Abstract
The rapid depletion of water quality in reservoirs is considered as a global ecological and health consequences. Hence, the regular monitoring of water quality status in such reservoirs is mandatory to ensure a safe water supply for the general public. The present study was conducted to evaluate the water quality, contamination status of cyanotoxins, species composition and abundance of phytoplankton in 43 selected major reservoirs in Sri Lanka. The water temperature, pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), and Electrical Conductivity (EC) were measured at the site and the other water quality parameters, Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphates (TP), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Fluoride, Total Hardness (TH), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Cyanotoxins; Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), Saxitoxin (SAX), Nodularin (NOD), Anatoxin-a (ANA-a) concentrations and Faecal Coliform were measured following the standard methods. The water temperature, pH, DO, EC, TN, TP, COD, BOD, Fluoride, TH, and Chl-a were ranged from 20.5 to 29.7 ℃, 6.5 to 8.8, 2.1 to 7.9 mg/L, 25.6 to 1752 µS/cm, < 0.05 to 3.42 mg/L, < 0.05 to 20.55 mg/L, 10.2 to 220.6 mg/L, 0.6 to 10.6 mg/L, < 0.01 to 0.23 mg/L, 13.67 to 122 mg/L and 0.66 to 48.9 µg/L respectively. Further, each water body was contaminated with at least one algal toxin tested. Overall, MC-LR was the most dominant toxin variant (37%) in the collected water samples compared to CYN (10%), SAX (10%), NOD (10%), and ANA-a (10%). Moreover, 39 reservoirs tested out of 43 recorded fecal coliform greater than 200 (CFU)/100 mL. Among all the selected water bodies, Beira Lake in Colombo was the most polluted recreational water body. Furthermore, in Beira Lake, almost all measured water quality parameters exceeded the standard levels set by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA for aquatic life. The measured water quality data indicated that most of the reservoirs are polluted, and the overall water quality has deteriorated. It suggests the negative impacts on the ecological balance of the ecosystem and these results indicate the necessity of proper treatment facilities for the reservoirs in Sri Lanka.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Abeysiri HASN, Manage PM (2019) Water quality, cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin contamination in some water bodies in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Badulla Districts, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of 6th International Symposium on Water Quality and Human Health: Challenges Ahead at University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, December 2019. p. 20.
Abeysiri HASN, Manage PM (2022a) Microcystin-LR contamination in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in some water bodies in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka J Aquat Sci 27(2):91–105
Abeysiri HASN, Manage PM (2022b) Water quality, microcystin-LR, and Cylindrospermopsin contamination status of spring and dug well water in CKDu high, low, and non-prevalent areas of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka J Aquat Sci 27(2):75–89
Akhtar N, Ishak MIS, Ahmad MI, Umar K, Md Yusuff MS, Anees MT, Qadir A, Ali Almanasir YK (2021) Modification of the water quality index (WQI) process for simple calculation using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method: a review. Water 13(7):905
Ampitiyawatta AD, Nilmalgoda EPRHHW, Wimalasiri EM (2022) A Gaussian model approach to determine the commencement, termination and length of the major growing season over the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Theoret Appl Climatol 148(1):739–750
Balali S, Hoseini A, Ghorbnia R, Kordi H, Khozani EA (2013) Relationships between nutrients and chlorophyll a concentration in the international Alma Gol Wetland. Iran Int J Aquat Biol 1(2):68–75
Bhateria R, Jain D (2016) Water quality assessment of lake water: a review. Sustain Water Resourc Manag 2(2):161–173
