Modeling of Dissolved oxygen and Temperature of Periyar river, South India using QUAL2K

Numerous studies has been done on the water quality of river Periyar, South India. Most of the studies are done when a pollution event occurs. Such random analysis does not suffice the need for a management plan. Inorder to prepare a management plan, understanding past and present trend of the river is very much important. Moreover, prediction of future will give a clear pathway in preparing the framework for conservation of river. Here, in this article, variation of water temperature and dissolved oxygen through 28 year time period is evaluated using trend analysis.Then, surface water temperature and dissolved oxygen are modeled using QUAL 2K with 2007-2008 monthly data. WEAP water quality model was used for forecasting of QUAL 2k model. From the analysis, we could find that there is an annual increase in surface water temperature and decrease in dissolved oxygen per year. QUAL 2K model shows that the trend of surface water temperature and dissolved oxygen in the river is in agreement with the calibrated 2008 and 2013 data. From the WEAP analysis, we could observe that by 2030 surface water temperature of the river would be 29oC and dissolved oxygen would be 3.7mg/l. Such studies will help in evaluating new management plans for the future health of the river.