
The WQI is calculated by averaging the individual index values of some or all of the parameters within five water quality parameter categories: Water clarity: turbidity (NTU*) and/or Secchi disk depth (meters or feet); Dissolved oxygen: Dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l);
What is water quality index (wqi)?
WQI: It may be defined as a rating, reflecting the composite influence of different water quality parameters on the overall quality of water. The main objective of computing of water quality index (WQI) is to turn the complex water quality data into information which is easily understandable and usable.
What is the use of wqi?
WQI utilizes the water quality data and helps in the modification of the policies, which are formulated by various environmental monitoring agencies. It has been realized that the use of individual water quality variable in order to describe the water quality for common public is not easily understandable [5, 6].
What does OWQI mean?
Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) OWQI creates a score to evaluate the general water quality of Oregon’s stream and the application of this method to other geographic regions, which combines eight water quality variables into a single number.
How do you calculate wqi?
For computation of WQI, the sub index (SI) is first determined for each chemical parameter, as given below: where, SIi is the subindex of ith parameter; Wi is relative weight of ith parameter; qi is the rating based on concentration of ith parameter and 'n' is the number of chemical parameters.

How is Wqi calculated?
WQI = 0.22(siDO) + 0.19(siBOD) + 0.16(siCOD) + 0.15(siAN) + 0.16(siTSS) + 0.12(sipH) 621 Page 3 siDO-subindex is for dissolved oxygen, siBOD-subindex is for biochemical oxygen demand, siCOD-subindex is for chemical oxygen demand, siAN-subindex is for ammoniacal-nitrogen, siTSS-subindex is for total suspended solid.
How is CCME WQI calculated?
3:1228:44CCME Water Quality Index Calculation using MS-ExcelYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipValue it's uh the normalized sum excursion value and then finally the f3 value and after that youMoreValue it's uh the normalized sum excursion value and then finally the f3 value and after that you calculate the overall cme wqi value okay so for practical purposes.
How do you measure Cleanlines of water?
Scientists use many different instruments to determine the quality of water, including Secchi disks (measure water clarity), probes, nets, gauges and meters. Water quality is not just measured by direct sampling.
What is water quality Index WQI?
Water Quality Index (WQI) is computed based on six main parameters which are Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammonia Nitrogen (AN), Acidic and Alkaline (pH), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
What are the parameters of water quality index?
Water quality parameters commonly used by various researchers include dissolved oxygen, total phosphates, temperature, pH, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, fecal coliform, total solids, biochemical oxygen demand and nitrates [30, 31, 32].
What is good water quality?
If water supports a beneficial use, water quality is said to be good or unimpaired. If water does not support a beneficial use, water quality is said to be poor or impaired. A key concept is that different beneficial uses have different needs. Most people believe good water quality means the water is pure and clean.
What are the 7 indicators of water quality?
They include dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, salinity and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). They also include measures of toxicants such as insecticides, herbicides and metals. Physico-chemical indicators provide information on what is impacting on the system.
How does CBF measure water quality?
Method: CBF uses a YSI Pro 2030 electric meter, often in addition to a refractometer, which measures the refractive index of a solution (in this case Bay water) and translates it to density. Turbidity is the cloudiness or clarity of water.
What unit is water pollution measured in?
Pollutants which are either dissolved or suspended in water are often measured or expressed in terms of “concentration,” typically milligrams per liter (mg/l) or micrograms per liter (µg/l).
How is water quality measured at home?
Often county health departments will help you test for bacteria or nitrates. If not, you can have your water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.
How does a TDS water tester work?
A TDS meter is a small hand-held device used to indicate the Total Dissolved Solids in a solution, usually water. Since dissolved ionized solids, such as salts and minerals, increase the conductivity of a solution, a TDS meter measures the conductivity of the solution and estimates the TDS from that reading.
Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss the formulation of WQI that have been used by DOE, Malaysia to measure the quality of the river as well as drinking water in Malaysia. We begin with the elaboration on all six parameters that will used in the formulation later.
About this chapter
Karim S., Kamsani N. (2020) Water Quality Index (WQI). In: Water Quality Index Prediction Using Multiple Linear Fuzzy Regression Model. SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3485-0_3
What is the WQI?
The Freshwater Quality Index (WQI) is a tool developed by scientists to help evaluate the quality of water in these streams and rivers. It summarizes large amounts of water quality data into a single "score" from 1 to 100. Higher scores reflect cleaner water.
What does a WQI score of 80-100 mean?
WQI scores from 80-100 indicate high water quality, meaning that water quality rarely exceeds guidelines, and if so, only by a narrow margin. WQI scores from 70-79 indicates fair or marginal water quality that sometimes exceeds guidelines, possibly by a wide margin.
How many rivers have good water quality?
6 rivers have excellent to good water quality (80-100).
Why is water quality index important?
A water quality index is useful for easily comparing water quality across rivers, but since it is an aggregation of data, it can obscure some of the component results. While it can be helpful for interpretation of how streams are doing in general, it is not designed for site-specific analysis.
