The Ecological Crisis of the Noyyal River: A Comprehensive Analysis

Due to anthropogenic activities the Noyyal River, a lifeline for Coimbatore and Tirupur district’s water resources in Tamil Nadu, India, is facing severe degradation. Combined rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have put immense pressure on modern civilisations increasing water demand on fresh water bodies. The major contributor to Noyyal River pollution is the textile industries in and around Tirupur. This study aims to identify the primary pollutant of the river water and propose potential remediation strategies. The water quality of the river is evaluated through extensive sampling across various locations of the river stretch and parameters including pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and heavy metals are analysed. The results exceeding permissible limits set by regulatory agencies indicate the formidable level of pollutants. The primary contaminants affecting the river’s ecosystem and public health are textile dyes, heavy metals and organic compounds. Aquatic biodiversity is declining due to the degradation of water quality and it adversely affects the livelihoods of communities dependent on the river and also poses significant risks to human health through direct contact and consumption of contaminated water. Employing MATLAB, the study engages parametric analyses to predict past, current, and future trends in water quality parameters including pH, BOD, COD, TDS, hardness, lead, zinc, manganese, cadmium, chlorine, and microbial indicators.