Available online at www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com Pelagia Research Library Advances in Applied Science Research, 2015, 6(1):15-26 ISSN: 0976-8610 CODEN (USA): AASRFC 15 Pelagia Research Library Surface water (Futala Lake) quality and its pollution load in terms of water quality index (WQI) P. J. Puri 1* , M. K. N. Yenkie 1 , D. B. Rana 1 , S. U. Meshram 1 and L. S. Awale 2 1 Department of Applied Chemistry, LIT, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur 5 Department of Chemistry, C. P. & Berar College, Ravinagar, Nagpur ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The present work aims at assessing the water quality index (WQI) in the surface water (Futala lake) situated in Nagpur City, Maharashtra India, by monitoring five sampling locations within Futala lake (viz., inlet1, inlet2, centre, corner and outlet) for a period of 3 months from August to October 2013. The surface water samples were subjected to comprehensive physico-chemical analysis involving major cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , Fe 2+ ,), anions ( Cl - , SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , F - , PO 4 3- ) besides general parameters (pH, EC, TDS, alkalinity, total hardness, DO, BOD, COD). For calculating the WQI, 14 parameters, namely, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, fluorides and iron were considered. It is apparent from WQI values that Futala Lake water with WQI values ranging from 55.81 to 169.37, falls under poor water category. The present study revealed that Futala lake water is polluted (due to surface run-off, washing activities, agriculture run-off, effluents from upstream from surrounding residential area, immersion of idols of God and Goddess during festival season, discharge of domestic sewage (poor) and dumping of garbage) and unsuitable for human consumption also for the survival of life forms unless treated properly. There is need for implementing conservation measures and generating awareness among the people towards the lake which provides livelihood to the people and forms an integral part of the social, economic and cultural life. Keywords: Physicochemical analysis, WQI, lake, water pollution, festivals. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Lakes are important feature of the Earth’s landscapes. They are not only a significant source of precious water but provide valuable habitat to plants and animals, enhance the aesthetic beauty of the landscape and offer many recreational opportunities. Lakes are the hub of socio-economic activities of the country. These are dynamic ecosystem that reflects their specific characteristics, variations in climate and biological component. Lake pollution is one of the serious environment problems in development and pollutant discharge increase from industry, agriculture. The health of lakes and their biological diversity are directly related to health or almost every component of the ecosystem. According to WHO organization [1], about 80% of all diseases in human beings are caused by water. Once the groundwater and surface water quality is contaminated, its quality can’t be restored by stopping the pollutants from the source. It therefore becomes imperative to regularly monitor quality of groundwater and surface water resources and to device ways and mean to protect it. Hence, periodic monitoring and assessment of water quality helps to develop management strategies to control surface water pollution [2] in spite of increasing urbanization and anthropogenic pressure on them. Water quality index (WQI) is one of the most effective tools [3- 5] to communicate information on the quality of water to the concerned citizens and policy makers as it is an important parameter for the assessment and management of surface/ground waters. Hence, the present work has been carried out with a focus to evaluate comparatively the prevailing water quality and potability of Futala lake ( rainfed lake) by analyzing physico-chemical parameters by estimating WQI.