Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Water Quality Indices Adequacy in Characterizing the Physico-Chemical Water Quality of Lakes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Processes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The accurate and comprehensive characterization/classification of a water system presents a significant challenge. Over the last decades, a number of water quality indices (WQI) has been created and applied towards this goal. In most cases, the WQI is applied in characterizing the overall quality of a water system by integrating all available data, regardless of sampling station and time. This approach may result in misleading interpretation of data and wrong or ineffective policy responses to water quality deterioration. The present study investigates whether this approach is the most appropriate or if it is necessary to take into consideration the water quality of each individual sampling. Two natural lakes in Greece were chosen as case studies and an alternative to National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index was applied at each sampling site and at the overall water body. The use of the water quality index presented in this study is proved to be good practice in evaluating and characterizing the water quality of lakes as it can be easily adjusted to local specific conditions. The physico-chemical characterization of an aquatic system by water quality indices is preferable to be made only if the water quality indices, calculated for each individual sampling site, show homogeneity. The identification of the considered critical parameters, which significantly affect the quality of a water body, is of high importance in order to reduce the monitoring cost without influencing the reliability of the final result.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbasi SA (2002) Water quality indices, state of the art report. National Institute of Hydrology, Scientific Contribution No: INCOH/SAR-25/2002, Roorkee: INCOH, p 73

  • Akkojunlu A, Akiner EM (2012) Pollution evaluation in streams using water quality indices: a case study from Turkey’s Sapanca Lake Basin. Ecol Indic 18:501–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexakis D, Tsihrintzis VA, Tsakiris G, Gikas G (2016) Suitability of water quality indices for application in lakes in the Mediterranean. Water Resour Manag 30(5):1621–1633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alobaidy A, Abid SH, Maulood KB (2010) Application of water quality index for assessment of Dokan Lake ecosystem, Kurdistan region, Iraq. JWARP 2:792–798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA-AWWA-WEF (2012) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 22nd edn. American Public Health Association

  • Artemiadou V, Lazaridou M (2005) Evaluation score and interpretation index for the ecological quality of running waters in Central and Northern Hellas. Environ Monit Assess 110:1–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balan IN, Shivakumar M, Kumar PDM (2012) An assessment of ground water quality using water quality index in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Chronicles Young Scient 3(2):146–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bharti N, Katyal D (2011) Water quality indices used for surface water vulnerability assessment. IJES 2(1):154–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RM, McClelland NI, Deininger RA, Tozer RG (1970) Water quality index-do we dare? Water Sew Works 117(10):339–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamoglou M, Papadimitriou T, Kagalou I (2014) Key-descriptors for the functioning of a Mediterranean reservoir: the case of the new Lake Karla-Greece. Environ Process Lume 1(2):127–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan A, Singh S (2010) Evaluation of Ganga water for drinking purpose by water quality index at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Report Opinion 2(9):53–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury RM, Muntasir SY, Hossain MM (2012) Water quality index of water bodies along Faridpur-Barisal road in Bangladesh. Glob Eng Tech Rev 2(3):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffey R, Benham B, Kline K, Wolfe ML, Cummins E (2015) Potential microbial load reductions required to meet existing freshwater recreational water quality standards for a selection of mid-century environmental Change scenarios. Environ Process 2(4):609–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordoba ΒΕ, Martınez CA, Ferrer EV (2010) Water quality indicators: comparison of a probabilistic index and a general quality index. The case of the Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar (Spain). Ecol Indic 10:1049–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debels P, Figueroa R, Urrutia R, Barra R, Niell X (2005) Evaluation of water quality in the Chilla’n river (Central Chile) using physicochemical parameters and a modified water quality index. Environ Monit Assess 110:301–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DIRECTIVE 1975/440/EC (1975) Concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States. European Parliament and Council, Document 31975L0440

  • DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC (2000) Establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. European Parliament and Council, Document 32000L0060

  • DIRECTIVE 2006/44/EC (2006) Quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life. European Parliament and Council, Document 32006L0044

  • Gandaseca S, Rosli N, Ngayop J, Arianto I (2011) Status of water quality based on the physico-chemical assessment on river water at wildlife sanctuary Sibuti Mangrove Forest, Miru Sarawak. Am J Environ Sci 7(3):269–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gounaris Α (2010) Determination of the surface water quality of Lake Zazari and Chimaditida. Local research project of Development Agency of Western Macedonia, Greece

    Google Scholar 

  • Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (2014) River basin management plans of Western Macedonia, Official Government Gazette,181 Β΄/31.01.2014

  • He T, Zhang L, Zen Y, Zuo C, Li J (2012) Water quality index method of Eltrix River in Xin Jian Province using SPSS. Procedia Earth Planet Sci 5:314–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton RK (1965) An index number system for rating water quality. J Water Pollut Control Fed 37(3):300–306

    Google Scholar 

  • International Standard (2005) ISO 17025: 2000: general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. ISO copyright office, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO 5667-4 (1987) Water quality -- sampling -- part 4: guidance on sampling from lakes, natural and man-made. International Standard Organization

  • Johnson, R.K., Lindegarth, M., Carstensen, J. (2013) Establishing reference conditions and setting class boundaries deliverable 2.1-2, WATERS report no. 2013:2. Havsmiljöinstitutet, Sweden

  • Kannel PR, Lee S, Lee YS, Kanel SR, Khan SP (2007) Application of water quality indices and dissolved oxygen as indicators for river water classification and urban impact assessment. Environ Monit Assess 132:93–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karakoc G, Erkoc FU, Katırcıoğlu H (2003) Water quality and impacts of pollution sources for Eymir and Mogan Lakes (Turkey). Environ Int 29:21–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar D, Alappat B (2009) NSF-water quality index: does it represent the experts’ opinion? Pract Period Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste Manage 13:75–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Environment Greece (1999) Aquatic system of Lake Zazari and Chimaditida.

