Canadian Council Of Ministers Of The Environment Water Quality Index Research Articles

Assessment of Groundwater Quality Using Water Quality Indices in Illegal Mining Communities: A Case Study of the Atwima-kwanwoma District and Obuasi East Metropolis, Ghana

This study investigated groundwater quality in illegal mining zones within the Atwima-Kwanwoma District and Obuasi East Metropolis of the Ashanti Region, Ghana, employing both the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) and Nemerow's Pollution Index (NPI). The analysis revealed severe contamination across multiple parameters, including heavy metals, microbial indicators, and physicochemical parameters. The CCME-WQI values for the five towns consistently indicated "Poor" water quality, ranging from 26.8 to 31.1, reflecting significant deviations from acceptable water quality standards. Notably, Town A exhibited a cyanide concentration of 11.25 mg/L, while Town B recorded lead levels at 118.73 μg/L, both far exceeding permissible limits set by health authorities. The presence of Escherichia coli further exacerbates health risks, underscoring the urgent need for improved water treatment and management practices. This study demonstrates that the integrated use of NPI and CCME-WQI provides a comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality, revealing significant environmental and public health challenges. Immediate intervention, including regulatory enforcement, sustainable mining practices, and remediation strategies, is crucial to safeguard groundwater resources. The findings contribute uniquely to the understanding of water quality dynamics in mining-affected regions and advocate for a coordinated approach to mitigate environmental degradation.

The Temporal and Spatial Analysis and Assessment of Water Quality in the Tuo River (Suzhou Section) based on the CCME-WQI Method

To investigate the spatiotemporal variations and disparities in water quality within the Suzhou section of the Tuo River, as well as to identify the key pollution factors and influencing elements, this study utilized monitoring data from five water quality monitoring stations along the Tuo River in Suzhou, collected between 2020 and 2022. After analyzing the spatiotemporal variations in water quality indicators, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) was employed to assess the river's water quality status. The study also examined the causes of water pollution and proposed appropriate pollution control measures. The research results indicate that:(1) Total Nitrogen (TN), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Permanganate Index (CODMn), and Fluoride (F) were identified as the main pollution factors, with COD and TN being the primary pollutants exceeding standard limits, with exceedance rates of 55.66% and 37.14%, respectively;(2)From 2020 to 2022, the concentrations of CODMn, COD, and TN were significantly higher during the flood season compared to the non-flood season, suggesting that non-point source pollution is the major contributor to the pollution load;(3)Temporally, the study area exhibited significant seasonal variations in water quality, with water quality being better during the non-flood season than during the flood season. Spatially, the study area showed notable spatial differences in water quality, with the S1 monitoring station recording the poorest water quality, while the S3 station exhibited the best;(4)The water quality of the Tuo River was significantly influenced by precipitation, with increased rainfall during the flood season exacerbating urban runoff, agricultural non-point source pollution, and internal pollution within the river channels.

Factors affecting the performance of a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant: Characterization of effluent and environmental risk

Pharmaceutical industries produce a huge volume of emerging pollutants (EPs) that pose a threat to the aqueous environment. Biological processes have shown their inefficacy in treating many pharmaceutical products. The study assessed physicochemical parameters, EPs, heavy metals in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater, and the removal efficiency (RE) of an aerobic biological treatment plant. The study also assessed the contamination levels and risk using several indices, such as the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), and risk quotients index (RQs). The study found that the treated water quality was poor, having antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and others, along with several transformation products (TPs) and heavy metals, which were unsafe for consumption with high environmental risk. The analysis results showed that the RE for TSS, BOD5, COD, TDS, and EC were found to be 91.80%, 86.81%, 72.29%, 72.20%, and 65.60%, respectively, where the values of BOD5, COD, NO3−, and PO43− in the effluent were still higher than the permissible limits of the ECR (2023). However, the RE for heavy metals was in the order of Cu (84.62%) > Fe (65.04%) > Mn (63.3%) > Zn (60.58%) > Cd (53.85%) > Ni (54.12%) > Pb (42.42%) > Cr (38%), where Cr and Cd concentrations were still higher than the permissible limit of DoE (2019). The Pearson correlation and PCA suggested that EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD5, and COD were the most correlating and contributing variables. This study argued that metal-ligand behaviors mainly affect the removal efficiency of the treatment plant by lowering the removal rate of heavy metals and pharmaceutical products.

