Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index: case study in the northwestern part of Drini i Bardhë River Basin, Kosovo

Abstract

Drinking water sources are susceptible to pollutants depending on geological conditions and agricultural, industrial, and other man-made activities. Water quality assessment has always been a major part of environmental management plans. The water quality Index (WQI) method plays an important role and a powerful tool for analyzing the overall characteristics of water quality. The propose of this paper was to analyze and present the results for quality of groundwater in the northwestern part of Drini i Bardhë River Basin, Kosovo based on the data which are collected from 50 sampling points, 48 different well (dug and drilled) and 2 spring during November 2018-January 2019. Through this work, it has been possible to provide authentic information to the general public in this study area, who use these waters for water supply, irrigation and other purposes. Processing, analysis and interpretation of the results is based on statistical methods, water quality standards and the water quality index (WQI) method. The completion of the paper followed a scientific research work methodology based on field and laboratory studies. For calculating the WQI, groundwater samples were analysed thirteen physic-chemical parameters like T, pH, EC, TDS, TH, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, HCO3 −, Cl−, SO4 2− and NO3 −. Groundwater based on the results obtained and compared with the WHO standard showed that they are within the allowed limit values to be used for drinking water. According to the values obtained for WQI in groundwater in the northwestern part of river basin Drini i Bardhë, Kosovo, range from 11 to 116 ranking these waters mainly in good and excelent, and only in SP40 the water quality is unfit for consumption.