EFFECT OF DYEING AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY ON NOYYAL RIVER WATER QUALITY, TIRUPPUR – A CASE STUDY

This paper evaluates the extent of degradation that has happened in the natural water body Noyyal River that flows through the four districts of Tamilnadu, India, due to the letting of wastewater from small scale industrial dyeing unit in the Tiruppur region, Tamil Nadu. Samples from river were taken and were analysed for the following physiochemical properties: hardness, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, pH, sulphates, DO, Iron and Manganese using standard procedure. In addition, the trace metals like Lead, Zinc, Copper, and Chromium were also analysed by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results were compared with the standards followed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). The results obtained indicate that many of the physiochemical properties of the water exceed the standard limits. In addition, the analysis for the trace metal content in the water indicates a high level of lead content, which is highly toxic and may result in nervous system disorders. Lead content in water could be attributed to many factors including the effluents from the textile industries, which uses lead mixed dyes.