Evaluation of the impact of coal mining on surface water in the Boesmanspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Surface water quality has major environmental and socioeconomic consequences, notably in terms of the country’s long-term fresh water supply. This study aimed at assessing the current state of water quality and status of the Boesmanspruit in a coal mining environment. The study used historical water quality data for a period of five years from 2017 to 2021. Aluminum, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, electrical conductivity, pH, and total dissolved solids were the water quality variables selected for the study; the chosen variables were chosen based on the available secondary data. The water quality was evaluated against South African resource quality objectives, the South African water quality guidelines, and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment water quality index (CCME-WQI). The data were analyzed using such as the CCME-WQI, the comprehensive pollution index (CPI), and multivariate statistics. The following parameters were above the prescribed thresholds: pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, sulfate, manganese, and iron. The CCME-WQI results showed that monitoring locations GR S26 and GR S21 near mining activities had poor water quality (40–44), whereas comprehensive pollution index (CPI) also had similar category results for the monitoring points, indicating that they were heavily polluted (2.4–4.8). The WQI showed that if certain variables, such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, sulfate, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids, exceed the permissible range, the water quality would deteriorate in accordance with the CPI classification. Therefore, the CPI was the best way to categorize the water quality. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis identified two primary sources of pollution which are anthropogenic and natural. The utilization of statistical analysis proved to be effective in determining the ideal quantity of significant variables within the study area. The study recommends low-cost options for reducing the effects of acid mine drainage, which includes passive mine water treatment methods using artificial wetlands.

Evaluation of Surface Water Quality in the Betwa River Basin through the Water Quality Index Model and Multivariate Statistical Techniques.

The Betwa River Basin (BRB), a sub-basin of the River Yamuna, is the oldest flowing water system in Central India. The water quality of the rivers are under stress, hence regular monitoring and appraisal is required to know the health of the rivers. Factor analysis and principal component analysis (FA/PCA) multivariate statistical techniques were used to extract three and four varimax factors that explained 96.408 and 100.00 percent of the total variance in water quality, respectively. Cluster analysis (CA) categorizes observed items into distinct quality categories based on correlations between stations and years. Point industrial/sewage effluents, diffuse pollution as runoff from arable land, erosion, and natural source pollution contribute to the pollution of the BRB. As a result, water quality is threatened or impaired, and conditions often departed from natural or desirable levels at Rajghat, Garrauli, Mohana, and Shahijina stations. According to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI), the surface water quality at the Rajghat and Mohana stations corresponds to fair ecological status. However, the surface water quality of the Garrauli and Shahijina stations has a marginal water quality as per CCME-WQI. From 1985 to 2018, the Shahijina had the most considerable load of nutrients and organic matter, as determined by the CCME-WQI and by comparing the water quality data. A thorough examination had revealed a fluctuating trend in the BRB pollution, particularly at all stations. Results indicate that between 1985 and 2018, the only defense mechanism of the river was the auto purification mechanism, which is strongly influenced by the drought, point pollution source, and extreme meteorological events that probably cause these fluctuations.

The Spring to Coast Approach in Small-Scale Catchments and Adjacent Coastal Zone

Surface waters, particularly rivers, are paramount in serving as the primary global water source and a pivotal economic driver. Various pollution sources can negatively impact water quality. The Water Framework Directive has established regulations that define specific chemical and ecological statuses for rivers. Consequently, there is an ongoing commitment to monitor their quality closely. This study involved the collection of samples from two watersheds (Laspias and Lissos) within the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region. The two rivers flow along regions characterized by notable environmental stressors, including WWTP, landfills, industrial zones, and agricultural areas, which also constitute substantial contributors to the local economy. This study’s outcomes, covering from springs to coast, are presented and analyzed using various indices, including the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI), discriminate analysis, and the trophic status index (TRIX). Water quality assessment included the measurement of physicochemical parameters, common pollutants, and major ions. The analysis revealed “bad” water quality status along most of the Laspias and in specific sectors of the Lissos, with parameters exceeding the thresholds set by legislation. The rivers demonstrated significant organic and nutrient pollution. Given that water quality in these rivers is significantly influenced by urban, agricultural, and industrial runoff, the imperative need for change necessitates interventions to improve water quality. Observations and measurements are fundamental prerequisites for raising awareness among citizens and stakeholders and for finding effective management measures for the two river basins.