Dahanayaka DDGL, Perera B, Wijeyaratne MJS, Tonooka H (2016) Monitoring eutrophication trends in Bolgoda North Lake, Sri Lanka by satellite remote sensing. Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 16(3):563–570
Edokpayi JN, Odiyo JO, Popoola EO, Msagati TA (2018) Evaluation of microbiological and physicochemical parameters of alternative source of drinking water: a case study of nzhelele river. South Africa Open Microbiol J 12:18
Guiry MD, Guiry GM (2014) Algae Base. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org. Accessed 10 Oct 2023
Gunawardana MHMASV, Wijesooriya MM, Randima GWAP, Atapaththu KSS, Sanjaya K, Masakorala K, Gamage SMKW (2022) Co-occurrence of microcystin and cylindrospermopsin in hypereutrophic Mahakanadarawa and Nachchaduwa reservoirs. J Sci Univ Kelaniya Sri Lanka 15(1):67–97
Gupta N, Yadav KK, Kumar V, Kumar S, Chadd RP, Kumar A (2019) Trace elements in soil-vegetables interface: translocation, bioaccumulation, toxicity and amelioration-a review. Sci Total Environ 651:2927–2942
Idroos SF, Manage PM (2014) Seasonal occurrence of Microcystin-LR with respect to physico-chemical aspects of Beira lake water. Int J Multidiscip Stud. 1(2):27
Karwowska M, Kononiuk A (2020) Nitrates/nitrites in food—Risk for nitrosative stress and benefits. Antioxidants 9(3):241
Kasthuriarachchi TDW, Wickramaarachchi WDN, Premaratne WAPJ (2016) Assessment of water quality status and pollution levels in maduru oya reservoir in Sri Lanka. In: International postgraduate research conference 2016, University of Kelaniya, p 161
Kollu K, Örmeci B (2015) Regrowth potential of bacteria after ultraviolet disinfection in the absence of light and dark repair. J Environ Eng 141(3):04014069
Kulasooriya SA (2017) Toxin producing freshwater cyanobacteria of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science 46(1):3–16
Lu Y, Song S, Wang R, Liu Z, Meng J, Sweetman AJ, Jenkins A, Ferrier RC, Li H, Luo W, Wang T (2015) Impacts of soil and water pollution on food safety and health risks in China. Environ Int 77:5–15
Madarasinghe SK, Yapa KK, Satyanarayana B, Udayakantha PMP, Kodikara S, Jayatissa LP (2020) Inland irrigation project causes disappearance of coastal lagoon: the trajectory of Kalametiya Lagoon, Sri Lanka from 1956 to 2016. Coast Manag 48(3):188–209
Mahagamage MGYL, Manage PM (2019) Water quality and microbial contamination status of Madawachchiya, Padaviya and Kebathigollewa areas in Anuradhapura District, Water and Land Development. J Water Land Dev. 42(VII–IX):1–11
Mahagamage MGYL, Chinthaka SDM, Manage PM (2014) Multivariate analysis of physico-chemical and microbial parameters of surface water in Kelani river basin. Int J Multidiscip Stud (IJMS). 1(1):55–61
Mahagamage MGYL, Pathirage M, Manage PM (2020) Contamination Status of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in Surface and Groundwater of the Kelani River Basin Sri Lanka. Water. 12(8):2187
Manage PM (2019) Cyanotoxins: a hidden cause of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka-a review. Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 24(1):1–10
Moestrup O, Lindberg K, Daugbjerg N (2009) Studies on woloszynskioid dinoflagellates IV: The genus Biecheleria gen. nov. Phycol Res 57(3):203–220
Pathmalal MM, RSKWD H, Dilena PK, Liyanage GY, Chalani HTR, Bandara KRV, Wijerathna PAKC, Abeysiri HASN (2023) Impact of the MV X-press pearl ship disaster on the coastal environment from Negambo to Benthota in Sri Lanka. Reg Stud Marine Sci 58:102788
Ramanan R, Kim BH, Cho DH, Oh HM, Kim HS (2016) Algae–bacteria interactions: evolution, ecology and emerging applications. Biotechnol Adv 34(1):14–29
Rattner BA, Wazniak CE, Lankton JS, McGowan PC, Drovetski SV, Egerton TA (2022) Review of harmful algal bloom effects on birds with implications for avian wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay region. Harmful Algae. 120:102319
Sahu AK, Siljudalen J, Trydal T, Rusten B (2013) Utilisation of wastewater nutrients for microalgae growth for anaerobic co-digestion. J Environ Manage 122:113–120
Shaw D (2007) EPA’s 2007 report on the environment: Science report (SAB review draft).
