River water quality index for Morocco using a fuzzy inference system

Abstract

Background: The aim of this work is to propose a new river water quality index using fuzzy logic. The proposed fuzzy index combines quality indicators' prescribed thresholds extracted mainly from the Moroccan and the Quebec water legislations. The latter is reputed for its strict water quality assessment. The proposed index combines six indicators, and not only does it exhibit a tool that accounts for the discrepancy between the two base indices, but also provides a quantifiable score for the determined water quality. These classifications with a membership grade can be of a sound support for decision-making, and can help assign each section of a river a gradual quality sub-objective to be reached. Results: To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the new index was used to classify water quality in a number of stations along the basins of Bouregreg-Chaouia and Zizi-Rhéris. The obtained classifications were then compared to the conventional physicochemical water quality index currently in use in Morocco. The results revealed that the fuzzy index provided stringent classifications compared to the conventional index in 41% and 33% of the cases for the two basins respectively. These noted exceptions are mainly due to the big disparities between the different quality thresholds in the two standards, especially for fecal coliform and total phosphorus. Conclusions: These large disparities put forward an argument for the Moroccan water quality legislation to be upgraded to align water and environmental assessment methods with other countries in order to mitigate the risks of failing to achieve a good ecological status.

Assessment of spatial and seasonal water quality variation of Oum Er Rbia River (Morocco) using multivariate statistical techniques

“…Bader et al, 2015;El Baghdadi et al, 2015;Hayzoun et al, 2015;Nadem et al, 2015;Mourhir et al, 2014;Barakat et al, 2013;El Morhit et al, 2013;Barakat et al, 2012;Iavazzo et al, 2012;Oufline et al, 2012;Derwich et al, 2011;Naoura & Benaabidate, 2011;Alla et al, 2006;Taoufik & Dafir, 2005;Koukal et al, 2004). In Oum Er Bia basin, the vulnerability of water resources pollution is due to strong agricultural and industrial activity including oil mills, phosphate extraction, livestock farming, and sugar beet processing.…”

Fuzzy Logic as a Tool for the Assessment of Water Quality for Reservoirs: A Regional Perspective (Lerma River Basin, Mexico)

“…Bai et al [11] and Mourhir et al [23] proposed a river water quality index based on fuzzy logic, using six indicators and 15,625 and 86 rules, respectively. The fuzzy WQI proposed by [38] was set up with 27 water quality indicators (WQInd) and 96 fuzzy inference rules; while those proposed by [24] is composed of 9 variables and 3125 fuzzy rules.…”

“…FISs are based on the fuzzy set theory, which maps input values to output values [23,38]. The input is called antecedent, while the output is known as consequent.…”

“…Numerous studies have used water quality indices to determine water quality in rivers [2,3,9,[15][16][17][18][19][20]. Recently, fuzzy theory has been used to design water quality indices and also to assess the water quality in rivers [21][22][23][24][25].…”

Seasonal evaluation for Husseiniya Stream (IRAQ) according to the Canadian water quality index

“…Mourhir et al [3] proposed a new river water quality index using fuzzy logic. The proposed fuzzy index combines quality indicators prescribed thresholds extracted mainly from the Moroccan and the Quebec water legislations.…”