INTRODUCTION

Water is one of the most important and abundant

compounds of the ecosystem. All living organisms on the
earth need water for their survival and growth. As of now
only earth is the planet having about 70% of water. But
due to increased human population, industrialization, use
of fertilizers in the agriculture and man-made activity it is
highly polluted with different harmful contaminants.
Therefore it is necessary that the quality of drinking water
should be checked at regular time interval, because due
to use of contaminated drinking water, human population
suffers from varied of water borne diseases. It is difficult
to understand the biological phenomenon fully because
the chemistry of water revels much about the metabolism
of the ecosystem and explain the general hydro -
biological relationship (Basavaraja Simpi et al. 2011).

The availability of good quality water is an

indispensable feature for preventing diseases and
improving quality of life. Natural water contains different
types of impurities are introduced in to aquatic system by
different ways such as weathering of rocks and leaching of
soils, dissolution of aerosol particles from the atmosphere
and from several human activities, including mining,
processing and the use of metal based materials
(Ipinmoroti and Oshodi 1993 and Adeyeye 1994). The
increased use of metal-based fertilizer in agricultural
revolution of the government could result in continued
rise in concentration of metal pollutions in fresh water
reservoir due to the water run-off. Also faucal pollution of
drinking water causes water born disease which has led
to the death of millions of people. (Adefemi and
Awokunmi, 2010).

Fresh water bodies are specialized ecosystems which

perform important ecological functions and have many
ecological, socio-economic and cultural values. One of the
very important functions of the fresh water bodies is to
provide suitable habitat for the breeding of local birds as
well as a wintering ground for short and long distance
migratory water birds. Fresh water bodies are generally
rich in their floristic and faunal diversity which is often
much higher than that in many other ecosystems. Fresh
water bodies occur extensively throughout the world in all
climatic zones. In India the large seasonal and spatial
variability in the rainfall enhances the diversity of fresh
water bodies ranging from flood plain to coastal area,
natural to man made fresh water bodies in Himalayas and
arid and semiarid area of the country. There are more
man made fresh water bodies than natural ones in India
particularly arid region of Rajasthan created to cater the
needs of water for drinking, domestic and agricultural
uses.

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 Water is not only an economic good but also a social
good. Safe water supply and appropriate sanitation are
the most essential components for a healthy and
prosperous life. The provision of safe drinking water and
adequate sanitation facilities. Water is the elixir of life, it
is the source of energy and Introduction and governs the
evolution and functions of the universe on the earth. It is
a medium of life and necessary component of
protoplasmic system and raw material of photosynthetic
process. Due to increasing urbanization and
industrialization, natural quality of water has changed
and deteriorated to a great extent. This as totally
disturbed the hydrological cycle, as sufficient time is not
available for the nature to regenerate the water from the
waste water.

Water is considered as one of the most basic and

important material for all living organism. Our
dependence on fresh water resources has accelerated in
the last century due to rapid world population growth and
economic development. As a result, fresh water resources
have deteriorated both in quantity and quality in many
areas of the world.

In India, 14% of people get clean drinking water, the

rest 81% quench their thirst from polluted lakes, tanks,
dams, rivers and well due to which more than three
million people get affected or die of enteric diseases every
year. Those who have privilege of having river in their

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villages, it becomes the source of drinking water. The
water becomes polluted by the animals who slake their
thirst : by washer men who wash the clothes; by the
garbage of city and the algae. Even piped water which is
available in big cities, is also mixed with number of
pathogens causing jaundice, cholera, typhoid and gastro-
enteritis.

Today problems of deforestation, soil erosion,

proliferation of aquatic weed, spread of water borne
diseases, adverse effects on fish population, radio-active
pollution, pesticides, insecticides and chemicals, ill effects
of uncontrolled tourism, socioeconomic and socio-
cultured problem, etc. are some which have disrupted the
balance between nature and mankind. There is an urgent
need for the development of pre-emptive and restorative
activity for ecoredamation so that development should be
sustainable and science based. The task of environment
conservation can be achieved by taking certain steps
during development stage and by measure participation of
public.

A study of fresh water habitat with special reference

to its physico-chemical, geological and biological
characteristic is termed as limnology. The study of
limnology is of great importance to human race as the
biological and physico-chemical data of this branch can
be useful for quick development and growth of the fishes.

