Water Quality Index of River Cauvery in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamilnadu

Abstract

The water quality of river Cauvery in Tiruchirappalli district was monitored for a period of 3 months (January - March, 2009). Water samples were assessed by analyzing the various physicochemical parameters, such as pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chloride, sulphate, nitrate and calcium. These 10 parameters were considered to compute the Water Quality Index (WQI). The WQI reveals the water of river Cauvery to be polluted moderately in the upstream of the city and unfit for human consumption towards the downstream. It needs sufficient treatment and management.