Water quality assessment of Dudhganga river using water quality index and anthropogenic activities

ABSTRACT The primary goal of this study is to analyze magnitude of water quality of Dudhganga River seasonally and temporally using physico-chemical parameters, Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WA-WQI) and anthropogenic activities of Kolhapur District, Maharashtra. Six sampling locations of Dudhganga River (sites I to VI) were selected for sampling and analysis. In seasonal analysis, higher values of water parameters like pH (8.2), TDS (0.42 μs/cm), turbidity (0.14 NTU), DO (6.24 mg/l), nitrate (7.56 mg/l) and phosphate (1.78mg/l) were reported in monsoon season. Temperature, alkalinity and hardness were noted maximum values (25 °C, 66.67 mg/l and 12.67 mg/l) during summer season. However, EC was reported maximum (64 μs/cm) in winter season. Results of WA-WQI revealed that water quality index ranged from 14.90 to 24.26 all sampling sites. The values of WA-WQI were reported higher at downstream locations like IV, V, and VI, than upstream sites I, II, and III. Along Dudhganga River various human activities were substantial contributors for declining the river water quality. The acquired results suggest that water quality status is close to becoming contaminated and unsafe for domestic and human use. Such contaminated water also poses risks to plants and animals that make up the aquatic ecosystem.