An assessment of water quality parameters and survival of indicator in pilgrimage place of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India

Velankanni is anthropogenically highly vulnerable due to unregulated religious activities and intensive tourist density. The present study focuses on the impact of holy water bathing on water quality parameters and microbiological indicators. Water samples were collected at three different stations in a monthly interval starting before the onset of festival, during the festival and after festival season from August to October, 2013. The following indicators were analyzed: surface seawater temperature (30-33 °C), hydrogen ion concentration (7.4-8.3), electrical conductivity (6.9-11.4 mS/cm), salinity (16.2-37.0 ppt), total suspended solids (1080-2920 mg/l), total dissolved solids (20450-51880 mg/l), total solids (22650-53120 mg/l), dissolved oxygen (3.4-5.7 mg/l) and microbiological indicators (total heterotrophic bacteria (1-61 × 10−3 cfu/ml), total coliform bacteria (1-57 × 10−2 cfu/ml) and total Enterococcus bacteria (1-41 × 10−2 cfu/ml). Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between season and water quality (p < 0.05). This study strongly supports the necessity to implement water quality monitoring, coastal management policy and regulation of ritual activities, including the prevention of the waterborne diseases. Implementing these ideas would increase coastal water quality and maintenance of the beauty of the beach, which in turn promotes pilgrimage and tourism activities thereby benefiting the local communities and improving the regional economy.