Chemistry of Trace Metals in the Riverine Sediments of Kortalaiyar River, Tamilnadu, India

The growing competition in the quantitative and qualitative demand of water from domestic, industrial and economic sector seek the approach to water resource management. Rivers are the carriers of the contaminants due to the flocculation of metals in the sediments. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the contamination level in Kortalaiyar River which plays a vital role in the water supply, food security and economic development of the Chennai city. Sediment samples and water samples were collected from 30 locations starting from Poondi Lake to Ennore creek to analyze the variations in the trace metals and major metals which includes the heavy metals too. The geochemical analysis was carried out for Pre Monsoon and Post Monsoon seasons for two consecutive years. The trace metals and the major metals analyzed were correlated and studied using Pearson’s correlation matrix. The level of contamination is figured out to be maximum near the Ennore creek where the river forms estuary with the Sea.