PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF RASIKBIL LAKE WATER IN COOCHBEHAR DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

Rasikbil, the largest wetland lake of North Bengal is also seasonal breeding habitat for migratory birds. The water body is interspersed by forest vegetation housing different species of animal also. Influx of tourist is almost throughout the year. Physicochemical study of water samples revealed that values of the test parameters like temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen within acceptable limit. Total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci density far exceeded the national and international threshold values. Thus heavy microbial load may have occurred out of the run off originated from uncontrolled faecal input by population as well as by wandering animals.