INTRODUCTION

Algae are an essential component of fresh water ecosystems like Lakes and Ponds. It governs the water by its photosynthetic ability of fixing carbon from various sources. They are highly efficient in nutrient (N and P) uptake and assimilation and can be considered as reserves of nutrient that immobilize them temporarily (Ramachandra et al., 2006; Mahapatra et al, 2010). These algae grow profoundly in nutrient rich waters and often cause anoxia due to higher growth, death and decay resulting in higher oxygen demand. At the same time these algae when allowed to grow at optimal nutrient regimes often bioaccumulate nutrients in a sustainable fashion.

Voluminous waste water is generated every day due to domestic and industrial activities (Mahapatra et al., 2010). This waste water is primarily untreated and reaches fresh water body in the vicinity of urban areas. Many waste water treatment technologies have been developed for the treatment of domestic waste water (Mahapatra et al., 2012). However, these technologies are energy and cost intensive and are unsuitable for developing nations like India. This technology requires a huge infrastructure cost together with enormous operations and maintenance cost. For the technical intricacies, skilled labor is a requirement for such technologies.

Algal pond based system are simple economic and less energy intensive method for complete treatment of domestic waste waters. These pond based system are being used globally for municipal waste water treatment due to its higher fidelity and adaptability to different regions. The pond based system provides an easy solution for nutrient uptake and consequent municipal waste water effluent treatment by virtue of its algal bacterial symbiosis and other abiotic factors like wind, sunlight and temperature. In the present study, one such pond situated as at IISc campus was investigated for its role in waste water treatment through algal nutrient uptake.

The objective of the present study were

1. To study the nature of waste water algae.

2. To analyze the physico-chemical parameters and nutrient uptake by algae in the pond.

3. To study the linkage between nutrient regimes and algal population.