Singh S, Anil AG, Kumar V, Kapoor D, Subramanian S, Singh J, Ramamurthy PC (2022) Nitrates in the environment: a critical review of their distribution, sensing techniques, ecological effects and remediation. Chemosphere 287:131996
Sirisena D, Suriyagoda LD (2018) Toward sustainable phosphorus management in Sri Lankan rice and vegetable-based cropping systems: a review. Agric Nat Res 52(1):9–15
Siriwardana C, Cooray AT, Liyanage SS, Koliyabandara SMPA (2019) Seasonal and spatial variation of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in Padaviya reservoir, Sri Lanka. J Chem 2019:1–11
Spoof L, Berg KA, Rapala J, Lahti K, Lepistö L, Metcalf JS, Codd GA, Meriluoto J (2006) First observation of cylindrospermopsin in Anabaena lapponica isolated from the boreal environment (Finland). Environ Toxicol Int J 21(6):552–560
Thadshayini V, Nianthi KWG, Ginigaddara GAS (2020) Climate-smart and-resilient agricultural practices in eastern dry zone of Sri Lanka. Global climate change: resilient and smart agriculture. Springer, Singapore, pp 33–68
Van Apeldoorn ME, Van Egmond HP, Speijers GJ, Bakker GJ (2007) Toxins of cyanobacteria. Mol Nutr Food Res 51(1):7–60
Varol M (2020) Spatio-temporal changes in surface water quality and sediment phosphorus content of a large reservoir in Turkey. Environ Pollut 259:113860
Weerasinghe VPA, Handapangoda K (2019) Surface water quality analysis of an urban lake; East Beira, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Environ Nanotechnol, Monit Manag 12:100249
WHO (2019) Fact sheet on water. Retrieved from. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water. (Accessed 10 April 2020)
Wijewardena KAILG (2021) Beautiful, natural places and tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. The Institute of biopaleogeography named under Charles R. Darwin, pp 1–44. ISBN 978-83-949342-2-4
Wijewickrama MM, Manage PM (2019) Accumulation of Microcystin-LR in grains of two rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) and a leafy vegetable Ipomoea aquatica. Toxins 11(8):432
Yaakob MA, Mohamed RMSR, Al-Gheethi A, Aswathnarayana Gokare R, Ambati RR (2021) Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus on microalgal growth, biomass, lipid, and fatty acid production: an overview. Cells 10(2):393
Zeng Q, Qin L, Bao L, Li Y, Li X (2016) Critical nutrient thresholds needed to control eutrophication and synergistic interactions between phosphorus and different nitrogen sources. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23(20):21008–21019
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and the Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research for providing the laboratory facilities for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
P. A. K. C. Wijerathna- samples collection, microbiological analysis, water quality analysis manuscript writing and editing. K. T. Dilrukshi- samples collection, water quality analysis, manuscript writing and editing. G. Y. Liyanage cyanotoxin analysis, manuscript writing editing and proofreading. K. R. V. Bandara- sample collection, chlorophyll-a analysis, Cyanobacteria and algae enumeration, manuscript writing and editing. M. G. Y. L. Mahagamage- MS writing correction and proofreading. P. M. Manage conceptualization, sample collection, manuscript writing, editing and proofreading.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wijerathna, P.A.K.C., Dilrukshi, K.T., Liyanage, G.Y. et al. Status of cyanotoxin contamination and water quality in major irrigational and recreational reservoirs in Sri Lanka. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 10, 116 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-024-01091-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-024-01091-6