Assessment of Water Quality Index of the Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan

Abstract

major hazard to the world, water poisoning causes more than 14,000 deadly diseases every day, with developing countries like India being disproportionately affected. This review paper summarizes the body of research on the widespread problem of water pollution, detailing its various contaminants (heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants), primary sources (industrial, municipal, and agricultural discharges), and catastrophic impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. In particular, it discusses existing water quality standards and examines different approaches for evaluating water quality, including the Water Quality Index (WQI) using the CCME method. Making use of several studies that have looked at pollution hotspots, water quality metrics, and suggested management techniques, the paper places the local issues within the larger national and international water crises, utilizing the Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan, as a case study. In order to safeguard current and future generations, the assessment emphasizes the critical necessity for thorough pollution control, ongoing monitoring, and sustainable water resource management.

Introduction

The paper aims to assess the water quality of the Chambal River in Kota, Rajasthan, using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI). Water pollution is identified as a critical global problem, responsible for millions of illnesses and deaths annually, especially in developing countries like India where more than 70% of freshwater is unsuitable for consumption. Major contributors to pollution include untreated industrial discharge, municipal waste, agricultural runoff, rapid urbanization, and inadequate wastewater treatment systems.

The text explains that water contamination introduces a wide range of pollutants—heavy metals, dyes, organic compounds, pathogens, pesticides, plastics, and more—originating from both point sources (e.g., industrial effluents, sewage outlets, mining leakage) and non-point sources (e.g., agricultural runoff, septic tank leakage, urban drainage). Water pollution leads to severe health issues, ecological degradation, reduced biodiversity, and economic losses.

To evaluate and communicate water quality, the Water Quality Index (WQI) is described, including different methods such as NSF-WQI, Oregon WQI, Weighted Arithmetic WQI, and CCME-WQI. These indices combine multiple parameters—such as DO, pH, BOD, chlorides, heavy metals, and coliforms—into a single score. The paper also lists WHO and IS:10500 standards for physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters of drinking water.

The study focuses on the Chambal River in Kota, an industrial and educational hub where the river faces pressure from encroachment, illegal water diversion, untreated industrial/domestic discharge, and solid waste dumping. Water samples will be collected monthly (March 2024–Feb 2025) from various upstream and downstream locations near the thermal power plant to analyze 17 parameters using the CCME-WQI method.

A detailed literature review reveals that river systems across India and other countries face similar pollution issues. Previous studies on the Chambal River generally report good water quality in protected areas of Madhya Pradesh, but localized pollution near Kota—especially from the thermal power plant—has been noted. Research worldwide highlights widespread contamination from organic waste, industrial effluents, pesticides, heavy metals, and landfill leachate, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and better wastewater management.

Conclusion

The CCME Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI) analysis across Pre-Monsoon, Monsoon, and Post-Monsoon periods reveals an overall good water quality status at most sampling sites, especially at U/S AP (Upstream Akhelgarh Plant), which consistently recorded the highest values. However, sites like BK (Bhitriya Kund) and RANG (Rangpur) showed relatively lower scores, indicating moderate pollution levels. These variations suggest localized contamination, possibly from urban runoff or industrial discharges. While the water remains generally suitable for ecological and human use, continuous monitoring and targeted pollution control measures are essential to ensure long-term water sustainability and prevent further degradation in vulnerable areas.

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Copyright © 2025 Bablu Ram Meena, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Sharma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.