Assessment of the water quality of the Kashkan River based on water quality indicators

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc. student in Civil Engineering, Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

3 Associate professor, Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

Abstract

Today, the quality of surface water has deteriorated due to population growth, changes in land use, and the influx of human wastewater. This decline has resulted in both direct and indirect effects on human, animal, and environmental health. This study aims to evaluate the spatial and seasonal variations in the water quality of the Kashkan River by measuring physical, chemical, and biological parameters, as well as calculating the quality indices IRWQISC, NSFWQI, and the Wilcox index. Additionally, the impact of human activities on each of the quality parameters was analyzed. To achieve this, four sampling stations were established along the river, and water quality parameters were measured in the laboratory over one year, from autumn 2022 to summer 2023. The results indicated that the inflow of urban and rural wastewater, along with agricultural runoff, is the primary factor contributing to the decline in water quality, although seasonal conditions can also influence it. Concurrently, as the population and human activities increased from upstream to downstream along the river, water quality deteriorated. The IRWQISC index categorized the water quality as medium to relatively poor, while the NSFWQI classified all stations as medium quality. GIS software was used to visually map changes in water quality, and the Wilcox index showed suitability for agricultural use in the good to medium range. Cluster analysis grouped the stations into two major categories based on water quality. The findings aim to assist environmental policymakers in addressing pollution and preserving the Kashkan River ecosystem.

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References

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Environmental Resources Research
Volume 13, Issue 1
July 2025
Pages 105-117

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