Water quality assessment of Kuwano River, Basti (U.P.) India, with reference to statistical analysis

Abstract

The present study analyses water quality parameters in the Kuwano River, Basti district, using correlation and regression analysis to establish relationships between variables and provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing water quality. Kuwano is the main river that flows through Basti city. The water samples were collected at three locations. The values of different physicochemical parameters of the river water sample were found to be dependent on the hydrology of the area. The pH was strongly associated with TDS (r = 0.885), DO (r = 0.744), COD (r = 0.969), TH (r = 0.806), and Mg (r = 0.944). The biological oxygen demand (BOD) (-0.345), nitrate (-0.235), and calcium (-0.128) exhibited an inverse correlation with total dissolved solids (TDS), whereas nitrate and calcium had a positive correlation with all other physicochemical parameters. The mean TDS value of the river water sample (81.2) was within the permissible limit for drinking water. The total coliform counts established a negative correlation with most of the parameters studied, e.g., dissolved oxygen (-0.628), BOD (-0.983), chemical oxygen demand (-0.194), total hardness (-0.549), nitrate (-0.955), Ca (-0.918) and Mg (-0.279). The study's findings may provide practical information for decision making in river pollution management.