The TROP activities for the academic year 2018-19 was carried out at Varapuzha Grama Panchayath.The TROP coordinators of the department are Dr.Annu Raju and Ms. Mary Lincy K.A. The aim of our trop activity was to analyse the effect of flood on the quality of well water.Our study was focused on Varapuzha Grama panchayath. In the month of July 2018, water samples were collected from Varapuzha Grama panchayath to carry out analysis works which was to be conducted as a part of B.Sc project for the academic year 2018-2019. Hence this panchayath was chosen as our area of study. This made it easier for us to study how the flood affected water quality in residential areas. After the flood during the month of August water samples were collected from the same sources from where initial samples were collected. Different water quality parameters were analysed in samples collected prior to, and after the flood.
The first session of the TROP activities was held on July 28th 2018. A team of students from final year B.Sc class along with TROP in-charge teachers were involved in the sampling process. Collected samples were analyzed at Soil and Water analysis lab, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Panangad under the guidance of Dr. Anu Gopinath , Assistant Proffesor of Department of Chemical Oceanography,KUFOS. The water quality parameters analyzed were-pH,TDS(mg/L),EC (Coliform) (μs/s),Alkalinity,Hardness (mg/L),Salinity (psu),Ammonia (μm/L),Phosphate(μm/L),Nitrite(μm/L),Nitrate(μm/L). The second phase of the TROP activities was held on August 24th 2018. Due to unusually high rainfall during the monsoon season,resulting in the opening of thirty five out of the fifty four dams for the first time in history, the state witnessed one of the worst flood which affected many townships in Kerala including Varapuzha panchayath. After flood, the water bodies of the affected areas were found to be contaminated.To study the intensity of the problem, water samples were collected from the wells prior to flood. The same parameters were analysed to compare how the flood affected water quality. Students also joined in hand with the volunteers in cleaning few flood affected houses. There was a group of 15 students who participated in this cleaning drive.
The third session of the TROP activities was held on18thSeptember 2018.The well water was chlorinated.The chlorinated well water samples after flood were taken from the same source to check the water quality parameters. A comparative study of the three samples were done and the conclusions drawn include. The water quality parameters have changed drastically in the sample collected after the flood. After chlorination, an improvement in water quality parameters are observed.However, when compared to the pre-flood samples, the observed values of water quality parameters of chlorinated post-flood water samples are not satisfactorily close to acceptable values.