LAUSR

The impact of untreated effluent from dye industries and domestic sewage that are discharged into the irrigation tank in Pandravedu village in South India was assessed through physico-chemical analysis of water samples and focus group discussion with the community. Thirty-six samples were collected from the study area across three seasons and analysed in the laboratory. The irrigation water quality indices computed indicated that the levels of sodium, salinity and hardness exceeded the permissible limits of irrigation standards. Consequently, rice yield had reduced by 40% in the region, thereby affecting the livelihood of the farmers. The colour of fishes in the tank also changed and their consumption contributed to health-related issues in the village.