Abstract
The composition of atmospheric deposition is a measure of air quality, an important aspect of the health of the ecosystem. Consequently, continuous monitoring of atmospheric deposition is crucial to obtain remedial measures to avoid undesirable aspects that would affect living things. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the rainwater quality at selected locations in Kandy and Peradeniya area of Sri Lanka, namely, Kandy, Polgolla, and University of Peradeniya (UOP), and to identify possible correlations between quality parameters through statistical means. Forty (40) rainwater samples from the UOP site and seven (07) samples each from the Kandy and Polgolla sites were collected from 18 May 2020 to 28 April 2021. The volume-weighted average (VWA) pH values of UOP, Kandy, and Polgolla sites were determined to be 7.44, 7.19, and 7.19, respectively, and moreover, acid rain (pH < 5.6) occurrences were not detected during the sampling period. The VWA values of rainfall, conductivity, salinity, TDS, and hardness at the UOP site were 40.12 mm, 51.93 μS cm−1, 0.0300 ppt, 26.59 mg L−1, and 13.55 mg L−1, respectively. The corresponding values of the Kandy site were 16.52 mm, 64.04 μS cm−1, 0.0361 ppt, 30.80 mg L−1, and 19.49 mg L−1, respectively; and those of the Polgolla site were 33.10 mm, 53.90 μS cm−1, 0.0310 ppt, 25.76 mg L−1, and 19.31 mg L−1, respectively. The VWA values of conductivity, salinity, and TDS were the highest at the Kandy site. Further, the VWA values of hardness at Kandy and Polgolla sites were approximately equal, probably due to the spring of Ca2+ and Mg2+ particulates from the dolomite quarry located in Digana area. The most prominent anion was identified as Cl− in bulk deposition at all three sites, while NO3− showed the lowest concentration of all sites. Moreover, very strong significant positive correlations were identified between conductivity-TDS, conductivity-salinity, conductivity-hardness, TDS-hardness, TDS-salinity, salinity-hardness, SO42−-Cl−, and NO3−-Cl− according to the relevant Pearson correlation coefficients. It is thus concluded that the pollutants come from the same sources, either natural or anthropogenic.
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The data generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author, N. Priyantha, upon request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Provincial Department of Education of Central Province and Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, for collaborations provided for sampling. The authors also thank the Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, for providing facilities for chemical analysis.
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All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study in different aspects. Initial planning of the study, supervision, and final corrections were performed by N.P. and M.P.D. Sample collection, determination of rainwater quality parameters, and analysis were performed by H.L.S.S.W. Data interpretation, compiling of the initial draft of the manuscript, and finalizing were done by B.D.P.D. All authors have read, commented, and approved the final manuscript of the study.
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Wijewantha, H.L.S.S., Dharaka, B.D.P., Deeyamulla, M.P. et al. Monitoring of rainwater quality in Kandy and Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Environ Monit Assess 196, 218 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12352-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12352-4