Impact Assessment of Urbanization and Industrialization Using Water Quality Index on Sabaramati River, Ahmedabad

Abstract

The quality of river water is enfeebling day by day due act of increasing urbanization and industrialization in Ahmedabad city. The surface and sub-surface water samples were collected from different locations along the length of Sabarmati river. In this study water samples from six different sites namely Sant-sarovar, Gandhi Bridge, Vasna Barrage, Vasna-Narol Bridge, Miroli Pumping station and Vautha Bridge along the Sabarmati river basin were collected and numerous physical test like pH, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, TDS and chemical test like alkalinity, chloride content, sulphate content, hardness, BOD, COD, Dissolved Oxygen and biological test such as E-coli and total Coliform were performed to determine WQI (Water Quality Index) of the Sabarmati river. WQI is one of the most effective tools to communicate information on the quality of water to the concerned citizens and policy makers or water resource managers. Water Quality Index allows for a general analysis of water quality on many levels that affect a stream’s ability to host life and whether the overall quality of water bodies poses a potential threat to various uses of water. The results of each test is graphically represented for simplification. The sites located in highly urban area showed the worst water quality followed by the station located in moderately urban area and lastly station located in a moderately rural area. Water quality index combines all the different water quality parameter and communicates the facts to the individuals concerned. The main cause of deterioration in water quality at these monitoring stations was due to the high anthropogenic activities, illegal discharge of sewage and industrial effluent, lack of proper sanitation, unprotected river sites, and urban runoff.