The quality of water in four streams of Cauvery River in Mandya
District, where many small scale sugar and brewery distilleries are located, was analysed. Sampling was carried out from four streams designated as station 1 (upstream of effluent discharge point), station 2 (effluent discharge point) and station 3 (downstream of effluent discharge) station 4 (fresh water
stream) to assess the impact of effluent on the water quality. The river water composition is increasingly dominated by Na and Cl in the downstream region of the river, indicating the influence of airborne salts with oceanic affinities.