Water quality assessment of Elgo river in Ethiopia using CCME, WQI and IWQI for domestic and agricultural usage

The increasing demand for water due to the escalation in population and aggressive agricultural activities for drinking and irrigation purposes in the rural areas of Ethiopia has put tremendous stress on water requirements. The Elgo River in southern Ethiopia is deteriorating due to sedimentation, soil erosion, stormwater runoff, and anthropogenic activities. Elgo village faces water shortages and a lack of safe drinking water. The purpose of this research was to identify the extent of pollution in Elgo River water using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), Water Quality Index (WQI), and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI). A total of 12 water samples were collected from 3 river sampling sites for the dry and wet seasons to test the physicochemical and biological parameters. Results obtained were: turbidity (46.5–156) NTU, colour (103.65–606.5) TCU, EC (182–268) μS/cm, TDS (192.5–275.5) mg/l, TSS (680–2774) mg/l, Ca2+ (22–45) mg/l, Mg2+ (19.5–23.5) mg/l, Cl- (10.5–16.65) mg/l, and SO42- (17.18–47) mg/l for both the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The CCME WQI revealed that the overall results were 38.38 for the dry season and 36.6 for the wet season for drinking water parameters. The CCME WQI categorization indicates that the Elgo River water is classified as poor, with results ranging from 0 to 44. For irrigation purposes 10, parameters such as SAR, PS, PI, MAR, KI, RSC, EC, SSP, TH, and %Na were examined to compute indices using the IWQI model. The overall result of water quality indicated that IWQIs of 81.4 and 62.14 are good for the dry season and poor for the wet season, respectively. This research provides a thorough analysis through modelling to determine the suitability of water for different purposes for the tribal and backward communities of the area.

Assessment of the Euphrates River’s Water Quality at a Some Sites in the Iraqi Governorates of Babylon and Karbala

The majority of third-world nations with rivers running through them struggle with the issue of contaminated water. It is believed to be a very difficult challenge to get the water quality below the typical permitted levels for drinking, as well as for industrial and agricultural reasons, is thought to be a very difficult challenge. This study aims to assess the quality of water available to the governorates of Karbala and Babylon. measuring water quality with the water quality index It expresses the water quality as a single number by comparing results from the analysis of a number of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters with current norms. The National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI), the Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI), the Weight Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI), the IRCA water quality index, and The Iraqi Water Quality Index (Iraqi WQI), which was used for irrigation and drinking, will all be compared in this context. Twenty one parameters were analyzed, including pH, EC, TDS, Tem, DO, BOD, COD, NO3, Alkalinity, CL, TH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, B, SO4, Salinity, TOC, E.Coli., Total coliform. The results for five stations during three season ranged between medium and excellent for the NSF classification, while ranged between poor-marginal in CCME classification, the results were for OWQI classification between poor-fair-excellent, in WAWQI classification the results were within unsuitable to excellent, IRCA classification indicated that all stations fall within sanitary infeasible and in the last IRAQI classification the results were between very bad to bad for drinking water as for irrigation of agricultural lands, it is not acceptable for irrigation.

Evaluation of the surface water quality using global water quality index (WQI) models: perspective of river water pollution

