Ph is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration. Concentration of hydrogen ion index in water quality analysis helps to analyse the acidic and basic nature of the water body. A Ph value of 7.0 indicates a neutral solution, a value lesser than 7.0 indicate acidic condition and a value greater than 7.0 indicates alkalinity. The nature of the water gets more corrosive with decreasing Ph values. It calculates the hydrogen ion (H+) potentiality in a solution. The permissible limit of Ph for drinking water according to WHO standards is 7 - 8.5. The entire region marks an acidic composition, the regions of Pamba and Triveni recorded a very high Ph value greater than 6.7 and Vadasserikkara having 6.8 (Figure 2 (A)). The region is merely concentrated with numerous waste materials including the waste generated from numerous hotels, sanitation points, cloth dyes and so on. The water is unfit for drinking purpose and also results in serious health problems related to skin, stomach and intestines. There is an increase in the value of the Ph at the time of the pilgrimage season and also in the summer months which demarcate a shortage in the amount of water. The tested samples reveal that Triveni and Pamba regions possess values 3.26 mg/L and 3.9mg/L respectively which marks a moderate level of pollution Vadasserikkara also having a value of 4.05mg/L. Non polluted samples have been obtained from KakkiAr and KochuPamba values of having 4.3 and 5.83mg/L respectively. Dissolved oxygen also reveals there is some sort of pollution in the regions of Triveni, Pamba and Vadasserikkara regions which may increase over decades along with the increase in pilgrims over the time beyond.

Dissolved Oxygen is one of the parameters in higher forms for aquatic life to survival. It is the measurement of oxygen dissolved in water and available for fishes and other aquatic organisms. This is one of the basic parameters for assessing the quality of water. If the dissolved oxygen is low the quality of the water is also decreased, and that water is not good for anything. It indicates the health of an aquatic system. According to EPA standard DO ≥ 6.5 is considered as non- polluted, 6.5 > DO ≥ 4.6 is considered as lightly polluted, 4.5 ≥ DO ≥ 2.0 is considered as moderately polluted and DO < 2.0 is severely polluted. The tested samples reveal that Triveni and Pamba regions possess values 3.26 mg/L and 3.9mg/L respectively which marks a moderate level of pollution Vadasserikkara also having a value of 4.05mg/L (Figure 2 (B)). Non polluted samples have been obtained from KakkiAr and Kochu Pamba values of having 4.3 and 5.83mg/L respectively. Dissolved oxygen also reveals there is some sort of pollution in the regions of Triveni, Pamba and Vadasserikkara regions which may increase over decades along with the increase in pilgrims over the time beyond.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand or B.O.D is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by the organisms in the water body to break down the organic compounds in specified temperature and in given time period. The BOD value usually expressed in milligrams of oxygen in a given sample at a temperature of 20° C for a time period of 5 days of incubation. It also projects the growth of organic particle matters in the water body. According to EPA standards BOD ≥ 3.0 is considered as non-polluted, 3.0 > BOD ≥ 4.9 is considered as lightly polluted 5 ≥ BOD ≥ 15 is considered as moderately polluted and BOD < 15 is severely polluted. There is increase in the value the BOD in the regions of Triveni station of 7.85mg/L which is mainly by the cause of accumulation of the waste materials namely flowers, food items etc. The accumulation and outflow of sewage is also a factor for the generation of organic matter in the water body. The higher concentration is mainly during the time of pilgrimage season namely December and January. Pamba also possess a higher BOD with a value of 7.35mg/L, hence the region having some sort of pollution. Lower values are identified in the regions of Kakkiyar and KochuPamba with 5.65mg/L and 4.71mg/L (Figure 2 (C)).

Coliform are type of bacteria which are found in the digestive tracts of the living beings usually in human and animal intestines and are also ejected through their waste. They are also found in certain plants and in soil materials. It is one of the basic tests for the analysis of the bacterial contamination in a water body. Total coliform counts demarcate the condition present sanitary of the water supply. The EPA standard for fecal coliform is 394 colonies forming per 100Ml. The coliform group has been used as the standard for analysing the water contamination in drinking water. The proper analyses of the coliform content in water help to get rid of many water borne diseases thereby ensuring a hygienic ecosystem. The Triveni region is highly polluted by means of numerous toilets, hotels, and it’s out flow towards the river (Figure 2 (D)). Vadasserikkara also possess a high range of total coliform amount. There is a sewage treatment plant which lacks its capacity and also leads to the overflow of the waste materials towards the river also leads to the accumulation of bacterial growth in this region causing water contamination. The region is highly concentrated with total coli form content at the time of pilgrimage season mostly in the month of January, which marks the peak month.

Fecal coliform bacteria usually present in waste materials of human and animal. The environmental protection agency uses fecal coliform as a measurement to analyse the presence of disease causing bacteria, protozoan’s and virus. The higher concentration results in the presence of higher the concentration of fecal coliform. It is measured in colony forming units. The EPA standard for fecal coliform is 394 colonies forming per 100 Ml. The Triveni, Vadasserikkara, and Pamba region is highly polluted by means of fecal coliform content (Figure 2 (E)). This is caused due to the accumulation of human excreta which get dumped from the toilets and other waste materials towards the river. The sewage treatment plant which lacks its capacity and also leads to the overflow of the waste materials towards the river also leads to the accumulation of bacterial growth in this region causing water contamination. The region is highly concentrated with fecal coliform content at the time of pilgrimage season mostly in the month of January, which marks the peak month. Among all Triveni region is highly polluted as it is the place where pilgrims use to perform their practices before entering way to the temple.