Analysis of Drinking Water Quality through Water Quality Index (WQI) Calculated from Ahmedabad City

According to UNDP World Urbanization Prospect Data Set, nearly 4.2 billion of World’s human population lives in towns and cities. After independence, the urban population of India has grown nearly five times during last 75 years. Gujarat has more than 37 % people living in cities and towns, higher than the average of India. Ahmedabad is the largest city of Gujarat and sixth largest city in India with a population of almost 5 million. It is located at 23.030 N 72.580 E. The present study was carried out to find water quality index (WQI) of drinking water from the data of 36 samples from 18 areas of Ahmedabad city studied in the year 2004. Water quality index is one of the most effective ways to communicate water quality information to the public and administrators. The data of total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chlorinity and salinity were subjected to WQI. The WQI was calculated by taking the weighted arithmetic mean of the quality rating using Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) drinking water standards. The present data indicate that most of samples are not suitable for drinking purpose. However, they can be used for drinking after proper treatment or else for other purposes.