Author : Akshaya K Bhadra, Baidhar Sahu and Swoyam P. Rout

Water quality of the river Brahmani, the second largest river of Odisha is evaluated by WQI technique. The study on water quality provides a single number indicating the quality of water at a particular location and time depending on several water quality parameters. There are several ways to evaluate the quality of water suitable for its potability. WQI expressing its quality in terms of index number provides a useful guidance of overall quality of water for the specified purpose. Twelve number of parameters were chosen for the calculation of WQI following Indian standard drinking water specification IS 10500 : 2012. The index values show that the water quality is excellent (WQI=100) at Rengali and Talcher in the month of May and at Kamlanga and Talcher in the month of June 2013. Water Quality indices are at their very low levels at Tarkera(Rourkela region), Durgapur and Bido due to industrial effluents throughout the year. Water quality is of good standard in several regions of the river in the month of February 2013. On the whole these indices are effective indicators of water quality at different places of the river to generate public awareness and better sanitation.

Keywords: River Brahmani, water quality index, unit weight, permissible standards for drinking water as per IS10500:2012.

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.4, No.6 (Dec-2014)