What are the problems with water quality?
Water quality problems such as toxic algae in lakes and streams can flow downstream and impact the entire ecosystem.
Is there work underway in the Cowichan and Koksilah watersheds?
There is now much work underway in the Cowichan and Koksilah watersheds . In 2015, with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Eco Action Community Funding Program, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other partners, the Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society organized a riparian (streamside) planting project to improve the watershed’s health.
What is WQI rating?
WQI: It may be defined as a rating, reflecting the composite influence of different water quality parameters on the overall quality of water. The main objective of computing of water quality index (WQI) is to turn the complex water quality data into information which is easily understandable and usable.
What is the water quality index?
A water quality index (WQI) is an index by which water quality data is summarized and from which we know about the quality of drinking water from any water source. Water quality indices use a methodology to convert a set of data into a single value to express the quality of water. Physical (temperature, pH and transparency) and chemical (BOD, DO, total Phosphorus, total ammonia, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, bicarbonate, nitrate and phosphate) contents of water are taken into consideration. The Weighted Arithmetic index of Brown et al. (1972) is used for the calculation of the water quality of a water body. Hence WQI is a very effective method for determining the quality of water.
What is the difference between qi and si?
where, qi is the quality rating, Ci is the concentration of each chemical parameter in each water sample in mg/l, and Si is the guide line value/desirable limit as given in Indian drinking water standard (BIS 2004).
What is the first step in water quality?
First step – Assigning of weight (wi) to the selected water parameters (e.g., pH, TDS, TH, HCO3, Cl, SO4, NO3, Fe, ……) according to their relative importance in the overall quality of water for drinking purposes (weight may be from 1 to 5).
What is the most effective method of measuring water quality?
Water Quality Index (WQI) is considered as the most effective method of measuring water quality. A number of water quality parameters are included in a mathematical equation to rate water quality, determining the suitability of water for drinking [ 4 ]. The index was first developed by Horton in 1965 to measure water quality by using 10 most regularly used water parameters. The method was subsequently modified by different experts. These indices used water quality parameters which vary by number and types. The weights in each parameter are based on its respective standards, and the assigned weight indicates the parameter’s significance and impacts on the index. A usual WQI method follows three steps which include (1) selection of parameters, (2) determination of quality function for each parameter, and (3) aggregation through mathematical equation [ 5 ]. The index provides a single number that represents overall water quality at a certain location and time based on some water parameters. The index enables comparison between different sampling sites. WQI simplifies a complex dataset into easily understandable and usable information. The water quality classification system used in the WQI denotes how suitable water is for drinking. The single-value output of this index, derived from several parameters, provides important information about water quality that is easily interpretable, even by lay people [ 6 ]. In a resource-poor country like Bangladesh where ensuring availability and sustainable management of water is one of the challenging areas towards development. The present study embraced weighted arithmetic WQI method to deliver water quality information to WASH practitioners. One of the merits of this method is that a less number of parameters are required to compare water quality for certain use [ 5 ].
What is the maximum amount of iron in drinking water?
In most of the sample sites (9 out of 12 sites), iron content in drinking water exceeded upper acceptable limit (1.0 mg/L) of Bangladesh standard. A previous study in rural Bangladesh revealed 50 times higher iron concentrations (mean value 16.7 mg/L) in ground water than WHO’s limit (0.3 mg/L) and reported that 47 % of women consumed above the daily limit of iron (45 mg), likely to increase the risk of health problems [ 30 ]. Consumption of >30 mg of iron per day in drinking water was associated with a reduced risk of anemia in individuals without thalassemia [ 31 ]. In Gaibandha, half of female respondents consuming >42 mg of iron from drinking water stayed within tolerable limits. If this limit were exceeded, however, the populations would be likely to experience health-related problems including gastrointestinal distress, zinc absorption, and others [ 32 ].
What is WQI in water?
Water quality index (WQI) is valuable and unique rating to depict the overall water quality status in a single term that is helpful for the selection of appropriate treatment technique to meet the concerned issues. However, WQI depicts the composite influence of different water quality parameters and communicates water quality information to the public and legislative decision makers. In spite of absence of a globally accepted composite index of water quality, some countries have used and are using aggregated water quality data in the development of water quality indices. Attempts have been made to review the WQI criteria for the appropriateness of drinking water sources. Besides, the present article also highlights and draws attention towards the development of a new and globally accepted “Water Quality Index” in a simplified format, which may be used at large and could represent the reliable picture of water quality.
What is the purpose of WQI?
After the study of different water quality indices, it may be inferred that the aim of WQI is to give a single value to water quality of a source alongwith reducing higher number of parameters into a simple expression resulting into easy interpretation of water quality monitoring data . Moreover, this is an effort to review the important indices used in water quality vulnerability assessment and also provides information about indices composition and mathematical forms. These indices utilize various physico-chemical and biological parameters and have been resulted as an outcome of efforts and research and development carried out by different government agencies and experts in this area globally. In spite of all the efforts and different discussed indices being used globally, no index has so far been universally accepted and search for more useful and universal water quality index is still going on, so that water agencies, users and water managers in different countries may use and adopted it with little modifications.
