Study on water pollution along the Kukshet Lakes of Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India with special reference to pollution due to heavy metals

Monitoring and assessment of fresh water has become an environmental concern due to the contamination by human kind, thereby decreasing the suitability of the fresh water. The Kukshet Lake, which is the study area of the present investigation receives domestic raw sewage from surrounding habitation; so also the activities like cattle washing, cloth washing, bathing, religious activities like idol immersion, etc., paves the way for high concentration of harmful chemicals in the lake water. The study was carried out to understand the various physico-chemical parameters as well as to estimate the concentration of heavy metals in lake water. It was found that the concentration of the heavy metals in the lake water substantially increased after the religious activities around September to October. These heavy metals have a marked effect on the aquatic flora and fauna which through bio-magnification enter the food chain and ultimately affect human beings as well.