  • Mohebbia MR, Saeedib R, Montazeria A, Vaghefia KA, Labbafia S, Oktaiec S, Abtahic M, Mohagheghianc A (2013) Assessment of water quality in groundwater resources of Iran using a modified drinking water quality index (DWQI). Ecol Indic 30:28–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mourkidou-Papadopoulou E (2002) Monitoring programme of surface water quality in Macedonia-Trace, Greece. University of Thessaloniki, Greece

    Google Scholar 

  • Moustaka-Gouni M, Vardaka E, Tryfon E (2007) Phytoplankton species succession in a shallow Mediterranean lake (L. Kastoria, Greece): steady-state dominance of Limnothrix redekei, Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Hydrobiologia 575:129–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson F, Alberto R, Fredy S (2004) Physico-chemical water quality indices – a comparative review. Revista BISTUA ISSN 0120-4211:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Poch M (2000) Las calidades del agua. Rubes Editorial S.L, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Poikane S, Alves MH, Argillier C, van den Berg M, Buzzi F, Hoehn E, de Hoyos C, Karottki I, Laplace-Treyture C, Solheim A, Ortiz-Casas J, Ott I, Phillips G, Pilke A, Pa’dua J, Remec-Rekar S, Riedmuller U, Schaumburg J, Serrano ML, Soszka H, Tierney D, Urbanic G, Wolfram G (2010) Defining chlorophyll-a reference conditions in European lakes. Environ Manag 45:1286–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rokbani MK, Gueddari M, Bouhlila R (2011) Use of geographical information system and water quality index to assess groundwater quality in El Khairat deep aquifer (Enfidha, Tunisian Sahel). Iran J Energy Environ 2(2):133–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha NS, Biswas M (2011) Analysis of physico-chemical characteristics to study the water quality of a lake in Kalyani, West Bengal. Asian J Exp Biol Sci 2(1):18–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomou Ε (2002) Study of the Lake Zazari. Bachelor Thesis, Department of Biology, University of Thessaloniki, Florina quality

    Google Scholar 

  • Sridhar MKC, Bammeke AO (1985) Lake pollution in Ibadan, Nigeria. Environ Int 11:419–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanidis K (2012) Εcological assessment of lakes of NW Greece with emphasis on the associations between aquatic macrophytes, zooplankton and water quality. Department of Biology, University of Patra, Greece, PhD Τhesis, pp 154–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirkey P, Bhattacharya T, Chakraborty S (2015) Water quality indices- important tools for water quality assessment: a review. IJAC 1(1):15–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Trikoilidou E, Amanatidou E, Samiotis G, Pekridis G, Kevrekidis Th (2015) Water quality characterization of Lake Zazari and Petron – use of alternative NSF water quality index. 3rd common Conference (13th of Hellenic Hydrotechnical Association, 9th of Hellenic Committee on Water Resources Management and 1st of the Hellenic Water Association) “Integrated Water Resources Management in the New Era”, Athens, Greece, December 10-12, pp 677–687

  • Tryfon E, Moustaka-Gouni M (1997) Species composition and seasonal cycles of phytoplankton with special reference to the nanoplankton of Lake Mikri Prespa. Hydrobiologia 351:61–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagi S, Sharma B, Pr S, Dobhal R (2013) Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. Am J Water Resour 1(3):34–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanda E, Mamba BB, Msagati T (2016) Determination of the water quality index ratings of water in the Mpumalanga and North West provinces. South Africa. Phys Chem Earth 92:70–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG (2001) Limnology: lake and river ecosystems, 3rd edn. Academic Press, San Diego

  • Yogentra K, Puttaiah TE (2008) Determination of water quality index and suitability of an urban waterbody in Shimoga town, Karnataka. Proceedings of Taal 2007: the 12th Worldlake Conference, p 342–346

  • Zaidi FK, Mogren S, Mukhopadhyay M, Ibrahim E (2016) Evaluation of groundwater chemistry and its impact on drinking and irrigation water quality in the eastern part of the Central Arabian graben and trough system, Saudi Arabia. J Afr Earth Sci 120:208–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

An initial shorter version of the paper has been presented in Greek at the 3rd Common Conference (13th of the Hellenic Hydrotechnical Association, 9th of Hellenic Committee on Water Resources Management and 1st of the Hellenic Water Association) “Integrated Water Resources Management in the New Era”, Athens, Greece, December 10-12, 2015.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry & Wastewater Treatment, Department of Environmental Engineering, Western Macedonia University of Applied Sciences, 50100, Koila, Greece

    Eleni Trikoilidou, Georgios Samiotis, Lazaros Tsikritzis & Elisavet Amanatidou

  2. Laboratory of Environmental Research & Training, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupoli, Greece

    Theodoros Kevrekidis

Authors
  1. Eleni Trikoilidou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georgios Samiotis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lazaros Tsikritzis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Theodoros Kevrekidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elisavet Amanatidou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eleni Trikoilidou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Trikoilidou, E., Samiotis, G., Tsikritzis, L. et al. Evaluation of Water Quality Indices Adequacy in Characterizing the Physico-Chemical Water Quality of Lakes. Environ. Process. 4 (Suppl 1), 35–46 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-017-0218-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-017-0218-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation