Study of important physico-chemical parameters, marginal vegetation and pollution aspects of Pinga oya, a stream in the Mahaweli mid-catchment area

Abstract

Aquatic plants which had grown near the water body were gathered and identified. The pollution sources were identified by field surveying and the catcthment area details such as land use patterns, number of industries and houses and people's other activities, were gathered. People were interviewed to verify the pollution sources and post consumption effects. Twenty seven stations were identified and water samples were collected in a grab manner. The water samples were checked for twelve water quality parameters. Density, cover and heights of the vegetation which had grown at the sampling stations were determined. The dominant plant species were identified by considering the density, and the variation of dominant plant species density and water quality parameters were considered at the different sampling stations, Finally the correlations among the Alocasia species density (dominant species) and water quality parameters were determined.