Published Paper Details:

Nearly half of India's population depends on rivers for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and other essential services. However, river water quality has deteriorated over the last two decades due to rapid urban expansion, industrial effluents, and agricultural pollution. This study examines the temporal and spatial variations in river water quality using key parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, nitrate, and heavy metals. A single Water Quality Index (WQI) was computed using the weighted arithmetic method to represent the overall river health. The results reveal both pollution and spatial heterogeneity across river basins. The Ganga and Godavari rivers generally exhibit good water quality with WQI values ranging from 70 to 85, whereas the Yamuna near Delhi shows poor water quality with WQI values between 35 and 55. Marginal improvements were observed at select monitoring stations. Pre-monsoon and post-winter seasons recorded higher pollutant concentrations, attributed to reduced dilution and increased organic loading during low-flow conditions. The findings emphasize the need for basin-specific management strategies and continuous data-driven decision-making. Open-access monitoring datasets can enhance public engagement in environmental governance. Integrating open data with WQI computation offers an effective framework for evaluating and improving river health across India.