WATER QUALITY INDEX FOR SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT: TAPI RIVER, GUJARAT, INDIA

Tapi river is one of large rivers of India which water quality is affected by natural and anthropogenic influences. Present study provides understanding of the water quality of the river based on water quality index (WQI). From March-2015 to Feb-2016, water samples were monthly collected from three different sites along the river. Ten parameters viz., pH, Temperature(Temp), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Nitrate (NO₂), Nitrite (NO₃), Ammonia(NH₄), Phosphate (PO₄), Total Coliform (TC), Fecal Coliform (FC) and Fecal Streptococci (FS) were measured to calculate the WQI. The average WQI value at upstream reference site was fell under category of good water quality. Spatial variations in water quality were observed with WQI>100 which indicates poor water quality with suggested disinfection treatments when water abstracted for drinking and domestic use. Present study gives a simple interpretation of the recorded data to help local people understanding the status of River water quality.