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, global warming, and climate change are compromising surface water quality across the globe. Consequently, water conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and human survival. This study assesses the water quality of the Jamuna River in Bangladesh at five distinct sites during wet and dry seasons. It employs six global water quality indices (WQIs) and contrasts the results with Bangladesh's Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and the Department of Environment (DoE) criteria. The WQI models used are the Weighted Arithmetic WQI (WAWQI), British Columbia WQI (BCWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment WQI (CWQI), Assigned WQI (AWQI), Malaysian WQI (MWQI), and Oregon WQI (OWQI). Fifteen physicochemical parameters were analyzed according to each WQI model's guidelines. The findings reveal that most parameters surpass the standard permissible values. The WQI model results indicate that the average water quality across the five sites falls into the lowest category. A comparison of the WQI models suggests potential correlations between WAWQI and AWQI, as well as between MWQI and OWQI. The straightforward presentation of the WQI models indicates that while the river water requires treatment for household and drinking use, it remains suitable for irrigation. The decline in water quality is likely attributable to human activities, urbanization, municipal waste disposal, and industrial effluents. Authorities must prioritize regular monitoring and assessment of water quality to address the identified challenges. Restoring the water to an acceptable standard will become increasingly difficult without proactive measures.

Mechanistic interaction between climate variables rainfall and temperature on surface water quality and water treatment costs at the Barekese Headworks, Ghana: A time series analysis and water quality index modelling approach

Extreme rainfall and temperatures are climate variables that threaten global water supplies and surface water quality (SWQ). To understand how rainfall and temperature interact with surface water quality and water treatment costs, this study, unlike previous ones, uses time series analysis (TSA) and water quality index (WQI) modelling to fill significant research gaps. The study uses data from the Barekese Water Treatment Headworks, Ghana. Water quality data from 2000 to 2019 for the Barekese Headworks were obtained from the Ghana Water Company Limited. Rainfall data for the catchment was obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Agency. The Mann-Kendall statistical test for trend and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality index was applied to data sets. The Mann-Kendall trend test showed no significant change in annual temperatures. An increasing trend for annual rainfall was observed, but this was not statistically significant (Z = 0.21). Sen's slope estimator (Q) showed that rainfall increases at 3.03 mm annually. pH correlated negatively with rainfall (r = - 0.15). Correlations were observed between rainfall and temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrate (NO3−), Phosphate (PO43−), and Manganese (Mn). Rainfall was observed to increase the cost of liming, coagulation, and disinfection. A 20.26% deterioration in SWQ was observed from 2009 to 2019. The SWQ over the period under study and according to the CCME water quality index was 80% marginal, 10% fair and 10% poor. The findings reveal that the concurrent use of TSA and WQI modelling can help elucidate how rainfall and temperature interact with SWQ and water treatment costs. It further contributes knowledge to attaining the Africa Union Agenda 2063 on climate resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 and 6.3 on universal water access and quality improvement.

Assessment of hydrogeochemistry in groundwater using water quality index model and indices approaches

Groundwater resources around the world required periodic monitoring in order to ensure the safe and sustainable utilization for humans by keeping the good status of water quality. However, this could be a daunting task for developing countries due to the insufficient data in spatiotemporal resolution. Therefore, this research work aimed to assess groundwater quality in terms of drinking and irrigation purposes at the adjacent part of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Bangladesh. For the purposes of achieving the aim of this study, nine groundwater samples were collected seasonally (dry and wet season) and seventeen hydro-geochemical indicators were analyzed, including Temperature (Temp.), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), total organic carbon (TOC), bicarbonate (HCO3−), chloride (Cl−), phosphate (PO43−), sulfate (SO42−), nitrite (NO2−), nitrate (NO3−), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). The present study utilized the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment water quality index (CCME-WQI) model to assess water quality for drinking purposes. In addition, nine indices including EC, TDS, TH, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (Na%), permeability index (PI), Kelley's ratio (KR), magnesium hazard ratio (MHR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), and Residual sodium carbonate (RSC) were used in this research for assessing the water quality for irrigation purposes. The computed mean CCME-WQI score found higher during the dry season (ranges 48 to 74) than the wet season (ranges 40 to 65). Moreover, CCME-WQI model ranked groundwater quality between the “poor” and “marginal” categories during the wet season implying unsuitable water for human consumption. Like CCME-WQI model, majority of the irrigation index also demonstrated suitable water for crop cultivation during dry season. The findings of this research indicate that it requires additional care to improve the monitoring programme for protecting groundwater quality in the RNPP area. Insightful information from this study might be useful as baseline for national strategic planners in order to protect groundwater resources during the any emergencies associated with RNPP.

