Development of a water quality index based on a European classification scheme

Abstract

This study comprised the development of a new index called the ‘universal water quality index (UWQI)’. This index has advantages over pre-existing indices by reflecting the appropriateness of water for specific use, e.g. drinking water supply rather than general supply, and has been developed by studying the supranational standard, i.e. the European Community Standard. Three classification schemes for water quality are proposed for surface water quality assessment. Water quality determinants of the new index are cadmium, cyanide, mercury, selenium, arsenic, fluoride, nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, pH and total coliform. The mathematical equations to transform the actual concentration values into quality indices have been formulated. The weighted sum method was proposed to obtain overall index scores based on individual index (sub-index) values. The application of the new index was demonstrated at a sampling station on Tahtali Reservoir in Turkey based on observed water quality data.

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