Assessing the water quality of upper Indus Basin (UIB) by framing water quality index (WQI)
Paper Details
Assessing the water quality of upper Indus Basin (UIB) by framing water quality index (WQI)
Abstract
The water quality of Indus River is badly affected due to higher concentrations of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). In this study, multi criteria decision making technique is used to assess the water quality of upper Indus basin (UIB). Eight physico-chemical quality parameters from five regions of UIB were utilized to frame water quality index (WQI). Analysis on the basis of this adjusted WQI classify the quality of water into three bands identified as good (0-7), fair (8-20) and bad quality water (>20), respectively. Afterward this adjusted WQI was applied for assessing the water quality of UIB. Water Quality data which include the pH, DO, TDS, EC, salinity, ORP, As & Pb concentration of sixty four samples belonging to UIB was utilized for the purpose. The results in this study show that the new WQI is sensitive to As and Pb. A slight variation of As from WHO recommended values i.e. 10mg/l immediately reflected by index value. According to results obtained water quality of Indus River is seriously affected from As from its start. We hope that adjusted WQI reported in this study might serve as essential part of monitoring protocol to save this valuable water resource of Pakistan.
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