Evaluación de la calidad fisicoquímica y elementos traza en el agua del río Cupatitzio, Michoacán

In Mexico, around 90 % of the rivers are polluted mainly from wastewater resulting in human health issues. This work is aimed at determining the water quality of Cupatitzio River; 20 sampling sites (SS) were determined in rainy (August 2016) and dry (May 2017) seasons; 31 trace elements (TE) were obtained and 15 physicochemical parameters; three quality indices were calculated: Water Quality Index (WQI), Pollution Index (IC) and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI). Statistical analysis was conducted to associate variables. Results show for the rainy season, the quality indices indicates that the worst quality is found in the middle watershed due to the wastewater and leachate from a landfill; in the dry season, low quality reaches the low watershed. High concentrations of Fe, Al and P trace elements are found in the middle and lower watershed. It is worth mentioning that they may be associated with the pesticides used in avocado orchards. Finally, analyses show an association between poor quality, low dissolved oxygen and the presence of reservoirs. Therefore, the river water is not fit for human use and consumption.

Characterization of Paper Mill Effluent and Its Impacts on the Environment

he study aimed to characterize paper mill effluents and determine the quality of surface water in the vicinity of the paper mills using a water quality index to understand the pollution level due to the discharge of untreated effluents. Physicochemical parameters and CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment) Water Quality Index (WQI) were used to estimate the degree of pollution in the selected paper mills area in Bogura District of Bangladesh. Moreover, a public perception survey was conducted in the study area to illustrate the present scenario regarding paper mill effluent discharge. The analytical results revealed that the concentrations of TSS, EC, COD, BOD5, phenols, K, and NO3 – N were higher than the permissible limit, and the DO level was below the ECR 1997 standard. However, there was no concentrations of heavy metals exceeded the permissible level. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of several toxic pollutants, including lignin, phenol, and halo compound. The CCME WQI showed that sites S-1 and S-2 were ranked as marginal, while site S-3 was ranked as fair. The study observed that the discharge of untreated paper mill effluent has the potential to cause harm to aquatic life and the environment.

Principal Component Analysis and the Water Quality Index—A Powerful Tool for Surface Water Quality Assessment: A Case Study on Struma River Catchment, Bulgaria

The water quality assessment of the surface water bodies (SWBs) is one of the major tasks of environmental authorities dealing with water management. The present study proposes a water quality assessment scheme for the investigation of the surface waters’ physicochemical status changes and the identification of significant anthropogenic pressures. It is designed to extract valuable knowledge from the Water Frame Directive (WFD) mandatory monitoring datasets. The water quality assessment scheme is based on the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment water quality index (CCME-WQI), trend analysis of estimated WQI values, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using calculated excursions during the determination of WQI values. The combination of the abovementioned techniques preserves their benefits and additionally provides important information for water management by revealing the latent factors controlling water quality, taking into account the type of the SWB. The results enable the identification of the anthropogenic impact on SWBs and the type of the corresponding anthropogenic pressure, prioritization and monitoring restoration measures, and optimization of conducted monitoring programs to reflect significant anthropogenic pressures. The proposed simple and reliable assessment scheme is flexible to introducing additional water quality indicators (hydrological, biological, specific pollutants, etc.), which could lead to a more comprehensive surface water quality assessment.

Assessment of potability of surface water and its health implication in Mahanadi Basin, Odisha

