Assessment Of River Water Quality By Using Water Quality Index At Sahdev Nagar, Nashik, Maharashtra 422003 (Latitude -20º01’04”N, Longitude- 73º46’12”E)”

Abstract

The Water Quality Index (WQI) is a tool used to assess and monitor water quality, considering physical, chemical, and biological parameters from water samples. It calculates and interprets the WQI value by assigning weighting factors and scores to different parameters, combining them into a single value. The WQI measures the degree of contamination and suitability of water for specific uses, providing a representative value for overall water quality. It also aids in selecting water treatment processes and management strategies. The WQI method involves four steps: parameter selection, sub-indices selection, water quality rating for each parameter or sub-index, and WQI calculation and interpretation. It has applications in water pollution assessment, environmental impact monitoring, and prioritizing water management strategies. It facilitates communication between scientific and technical communities, environmental policy makers, legislators, and the general public. However, the interpretations of the rating scale and WQI value vary significantly, and further analysis and field-testing are needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of the WQI.