Assessment of Seasonal Water Quality Variation in Mahaweli River

Water is an abundant natural resource in Sri Lanka although only a relatively low percentage of total population is getting safe and clean water for daily use. Domestic activities, industry and agriculture cause water pollution in Sri Lanka. Rivers and lakes are most affected by pollutants. The Mahaweli River was especially polluted because it flows through industrial areas. The aim of this study was to investigate how the water quality has changed seasonally and spacially. The water was analyzed before and after filtration. Water quality analyses before filtration gives the natural conditions of water. Then the water was filtered using 0.45-micron filter paper to remove all the suspended matter and analyzed parameters gave the results for dissolved matter of water. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the Mahaweli River was polluted significantly due to the Organic carbon, colour and turbidity.