Abstract:
This paper details an investigation that was conducted to find out the sources of nitrogen and
phosphate from different origins in the Kattankudy area in the Batticaloa district for their
contribution to the pollution of the Batticaloa lagoon.
Analysis of waste water samples collected from waste water channels C1 to C5, and lagoon water
collected from locations L1 to L5 (in the study area) twice a month from April 2001 to July 2001
reveal that: a) a considerable amount of nitrogen and phosphate being contributed by channels
C1
, C4 and C5 b) high amounts of nitrogen is contributed from channels C4 and C5 and c) that
phosphorous is contributed through channels C1 and C5. The sources of phosphates have been
identified as animal and human excreta. Furthermore, it is also found that sewage decomposition
and excreta from both human and animals are the major sources for the nitrogen found in the
Kattankudy area. It is noted that eutrophication by these elements ha