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 Lakes, rivers, ponds and other fresh water bodies
have poorly withstood the blessings of human civilization.
Almost everywhere man has leaned upon these waters not
only as the great life givers, but also as cleansers. They
have served as recipients for a major part of human
wastes both directly and indirectly, wastes which
frequently became excessive wherever people concentrated
in cities and densely populated areas. Water of varying
degrees of purity is required by every form of life. This
distinctive characteristic of water have been a boon to
modern man. The aquatic environment can generally be
characterised as a dilute aqueous solution, containing a
large variety of organic and inorganic chemical
substances dissolved and in suspension and including a
variety of plant and animal life. A knowledge of the
qualitative and quantitative composition of this system is
the first approach towards revealing the nature of the
particular environmental problem.

The significant role played by different water

resources in almost all the developmental programmes of
the country hardly need any elaboration. These resources
not only serve the purpose of water supply for domestic
and industrial use, but also for the development of
agriculture, fisheries, power etc.

In the natural fresh water bodies, nutrients of the

catchment area get transported through run-off water.
These nutrients are used by the inhabiting biota for their

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growth and reproduction. Some nutrients get trapped in
the sediment; the rest remains in solution in water. This
nutrient input-utilization activity continues in a regular
manner in nature, subject to non interference by man. In
man made reservoirs, some nutrients may get drained out
through waste weirs, sluices or such other means.

Generally water contains iron, calcium, magnesium,

manganese, silica, fluoride, nitrate, phosphate, sulphates
and chlorides. When the quantity of these substances
parts increase then they affect the body systems and
cause distractions of health. Arsenic salts can create
cancer. Cadmium affects kidney while Barium carbonate
has bad effects on veins, nerves and heart. If the quantity
of iron exceeds 30 mg/l then vomiting starts. Silver
containing water causes liver and lung diseases. Excess of
fluoride affects teeth causes a disease called Fluorosis.
The presence of manganese in water causes loss of
memory, importance and eye diseases. Vanadium spoils
the fertility of the soil and creates cancer in the body
while Beryllium gives inflammation of pulmonary tissue.
Mercury poisoning systems include loss of vision, hearing
and of intellectual abilities. There is no treatment for it
and damage is permanent.

The biological physicochemical was started by

Leeuwenhoek. Physical limnology by Duillier (1730), and
later on Saussure (1979) studied that temperature as a
factor under limnological investigations Johonnes Muller

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(1845) carried out some Preliminary studies on plankton.
Under the preview of limnology the International
Association of theoretical and Applied limnology in 1922,
included lotic and lentic water systems.

Although their presence is regulated by water

quality, water depth, and substrate characteristics,
morphometric characteristics of reservoirs on the whole
show better correlations with vegetation structure than
any measured chemical parameters (Heegaard et al.,
2001; Makela et al., 2004). Favorable morphometrical
conditions make quick colonization possible in still water
(Neiff, 2000). A high level of macrophyte development and
especially overgrowth of emerged plants cause
eutrophication of reservoirs (Wetzel, 1983). We
investigated macrophytes in a lowland eutrophic reservoir,
one whose water quality supports development of this
vegetation, but whose different habitat characteristics
along the shoreline cause different distribution of
macrophytes. Knowledge of the diversity, composition,
abundance, and habitat preference of macrophytes
provides important information about the ecological
status of this aquatic ecosystem and makes it possible to
predict possible changes in ecosystem quality.

Biological filtration is an increasingly popular

method of sewage treatment; some aquatic plants are
being used to remove nutrients and reduce concentrations
of phosphorus and nitrogen from raw sewage or from the

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effluent sewage treatment facilities. Aquatic plants are
also able to absorb other substances, including pollutants
such as phenols.

Ground water acquires geo-chemical characteristics

due to an inter-play of meteorological, geological,
pedological and topographical conditions that have a
direct bearing on the concentration of salts in it, therefore
a knowledge of all such factors is essential to an
understanding of the occurrence of water. It is beyond
dispute that in the present milieu of scientific
development the quality of ground water demands as
much attention as its quantity to optimize its uses for
various purposes.

The surface and underground water sources are

becoming inadequate to fulfill the potable water needs of
the residents of townships. The potable water problem has
been further aggravated by the surface water pollution
caused by the industrial, municipal, domestic sewage,
urban runoff and farmland runoff etc.

Present investigation is aimed at investigating and

assessing the drinking water with special reference to
Quality status in Municipal corporation area of Rewa for
safe drinking purpose.

The outcome of the present investigation will let us

know the threat facing the drinking water resources due
to surface water pollution and drainage network of the

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township. The study will provide a guideline for managing
drinking water resources and will help us to evolve a
proper and safe drinking water supply model to the
township for safe living.

During present investigation following objects are

undertaken-

(i) Physico-chemical analysis of drinking water of

various sources.
(ii) Biological analysis.