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

摘要

Drinking water sources are susceptible to pollutants depending on geological conditions and agricultural, industrialand other human activities. Water quality assessment has always been a major part of environmental managementplans. The water quality index (WQI) method plays an important role and is a powerful tool for analysing the overallwater quality. The purpose of this study was to analyse and present the results for the quality of groundwater inthe north-western part of the Drini i Bardh? River basin, Kosovo, based on data that were collected from 50sampling points, 48 different wells (dug and drilled) and two springs in November 2018–January 2019. Through thiswork, it has been possible to provide authentic information on this study area to the public, who use these watersfor water supply, irrigation and other purposes. Processing, analysis and interpretation of the results are based onstatistical methods, water quality standards and the WQI method. The completion of the study followed a scientificresearch work methodology based on field and laboratory studies. For calculating the WQI, groundwater sampleswere analysed in terms of 13 physico-chemical parameters – namely, T, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolvedsolids, total hardness, sodium (Na~+) ions, calcium (Ca~(2+)) ions, magnesium (Mg~(2+)) ions, potassium (K~+) ions,bicarbonates (HCO_3~?), chlorides (Cl~?), sulfates (SO_4~(2?)) and nitrates (NO_3~?). Based on the results obtained and acomparison with World Health Organization standards, it was shown that the parameters of the groundwater arewithin the allowed limit values for drinking water. The values obtained for the WQIs of the groundwater samplesfrom the north-western part of the Drini I Bardh? River basin, Kosovo, range from 11 to 116, indicating that thesewaters are mainly in good and excellent condition, and only sample SP40 had water unfit for consumption.