A Comprehensive Review of Water Quality Indices (WQIs): History, Models, Attempts and Perspectives

Overview

Journal Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

Date 2023 May 26

PMID 37234131

Authors

Sandra Chidiac

Paula El Najjar

Naim Ouaini

Youssef El Rayess

Desiree El Azzi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Water quality index (WQI) is one of the most used tools to describe water quality. It is based on physical, chemical, and biological factors that are combined into a single value that ranges from 0 to 100 and involves 4 processes: (1) parameter selection, (2) transformation of the raw data into common scale, (3) providing weights and (4) aggregation of sub-index values. The background of WQI is presented in this review study. the stages of development, the progression of the field of study, the various WQIs, the benefits and drawbacks of each approach, and the most recent attempts at WQI studies. In order to grow and elaborate the index in several ways, WQIs should be linked to scientific breakthroughs (example: ecologically). Consequently, a sophisticated WQI that takes into account statistical methods, interactions between parameters, and scientific and technological improvement should be created in order to be used in future investigations.

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