Assessment of water quality of selected fresh water bodies of Goa (India) using water quality index (CCME-WQI)

Abstract

Water bodies receiving contaminants from point and non-point sources incur changes in physicochemical features, degradation of water quality emanating from biochemical reactions between dissolved solids and microbionts. The present paper describes the application of CCME WQI to know the water quality of four freshwater bodies from Goa and to see the suitability of the water for recreation, drinking, irrigation, and livestock. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has developed the Water Quality Index (WQI), which is one of the practical tools to solve data management problems and evaluate success and failures in management strategies for improving water quality. Water Samples from selected water bodies were collected every month for two years. A total of eight physicochemical parameters viz; pH, temperature, turbidity, TDS, BOD, nitrates, phosphates, and total chlorophyll were analyzed using standard protocols. Based on the results, the index values and their ranks for drinking, recreation, irrigation, and livestock were recorded as poor water quality due to various point and non-point pollutant sources. The results are alarming, and a necessary action plan needs to be implemented to monitor water quality and proper management of these water bodies.