Assessment of water quality of Kot Dam, Rajasthan, India, using water quality index

Abstract

Aim: To assess the water quality of Kot Dam, located in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, India. Methodology: Physico-chemical parameters of water quality were monitored for two years (July 2021 to June 2023). The Water Quality Index (WQI), a widely accepted mathematical expression used to understand the trend in the quality of water bodies, was calculated based on the analysis of physicochemical parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, conductivity, and fluoride. Results: The site-wise and season-wise analysis of WQI revealed that Dam water was polluted due to organic pollutants, agricultural runoff, and waste disposal by local people, especially during summer (WQI=87.18) and monsoon seasons (WQI=85.38). Interpretation: Anthropogenic activities adversely affected the water quality at sample station (S1) of Kot Dam. Key words: Anthropogenic activities, Bray-Curtis Similarity Index, Dendrogram, Kot dam, Water quality