Seasonal variations and correlation analysis of water quality parameters in the Chambal River, Rajasthan, India

Abstract The study investigated the water quality of the Chambal River from 2010 to 2022 throughout the year. The measured parameters like pH, EC (Electrical Conductivity), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), and Total Hardness (TH) fluctuate between 7.70 and 8.35 (with an average of 8), 289 and 484 μS/cm (with an average of 347 μS/cm), 185 and 315 mg/l (with an average of 224 mg/l), and 68 and 120 mg/l (with an average of 93 mg/l), respectively, on the yearly basis. While the turbidity, nitrate levels, ammonia nitrogen, fluoride, and boron dissolved) fluctuate between 0.79 and 8 NTU (with an average of 2 NTU), 0.38 and 2 mg/l (with an average of 0.92 mg/l), 0.06 and 0.61 mg/l (with an average of 0.22 mg/l), 0.24 and 0.94 mg/l (with an average of 0.67 mg/l), and 0.04 and 0.33 mg/l (with an average of 0.16 mg/l), respectively, on the yearly basis. The water Quality Index (WQI) ranges between 10 to 149 with an average of 73 on a yearly basis. However, WQI ranges between 27 to 95 (with an average of 56) in summer, 6 to 294 (with an average of 116) in rainy, 4 to 123 (with an average of 156) in autumn, and 1 to 82 (with an average of 52) in winter. These results indicate a poor overall Water Quality Index (WQI), rendering the Chambal River's water unsuitable for drinking purposes. Furthermore, the principal component analysis and dendrogram analysis were used in this study. The findings highlight the urgent need for stricter pollution control measures to safeguard the river's health. Practitioner Points The present study is based on Seasonal Variations and Correlation Analysis of Water Quality Parameters via multiparametric approaches from 2010 to 2022 throughout the year in the Chambal River, Rajasthan, India. Two types of statistics (Principal Component Analysis and Dendrogram analysis) have been applied here to know the variation and distribution of WQI. pH fluctuated within the IS standard, with a slight summer alkalinity increase. EC remained stable, higher in summer due to evaporation. Turbidity peaked in the monsoon and reduced in dry periods. Poor overall Water Quality Index (WQI) was found in the sampling site hence the reader of the discussed journal may take an interest in it. Urgent need to control the river's health from the different pollutants. Pearson correlation analysis reveals strong positive correlations between WQI, turbidity, pH, TDS, TH, and EC while negative correlations are observed between these clusters and boron concentration.