A certain and easy way to find out pollution levels in water will be introduced in the coming weeks.
Based on the proposal of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is working on coming up with a Water Quality Index, on the lines of Air Quality Index (AQI). A committee has been formed with senior environment scientists from Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other States to formulate models to assess the water quality.
Three models
The members felt that the present classification was not rational. The committee, which met twice till now, has closely studied similar models existing in Australia and Canada. Taking four perimeters into consideration, the committee has developed three different models.
“Initially, we tried to develop models with several parameters but failed. We decided to limit the parameters to only four. Since developing an index for water quality is complex than air quality, we decided to have three different models for lakes and rivers, ground water and coastal waters. The parameters that will be considered will differ for each of the model,” said a senior scientist of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board.
The Pollution Control Boards of various States are at present testing the models and checking for the accuracy of the output. By this month end, the final draft of the Water Quality Index will be ready and it will reviewed by the Chairman of the CPCB after which it will be made public.
The pollution boards will use the formulae developed by them to check for the quality of the water bodies and upload it on their websites. The committee members also want to classify the lakes, groundwater and the coastal waters across the country based on the Water Quality Index.
