Assessment of water quality parameters using water quality index (WQI) of upper Ganga basin

The Upper Ganga Basin, a vital water resource for millions of people and a diverse ecosystem, faces significant challenges due to anthropogenic activities and natural processes affecting water quality. The aim of this study to evaluate the water quality of the Upper Ganga Basin using the Water Quality Index (WQI). By integrating multiple water quality parameters, the WQI provides a single, aggregated value that represents the overall health of the water body. Various water quality parameters data such as Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Water Temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Hardness (TH), were collected (from 1995 to 2020). These parameters were selected based on their significance to water quality and their impact on human health and aquatic life. Data were collected from five stations i.e., Uttarkashi, Bareilly, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi for this study. Each parameter was normalized against established water quality standards. The aggregated WQI values were then calculated, categorizing the water quality into different classes ranging from excellent to poor. This categorization aids in identifying pollution hotspots and assessing the suitability of the water for various uses such as drinking, agriculture, and recreation. The WQI values indicate areas of concern where water quality is significantly degraded, necessitating immediate remedial actions. Conversely, regions with high WQI values highlight zones where water quality management practices are effective. It was observed that poverty of water quality condition in various areas, represented by WQI. Kanpur shows a trend of predominantly poor water quality in the post monsoon season. The highest WQI recorded is 37 in 1995 and 2005, indicating fair quality. In the monsoon season, the highest WQI is 39 in 2005, showing fair quality, while many years, particularly 2000 to 2004, and 2008 to 2014, record poor water quality in compare to other stations.