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Characterization of influent and effluent waters of shrimp farms in the north western province, Sri Lanka
By Admin | July 21, 2009
Shrimp culture is a developing industry in Sri Lanka and shrimp exports account for nearly 90% of total aquaculture exports of the country. Shrimp farms in the north western province distributed on the intertidal and supra tidal areas around Chilaw, Mundal and Puttalam lagoons.
In the present study physico-chemical parameters of influent and effluent waters of four shrimp farms in major shrimp producing areas in the north western province were investigated during one culture cycle. Selected farms were situated at Thoduwawa, Chilaw, Madurankuliya and Palavi. Dissolved oxygen content (DO), pH, salinity and turbidity were measured in situ using water quality meters. Ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and phosphorus were measured using standard methods. Farms were weekly visited to collect samples and pond management practices were also recoded.
Mean temperature, DO, pH, Salinity, turbidity, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and phosphorus in the influent waters ranged from 28.4 31.0 ?C, 3.7 4.8 mg/l, 6.4 8.0, 8.5 34.7ppt, 4.2 32.4 NTU, 0.09 0.34 mg/l, 0.02 0.13 mg/l, 0.11 0.78, 0.78 1.23 mg/l and the same parameters in the effluent waters varied between 29.1 31.8 ?C, 4.6 5.8 mg/l, 6.9- 7.8, 14.6 35.6ppt, 32.0 57.6 NTU, 0.36 1.03 mg/l, 0.05 0.13 mg/l, 0.36 0.78 mg/l, 1.32 1.8 mg/l, respectively. Influent and effluent water temperature (29.3-31.9 ?C and 30.3-34.2 ?C, respectively) in Chilaw farm were significantly higher (p<0.05) than all the other farms may be due to shallowness of the cannels. The lowest pH values for influent and effluent waters were detected in Thoduwawa and Chilaw farms with the means of 6.4 and 6.9, respectively. The highest salinity levels for influent (34.7 ppt) and effluent (35.6 ppt) waters and the highest influent water turbidity (32.4 NTU) were recorded in Palavi farm that pumped water from the Puttalam estuary. Effluent water turbidity and ammonium were significantly higher in Chilaw and Palavi farms that practiced low water exchange rates in shrimp culture ponds. Nitrate levels in the influent water were comparatively higher in Chilaw (0.31 mg/l) and Palavi (0.78 mg/l) farms that pumped water directly from respective estuaries.
Influent water pH in Thoduwawa and salinity in Puttalam areas were not within the optimum range for shrimp cultivation. Water temperature, pH, ammonium and nitrate of shrimp farm effluents were well below the present general standards for discharge of effluents into inland surface waters of Sri Lanka. But ammonium and phosphorus levels in effluent water were higher than the ambient water quality standards for fish and aquatic life. The results emphasize the necessity to set water quality standards for shrimp pond effluents in order to reduce their impact on aquatic life.
Topics: Pollution control | 4 Comments »
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Dear Sr.
Good morning…
Can you send me this full article about characterization of effluents of shrimps farms in Sri Lanka?…
Congratulations for your blog…
Thanks for attention!…
Mrcio Bezerra, Msc.
IFCE/Aquaculture – Brazil
January 17th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
i am going to do final year project related to this topic. so can i get this please. ok
January 19th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Dear Sr.
Can u send me the full article of “characterization of effluents of shrimp farms in ….”
this will be helpful to me for my final year project work.
N.Haran
Bsc in Agriculture Technology and Management
University of Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
December 17th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Dear Sir,
Kindly send me the full article of this work. Currently, I am in the final touches of my research report related to this.
Thanks for concern.
Tanzania