Water Quality Index Assessment of River Ganga at Haridwar Stretch Using Multivariate Statistical Technique

The Ganges (Ganga) river contributes significant water resources for the ecology and economy, but it frequently encounters severe deterioration due to cumulative impact from upstream natural and anthropogenic variables. Knowledge and understanding of the dynamic behavior of such networks remain a significant challenge, particularly in the context of rising environmental pressures, such as climate change and industrialization, as well as constraints in both process and data understanding across geographies. An interdisciplinary approach is required to be developed to investigate the hydrogeochemical dynamics and anthropogenic sources influencing water quality in major river systems. The present study has been carried out to evaluate the characterization of river water quality in terms of the physico-chemical & bacteriological parameters. Also, the development of a water quality index (WQI) for Domestic (drinking) and Spiritual (bathing) usage is a part of the study. The water quality index has been developed using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environmental Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). The river's water quality index score in the present study lies in the range of 38.32 to 79.82, indicating the quality of water from fair to poor for drinking purposes. The highest water quality index value of 79.82 has been observed at Guru Kashnik Ghat, while the lowest WQI value of 38.32 has been observed at Har ki Pauri for drinking purposes. However, the water quality score for bathing purposes ranged from 71.04 to 91.22 thus signifying the quality of the water from fair to good for bathing purposes. The highest water quality index value of 91.22 has been assessed at Guru Kashnik Ghat, while the lowest WQI value of 71.04 has been assessed at Bhimgoda Barrage. The developed water indices assessment in the present study will be beneficial for society to provide a benchmark for the control of water pollution in River Ganga. These findings will support policymakers and stakeholders in addressing water quality issues in a more efficient and effective manner. The study also emphasizes the requirement for ongoing water quality monitoring and evaluation in order to guarantee the long-term well-being of the river and its ecosystems.