1.
INTRODUCTION
Water is the
most valuable resource on our planet which has made possible the existence of
all forms of life, including human beings. About 80% of the earth’s surface is
covered by water, but only 1% is available for drinking, agriculture, domestic
and industrial use [1]. Although in Raipur the main supply of water is through
pipes, some rural populations still depend upon ponds for their daily
requirements. The frequent human interaction facilitates the aging process of
pond water bodies, which leads to pollution. Water pollution occurs when a body
of water is adversely affected due to the addition of many materials to the
water. When it is unfit for its intended use, water is considered polluted [2].
The pond water receives treated and untreated waste regularly. The influx of
domestic waste into ponds is highly enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus due
to the extensive use of hard and soft detergents. This change is called eutrophication, which is the
enrichment of the water body owing to nutritive substances [3,4]. The pond receiving
domestic waste regularly will have a level above eutrophication to
hyper-eutrophication, progressing towards a heterotrophic system [5]. The
quality criteria and standards for water depend on the purpose which the water
serves or is intended to serve, although multiple uses frequently arise in
practice [6]. Water contains various dissolved substances (gases and solids),
and particulates (substances not dissolved in the water). Solids dissolved in
water are collectively called Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS), referring to the total amount of all inorganic
and organic substances – including minerals, salts, metals, cations or anions –
dispersed within a volume of water [7]. Sources for TDS include agricultural
run-off, urban run-off, industrial wastewater, sewage, and natural sources such
as leaves, silt, plankton, and rocks [8].
High TDS levels typically indicate hard water. The
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends treatment when
TDS concentrations exceed 500 mg/L or 500 ppm [17]. The TDS concentration is
considered a Secondary Drinking Water Standard, which means that it is not a
health hazard. However, further testing may be warranted, as water with a high
TDS concentration may indicate elevated levels of ions that pose a health
concern, such as aluminum, arsenic, copper, lead, nitrate and others [12].
Biological Treatment of Pond Water
for Reduction in Total Dissolved Solid
The wide application of detergents for domestic use
leads to the accumulation of compounds like phosphorous and sulfate in water
bodies. Phosphorous is an important nutrient necessary in small quantities for
all plant and animal growth [9]. The availability of phosphorous can influence
both the growth of individual organisms and the productivity of entire ecosystems
[10].
Study Site
Raipur city
has many water bodies such as tanks, tarns, and ponds. There are about 30 water
bodies within the boundary of the Raipur Municipal area, many of which are
formed due to natural depressions. However, most of them are decaying because
of the heavy influx of domestic waste [18]. Five ponds were selected for the
study. The first pond was Dangania Pond (S1), located near Ayurvedic College
Campus. The second selected pond is situated in Purani Basti, known as Kankali
Pond (S2). The third pond was selected from Ramkund, named Aama Pond (S3), and
the fourth pond, Handi Pond (S4), is located in Aamapara. The fifth sample was
collected from Sundar Nagar Pond (S5).
Aspergillus species such as A. fumigatus, A.
oryzae, A. parasiticus, A. niger, and A. zonatus
showed significant growth in the presence of higher salt concentrations [14].
This study focused on the removal of Total Dissolved Solids by biological
treatment using different fungi.
2. Materials and Methods
The comparative physico-chemical study of five
different ponds — Dangania Pond (S1), Kankali Pond (S2), Aama Pond (S3), Handi
Pond (S4), and Sundar Nagar Pond (S5) — was conducted following the Standard Method for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater (APHA, 1996) [2].
Sample Collection from Different
Ponds
Water samples were collected for a period of four
months between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. using 300 mL B.O.D bottles. The samples
were carefully dipped below the surface to avoid air bubbles so that dissolved
oxygen could be measured properly [11]. Determination of TDS in water was done
by the evaporation method [3].
Determination of Total Dissolved Solids of Sample
Having Nutritional Supplement and Fungal Inoculation
To determine
the total dissolved solids, samples were supplemented with media and inoculated
with fungi. After five days of incubation, TDS was measured. Pure cultures of
five Aspergillus species — A. awamori, A. flavus, A.
japonicus, A. phoenicis, and A. niger — were obtained from
the departmental laboratory and identified by a recognized center at Hyderabad.
The fungi were inoculated aseptically into pond samples containing Czapek-Dox
media.
The effect
of Aspergillus spp. was studied in five different pond water samples.
The fungi utilized the nutrient components of water, promoting growth while
reducing the solid concentration through biological absorption and degradation
processes [15,16].
2.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Biological
treatment of pond water for reduction in Total Dissolved Solid
It was found Aspergillus niger and other Aspergillus spp. Like A.awamori , A. flavus, A. japonicus , A.
phoenicis and A. niger shows efficient reduction in Total Dissolved Solid. The
effect of Aspergillus spp in Total
Dissolved Solid of five Ponds describe below.
Effect of Aspergillus spp. in Total Dissolved
Solid of Dangania Pond (S1)
In present study, it was
found tha A. flavus is removed maximum
average 63.3% which is followed by A.awamori
52.2%and the lowest by A. niger 14%. A.japonicus removed 28.8% and A. phoenicis
shows 27% removal .it shows that A.
flavus got favorable nutrient and removed
solid efficiently(Fig 1).
Effect of Aspergillus spp. in Total Dissolved
Solid of Kankali Pond (S2).
In present of Kankali Pond sample it was found
that A. japonicus. is
removed maximum average 64.8% which
is ollowed by A.awamori 54.5% and the lowest by A. flavus average 10.9% and A.
phoenicis shows 45.2% removal and A. niger has only 23.3% removal. it shows that A. japonicus got favorable nutrient and removed
solid efficiently in Kankali Pond
sample.( Fig:2, )
Effect of Aspergillus spp. in Total Dissolved
Solid of Aama Pond Ramkund (S3).
The
sample water of Aama Pond Ramkud (S3) shows maximum solid removal by A.awamori 58.6% and lowest
by A. flavus average 10.5% the other
fungi A. japonicus ,A. phoenicis also
removes Total Dissolved Solid at average
47.9%and 44.05% respectively
which is remarkable(Fig 3).
Effect of Aspergillus spp. in Total Dissolved
Solid of Handi Pond Aamapara (S4)
The sample water of does
not show remarkable removal of solid the highest removal shows by A.awamori 33.8% and A. phoenicis 28.3% and A.
japonicas has 23.3%, lowest by A.
niger average 15.8% all shows less removal which in below 50% (Fig 4 ).
Effect
of Aspergillus spp. in Total
Dissolved Solid of Sundar Nagar Pond (S5)
The A.awamori shows highest removal up to average 69.2 % which also a
highest removal removal is shown in present study and lowest by A. flavis
average 13.05% removal, A. phoenicis and A. japonicas both shows
only 31% removal(Fig 5).