Evaluation of Surface Water from the Western Coast Bhavnagar, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, India

The current study focuses on seasonal variations in coastal water along the Bhavnagar coast, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, India, during three consecutive seasons (pre–monsoon, monsoon, and post–monsoon). The coastal water samples were collected from seven different locations (Ghogha, Kuda, Mithivirdi, Sosiya, Alang, Sartanpar, and Gopnath). In the designated research region, coastal water samples were collected and evaluated for water physico–chemical characteristics and heavy metals. As a result, sea surface temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), total hardness (TH), calcium hardness (Ca⁺²), chloride (Cl⁻), salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), 5th –day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and distribution of dissolved heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were investigated at Bhavnagar coast, Gulf of Khambhat. The multivariate statistical analysis indicates that temperature, DO, BOD, COD, Cr, Co, Mn, and Fe, the natural and anthropogenic condition affects the water parameter and dissolved heavy metal. The outcome revealed a dilution effect in physico–chemical parameters and dissolved heavy metal during the monsoon season. The results indicate that anthropogenic disturbances and the growth of a range of activities with increasing point and non–point rainfall poured directly into coastal regions affect coastal water. As a result, the current study’s findings may be useful to government authorities trying to safeguard the long–term sustainability of the Gulf of Khambhat.