What are the different types of water quality indices?
However, a huge number of water quality indices viz. Weight Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI), National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) etc. have been formulated by several national and international organizations. These WQI have been applied for evaluation of water quality in a particular area [ 33, 34]. Moreover, these indices are often based on the varying number and types of water quality parameters as compared with respective standards of a particular region. Water quality indices are accredited to demonstrate annual cycles, spatial and temporal variations in water quality and trends in water quality even at low concentrations in an efficient and timely manner. On the basis of reviewed literature, available indices have many variations and limitations based on number of water quality variables used and not accepted worldwide [ 35]. Hence, it needs worldwide acceptability with varying number of water quality variables. Various WQI determination methods have been described herein.
How to describe water quality?
Therefore, the suitability of water sources for human consumption has been described in terms of Water quality index (WQI), which is one of the most effective ways to describe the quality of water. WQI utilizes the water quality data and helps in the modification of the policies, which are formulated by various environmental monitoring agencies. It has been realized that the use of individual water quality variable in order to describe the water quality for common public is not easily understandable [ 5, 6]. That's why, WQI has the capability to reduce the bulk of the information into a single value to express the data in a simplified and logical form [ 7]. It takes information from a number of sources and combines them to develop an overall status of a water system [8-25] [ 8]. They increase the understanding ability of highlighted water quality issues by the policy makers as well as for the general public as users of the water resources [ 26]. The present study reviews some of the important water quality indices used in water quality assessment and provides their mathematical structure, set of parameters and calculations along with their merits and demerits, which are being used worldwide.
What is the weighted arithmetic water quality index?
Weighted arithmetic water quality index method classified the water quality according to the degree of purity by using the most commonly measured water quality variables. The method has been widely used by the various scientists [ 44, 45, 46, 47] and the calculation of WQI was made [ 48] by using the following equation:
How many categories are there in water quality?
Therefore, five categories have been suggested to categorize the water qualities which are summarized in Table 1.
Who developed WQI?
Initially, WQI was developed by Horton (1965) [ 27] in United States by selecting 10 most commonly used water quality variables like dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, coliforms, specific conductance, alkalinity and chloride etc. and has been widely applied and accepted in European, African and Asian countries.
The Water Quality Index is a 100-point scale that summarizes results from a total of nine different measurements when complete
A teacher using the Water Quality Index for Surface Waters as an educational tool in the classroom.
Two Modes - Actual and Training
The Water Quality Index Calculator has two modes - Actual and Training. Actual is meant for real-world testing of actual sites; Training mode is used for educational simulations.

About Freshwater Quality
What's Happening?
- The average Freshwater Quality Index scores for 20 major rivers from 2000 to 2017 show that: 1. 6 rivers have excellent to good water quality (80-100). 2. 9 rivers have fair to marginal water quality (70-80). 3. 5 rivers have poor water quality (below 69).
Why Is It Important?
- Clean, cold water is critical for the health of stream and river ecosystems, particularly where salmon spawn and migrate. Even small changes in stream temperature can affect salmon populations. Poor stream water quality, for example due to contaminants, pathogens, or excess nutrients, can impact downstream rivers and marine water quality. Contaminants can directly aff…
Why Is It Happening?
- Four major factors that affect freshwater are: 1. Stormwater runoffdue to increasing development as buildings, roads, parking lots, and other paved areas prevent the absorption of rainwater. Paved surfaces also collect pollutants like chemicals, oils and fertilizers, and also many small particles from tires, brake pads and types of road dusts and salts. These pollutants are then picked up by …
What's Being Done About It?
- Governments, industries, and non-profit organizations are working together to help reduce stormwater runoff from developed lands by implementing green infrastructure practices, planting trees along streambanks, restoring wetlands, upgrading older wastewater treatment plants to more effectively remove pollutants, and adopting best management practices for agriculture an…
Five Things You Can Do to Help
- Keep streams shaded. Trees and bushes keep the water cool for fish and help stabilize the banks from erosion. Watch for stream restoration projects in your community.
- Use techniques such as natural landscaping, rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs and permeable paving that conserve water and allow rain to soak into the ground. See EPA's landscaping tipsfor id...
- Keep streams shaded. Trees and bushes keep the water cool for fish and help stabilize the banks from erosion. Watch for stream restoration projects in your community.
- Use techniques such as natural landscaping, rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs and permeable paving that conserve water and allow rain to soak into the ground. See EPA's landscaping tipsfor id...
- Never dump unused medicine and chemicals into household toilets and sinks or outside where they can get into ditches or storm drains. See if your community has a household hazardous waste collectio...
- Scoop your pet's poop. Pet waste is full of bacteria that can get washed into waterways during rain storms. Bag it and place it in the trash.