Water and Energy Abstracts

To provide a comprehensive but easy to use tool in the assessment and evaluation of water quality policies, the concept of water quality index (WQI) is being increasingly used. The main objective of Water Quality Index is to turn complex water quality data into information that is understandable and useable by the public. Water Quality Index based on some very important parameters can provide a simple indicator of water quality. It gives the public a general idea of the possible problems with water in a particular region. The indices are among the most effective ways to communicate the information on water quality trends to the public or to the public makers and water quality managers. In the present stUdy an attempt has been made to study the spatial and temporal water quality trends, the status of pollution and water quality mapping of one of the pristine river Godavari (Maharashtra) using water. quality index. The writers developed the computerautomated tool to generate and operate water quality indices. Water quality indices are calculated by using a mathematical formulation for aggregate indices that avoids the problems of ambiguity, eclipsing and rigidity with respective to the number of water quality variables reqUired to be aggregated in given index. Use of the developed tool is demonstrated through a case study and lessons of experience are reported.