Author : G. Sunpriya Achary

Water quality index has been applied in the present study to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes in Bhubaneswar area of Odisha state, India. This was carried out by subjecting 27 groundwater samples collected from nine selected sites. Analysis was done for physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. Eight parameters (except TC(Total Coliform) and FC (Faecal Coliform)) have been considered for calculating the WQI such as pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, Total Hardness, Chloride, Total Dissolved Solid, Iron, Floride. WQI shows water samples of Khandagiri area suitable for drinking purpose( WQI<50). Rest of the samples have WQI >300. Such waters are not suitable for drinking purposes under normal conditions and further action is required. Higher values of WQI has been found to be mainly due to high values of Fe, Turbidity, Conductivity and TDS. Co- relation studies show Cond, TH, TDS, Cl- are highly co-related to each other.

Keywords: Ground water, Physico-chemical parameters, water quality index

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.7, No.5 (Sept/Oct 2017)