Water Quality Assessment of a Tank Cascade System using CCME Water Quality Index
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS), 1 (3):
01-06 (June 2016)Abstract
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
(CCME)has developed a water quality index which certainly be
used with fairly consistent in different geographical locations and
different water quality parameters. This study was conducted to
assess the water quality of Malwathu Oya cascade-I in tropical Sri
Lanka for drinking, fish & aquatic life, irrigation & agriculture
and recreational use by applying CCME Water Quality Index
(WQI). Water samples from ten tanks were collected once a
month representing wet and dryperiods during 2013/14 and
analyzed for seven physicochemical parameters (electrical
conductivity, dissolved oxygen level, turbidity, pH, nitrate
nitrogen, phosphate and sodium) using standard instruments and
procedures. Physicochemical parameters were compared with
the drinking water quality guidelines17 and proposed ambient
water quality standards for inland waters of Sri Lanka. Average
values of CCME WQI showed that water quality is poor for
drinking, fish & aquatic life and irrigation & agriculture in tanks
of Malwathu Oya cascade- I while, marginal for recreational use.
However, it showed high spatial and temporal variation of water
quality for all kind of water uses. CCME WQI can be
successfully used to draw meaningful and easily
understandable conclusions about cascade systems from large
data matrix on water quality