Analysis of river water quality in Rourkela Odisha using multiple indices to inform sustainable water management

The Brahmani River, one of Odisha’s major freshwater sources and a vital habitat for native fish species, is facing significant water quality challenges. A study on hydro-chemical characterization of surface water and its suitability for drinking and irrigation purpose was carried out in and Rourkela, an industrial city of Odisha. Over the course of three years (2022 –2025), a total of 12 surface water samples were collected during the pre-monsoon season. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the river’s water quality using multiple Water Quality Indices (WQI), including the British Columbia (BC) WQI, Canadian (C) WQI, Malaysian (M) WQI, Oregon (O) WQI, and Assigned (A) WQI. The pH levels varied from 5.33 to 7.06. This means that the water sample is slightly acidic to alkaline, making it suitable for various types of aquatic life. Analyses across pre-monsoon season reveal that key parameters such as conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+, consistently exceed national standards, resulting in water quality ratings ranging from “Poor” to “Very Poor.” The deterioration is more pronounced during the tested season, largely due to increased industrial discharge, urban runoff, and lower river flow. Surface water samples in the study area have BCWQI varying from 2 – 95, signifying 20% of water samples as suitable for drinking purpose. Computed CWQI score is estimated as: 27 – 98. Based on the CWQI classification, 40% of the tested specimens contributes fair – poor water quality. The calculated AWQI reading spanned between 36 to 345, indicating 20% of samples are excellent to good water, demonstrating suitable for use for human consumption. MWQI underscored the complex interactions among key pollutants, records a value between 17 and 90, indicating that 60% of samples contribute safe drinking standards. Notably, the OWQI value reports to be a range between 34 to 98. A substantial 20% of samples were classified as exceptional, 20% as good, 20% as fair, while 30% and 10% were grouped under poor and very poor water class. This comparison with case studies from around the world reveals a number of important trends: Agricultural runoff remains a key global source of pollution harming surface water quality; Industrial activities significantly exacerbate pollution, especially in rapidly industrializing nations; Proximity to water bodies is consistently a crucial factor in non-point source pollution impact on surface water; and Urbanization is emerging as an important contributor to non-point source pollution, particularly in developing regions. Hence, these ultimate outcomes align with previous studies on other Odisha rivers, underscoring widespread water quality degradation linked to anthropogenic activities. The results call for urgent action through enhanced pollution control measures, stricter regulatory enforcement, and sustainable management practices to safeguard the Brahmani River’s ecological health and the communities depending on it . Aligned with sustainable development goal (SDG) – 6, 11, 12, 13, and 15, these findings construct a solid foundation for well-informed regional policy making and water resource management that aims to reduce pollution from non-point sources and support sustainable surface water quality.