Surface water resource plays a crucial role in economic development, human health, and ecological diversity. Population growth, climate change, and water contamination that result from rising residential, agricultural, and industrial needs have put a great deal of strain on the Mahanadi River in Odisha. The study was conducted to analyse surface water quality fluctuations using monitoring data of 20 water quality indicators at 19 locations during 2012–2022. The proposed work includes Weighted Arithmetic (WA) Water Quality Index (WQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) WQI, Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI), Numerow's Pollution Index (NPI), Overall Index of Pollution (OIP), Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI), Eutrophication Index (EI), Organic Pollution Index (OPI) and multivariate techniques like Cluster analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to analyse surface water quality. The results showed that the surface water was contaminated with high TC and TKN. The WQIs results demonstrated that the categories of excellent, good, poor, extremely poor, and unsuitable water quality that fluctuated at the chosen sampling points. Most of the locations fell into the excellent to good zone, as determined by the WQIs and Pollution indexes (PIs). According to several indexing methods, the results show that WA WQI (15.79%), CCME WQI (10.53%), SPI (15.79%), NPI (15.79%), OIP (15.79%), and CPI (15.79%) of the samples had poor, extremely poor, or unsuitable drinking water quality. The watercourse was highly susceptible to eutrophication at few locations as EI was above zero. Three locations (sites 8, 9 and 19) at the downstream of the river are polluted with organic substances with OPI > 1. To examine the link between the water quality measures, the correlation matrix has been developed. To find out the commonalities in the features of the water quality, hierarchical CA divided the 19 monitoring sites into three groups. Five principal components (PCs), which together account for 93.91% of the total variance, were identified via PCA. The first PC was devoted to mineralization, whereas the remaining PCs were constructed using characteristics that suggested contamination. To investigate the spatial distribution, the spatial analyst tools (IDW method) were used. Combining results with GIS also allows for a deeper analysis of drinking water quality. Ultimately, the combined use of various water quality indices along with GIS, CA, and PCA results in the conclusion that samples from the locations ST-8, ST-9 and ST-19 are the most prevalent and fall into the poor to extremely poor group. Considering the entire study, it was determined that the polluting factors were the fertilizers, land development, storm water runoff, and domestic waste water discharge. It is recommended that the sources of contaminations can be further explored to reduce the pollution load, that might be helpful in the promotion of sustainable ecotourism.

Evaluation of water quality of Mundeswari River in eastern India: a water quality index (WQI) based approach

The Mundeswari River is the western distributary of the Damodar River system in eastern India. The water of this river is extensively used for domestic purposes and agricultural irrigation. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal water quality variation of the Mundeswari River and assess the water quality status of this river using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI). Water quality was monitored monthly at four selected sampling stations (M1, M2, M3, and M4) during 2020-2022, considering twelve selected water quality indicators. The obtained water quality data were analysed using different statistical techniques. Water quality at different monitoring stations was appraised through the use of CCME-WQI. The results revealed that the overall water quality of most of the monitoring stations based on CCME-WQI values was “marginal.” The highest WQI value (82.01) was observed at M1, and the lowest WQI (41.24) was recorded at M3. One-way ANOVA indicated a statistically significant difference in WQI values between sampling sites (P <0.05). The water quality of the M3 sampling station was found to be in degraded condition throughout the study period. Cluster analysis from the perspective of WQI values revealed two distinct clusters of the sampling stations. Substantial seasonal variation in water quality was also observed. This river had putrid water quality during the pre-monsoon period, and relatively better water quality was evident after the monsoon. This study revealed that the water of the Mundeswari River is utterly unsafe for human consumption and it requires significant treatments before it can be safely used for domestic purposes like cooking, washing etc.

Spatiotemporal Variations in Water Quality of the Transboundary Shari-Goyain River, Bangladesh

This study aimed to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations in water quality parameters and determine the main contamination sources in the Shari-Goyain River, Bangladesh. Therefore, surface water was sampled monthly from six sampling sites, where six water quality parameters were evaluated. Data were analyzed by applying the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality index (WQI) and multivariate statistical methods. The results reveals that most of the examined water quality parameters crossed the acceptable range, and significant variations were observed spatiotemporally (p < 0.05). Based on the CCME WQI value, the water quality of the river is classified as poor to marginal with a score range between 33.40 and 51.30. This range of values demonstrates that the river’s water quality is far from desirable for aquatic life and that it is being impacted and deteriorated by external drivers. Principal component analysis (PCA) retained two principal components (Factors 1 and 2), explaining about 79.17% of the total variance in the studied parameters and identified acidic pollution sources. Cluster analysis also reveals relative differences in water quality throughout sites and seasons, which supported the CCME WQI and PCA. Finally, Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks has identified coal mine drainage (CMD) as the main pollutant source for the Shari-Goyain River. In order to mitigate the CMD impact on land and water, different nature-based solutions are proposed, particularly passive mine water treatment approaches through constructed wetlands that could also mitigate the transboundary waters problem.

