Publication

Abstract : Political decision-makers, non-technical water personals and the common people usually have neither the time nor the training to study and understand the large numbers of water quality parameters and its significance. Since Water quality and pollution were relative terms, it is essential to determine the quality of water in view of its utilization as a source of potable water. The Water Quality Index (WQI) presented here is a unit less number ranging from 1 to 100. NSF method of WQI is used to calculate the quality of Siruvani, Bhavani and Noyyal which are used as a source of potable water. To determine the WQI, nine water quality parameters are measured namely DO, pH, BOD, Temperature, Turbidity, Fecal coliform, Total Solids, Nitrates, Phosphates. Determination of change in temperature and BOD is time consuming. Almost, the increase in content of Nitrogen and Phosphate has the same effect on water quality. Hence an alternative WQI formula is proposed here to calculate the water quality value of river Siruvani, Bhavani and Noyyal. The calculated WQI values are well in agreement with the WQI value calculated using standard formula.