Assessment of Water Pollution Status of Selected Fishery Harbours located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka

The objective of this study was to determine the current status of water quality in three selected fishery harbours named Hikkaduwa, Galle, and Hambantota located in the Southern coastal stretch of the country. It also aimed to provide recommendations to prevent harbour water pollution and minimize post-harvest loses due to spoilage and finally to upgrade the quality of fish for human consumption. Field visits were carried out for three months period from May to July 2014. Three sampling locations from each fishery harbour were selected and total of 14 physicochemical parameters of water quality were measured to identify the pollution levels. Assessments were also carried out to evaluate microbial contaminations. Results revealed that pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nitrate-N, nitrite-N and electrical conductivity were within the acceptable limits in all harbours. Average BOD (9.67 ± 0.70), (7.10 ± 0.43), (9.17 ± 0.25) mg/L, COD (719.51 ± 161.63), (926.50 ± 93.50), (840.20 ± 104.80) mg/L and oil & grease (13.1 ± 0.60), (17.90 ± 0.20), (17.80 ± 1.20) mg/L in Hikkaduwa, Galle, and Hambantota showing high level of water pollution of those harbours. MPN values of fecal coliforms (per 100 ml) were ranged between 1633 and 2400, which also exceeded the recommended standards for harbour waters. The study revealed that the water quality of the fishery harbours were degraded and are subjected to chemical pollution, oil pollution, and microbial contamination. Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka: 2015 Vol. 4 No. 2: 36-4