone were collected and analyzed for physico chemical parameters and the core zone (within 2km) samples were analyzed for heavy and trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) contamination. This study indicates that the well, stream and pond water within the core zone is contaminated with heavy metals and the levels were higher than the maximum acceptable limits of the stipulated drinking water guidelines. Physico chemical analysis showed DO, Turbidity, TDS, Chlorides, Sodium, Potassium and Hardness of samples of core zone were exceeding the maximum permissible limits of WHO drinking water guidelines.
 
KEYWORDS:  Udupi, Thermal Power Plant, Water pollution, heavy metals