Water Quality Status of Maharashtra 2016-17

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), being the state nodal agency under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), regularly monitors the water quality across 294 WQMS (Water Quality Monitoring Stations) for both surface (176 on rivers, 36 on sea/creeks, 12 on drains, 4 dams) and ground water (29 Borewells, 35 Dugwell, 1 Handpump, 1 Tubewell) under two programs of National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWMP) and State Water Quality Monitoring Program (SWMP). Surface water samples are monitored once every month whereas the ground water samples are monitored bi-anually. This report presents the statistical analysis of the data representing water quality monitored in the year 2016-17, along with illustrations and spatial representations to have an overview on the performance for quality of surface and ground water in the state. The report further discusses the highlights on the annual and seasonal performance of the Water quality Index (WQI) for major basins (Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and West Flowing) as well as for the water samples representing saline (sea/creek) and groundwater for general classification. The WQI has been determined based on the formula developed by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and modified by CPCB1 which depicts the water quality in simple and easy way for general public at large.