WATER QUALITY INDEX: A TOOL FOR EVALUATION OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY

The current analysis deal by means of the Water Quality Index(WQI) assessment of Gostani Velpur stream, a tributary of river Godavari. Water quality index (WQI) exhibit the on the whole quality of water based resting on a number of water quality parameter. As part of the analysis, eleven parameters viz., pH, electrical conductivity, Overall dissolved solids, Overall alkalinity, Overall hardness, calcium, magnesium, Chlorides, Nitrates, dissolved oxygen as well as biological oxygen demand were analysed as well as were used to determine WQI. Brown WQI method was used to find overall WQI. The results obtained on WQI and physicochemical parameters of water quality were found to be very high exceeding the permissible range indicating that water is unsuitable for drinking. It is recommended that constant monitoring is needed to maintain water quality of the water supplies along the source canal which is a major source used for intake in addition to domestic purpose.