Characterization of Water Quality in Torehalla Watershed, Karnataka, India – Based on Water Quality Index

The quality of drinking water is a powerful environmental determinant for human health. Assured drinking water is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne diseases. All over the world, human population has inadequate access to potable water and use sources contaminated with disease vectors, pathogens or unacceptable levels of toxins or suspended solids. Drinking or using such water leads to widespread chronic illness and is a major cause for death. Reduction of waterborne diseases is a major public health goal for a civilized society. WQI values are computed for water quality measures in Torehalla. In the present investigation 71 groundwater samples have been analysed and interpreted. WQI values in the study area varies between 39.6 to 201.7 with an average of 86.4. According to the WQI classification, about 7% of the total groundwater samples represent excellent water quality, 69.1% as good, 22.53 % as poor and about 1.37% as very poor water in quality. The higher percent of WQI values in poor and very poor water quality classes is mainly due to geogenic and anthropogenic factors. Although the water quality is mainly controlled by rocks and soil chemistry, excessive utilization of agro inputs has also compounded to this problem. The results obtained from the study indicates that groundwater is generally suitable for both drinking and domestic purpose, except in few cases.