USE OF OVERALL INDEX OF POLLUTION AND WATER QUALITY INDEX TO ASSESS RANI POND AT AURANGABAD, BIHAR, INDIA

Abstract

The present work was carried out to apply overall index of pollution and water quality index to assess status of Rani Pond, Aurangabad, Bihar, India which has been under pressure due to the increasing anthropogenic activities. Physicochemical parameters like water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand chloride, fluoride and nitrate were analyzed using standard procedures. The values obtained were compared with the guidelines for drinking purpose suggested by BIS (2012). The result shows the higher concentration of electrical conductivity, hardness, total dissolved solids and fluoride beyond the permissible limit. Ten parameters were selected to derive the overall index of pollution and water quality index for the estimation of water potential. The range of 2.70-3.50 of overall index of pollution and 165.83- 224.58 of water quality index indicating that the water of Rani Pond is not fit for drinking including both human and animals. The implementation of overall index of pollution and water quality index is necessary for proper management of the Rani Pond and it will be a very helpful tool for the public and decision makers to evaluate the water quality of the Rani Pond for sustainable management.