Multivariate Analysis of the Dynamics in Water Quality and Trophic Status of the Crocodile River and Hartbeespoort Dam

Economic expansion coupled with population growth and associated anthropogenic activities are a threat to water resources globally. This study assessed the dynamics in water quality and trophic status of one of South Africa's hyper-eutrophic reservoirs, the Hartbeespoort Dam. Spatio-temporal variability in water quality parameters was determined on historical data spanning a period of forty years (1980-2020), with the aim of determining decadal changes in the Water Quality Index (WQI), the Water Pollution Index (WPI), the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment-Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) as well as the Nutrient Pollution Index (NPI) and TN:TP ratios in the Hartbeespoort Dam as well as the Crocodile River. The calculated indices provide a single aggregated standardized score of water quality. The efficiency of a bioremediation programme (2007-2012) implemented as a mitigation measure to combat eutrophication in the dam was assessed. The study also investigated the impact of rainfall on the variability of the concentration and level of selected physico-chemical parameters. The results of the study revealed that apart from turbidity, rainfall has no significant impact on the variability of other water quality parameters studied. Furthermore, the WQI, CCME-WQI, WPI, as well as the NPI classified the general water quality of the dam as extremely poor and highly polluted. Moreover, TN:TP showed an increase in TP over time, further exacerbating hypereutrophic conditions in the catchment. The study also showed that the bioremediation programme was effective in reducing external P loading, however, bioturbation resulted in the resuspension of historical internal P loads, thus maintaining high phosphate concentrations at the site downstream from the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Water quality and health risk assessments of illegal gold mining-impacted estuaries in Ghana

This study evaluated the water quality, pollution, and health risks associated with illegal gold mining activities in two estuaries (Pra and Ankobra) in the Southwestern region of Ghana. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) used for the evaluation indicated that both estuaries were in the marginal water quality category. Nemerow's Pollution Index (NPI) evaluation showed that turbidity (from siltation), PO 4 , Pb, Cu, and Fe contributed to the pollution of the two estuaries. The health risks index of Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Total Hazard Index (HI) evaluated on shellfish ( Macrobrachium ) from the estuaries were above USEPA recommended threshold; therefore, there is a likelihood of human health risks impacts on the coastal dwellers surrounding the estuaries. Overall, the study buttresses the need to take urgent strategic actions to control the direct impacts of pollution on the estuarine systems and the surrounding coastal communities. • Pollution footprints observed in two estuaries of Southwestern region of Ghana • The pollution index revealed turbidity, phosphate, lead, copper and iron as main contributing drivers of the estuaries. • There is a high likelihood of human health risks impacts on surrounding coastal dwellers. • Urgent action needed to control pollution in order to safeguard the lives of the communities

Temporal variations and trends prediction of water quality during 2010-2019 in the middle Yangtze River, China.

Water quality plays an important role in river habitats. This study revealed the annual and seasonal variations and trend prediction of water quality in the middle Yangtze River after the third impoundment stage of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA), Mann-Kendall (M-K) tests, discriminant analysis (DA), rescaled range (R/S) analysis, and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) were used. Herein, eight water quality constituents including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), chloride (Cl), dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia nitrogen (NH3N), total phosphorus (TP), water temperature (T), and permanganate index (CODmn) were monthly monitored in the Jiujiang hydrological transaction during 2010-2019. The information of eight water quality constituents, related to salinity, nutrient status, and oxidation reactions efficiency, was extracted. Water quality status remained as fair-good during 2010-2019 based on the results of CCME-WQI, with the seasonal significance ranked as T > DO > Cl > pH > EC > TP > NH3N > CODmn. In the future decade, annual average T was predicted to continue to increase although it might decrease in the wet season. EC was predicted to continue increasing annually especially in the wet season while Cl might decrease. NH3N and TP might maintain a significant decreasing trend in the future wet and dry seasons. DO maintained significantly increasing especially in the future dry seasons, whereas CODmn will continue to decrease annually and seasonally. The continued alkalization trend of waterbody was predicted, which is more significant in the wet season. The results provide helpful references for the ecological protection of the middle Yangtze River.