Calculating NSF Water Quality Index

Water quality index is a 100 point scale that summarizes results from a total of nine different measurements when complete:

Temperature- Calculator - Go to This Site
pH
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity
Fecal Coliform
Biochemical Oxygen
Total Phosphates
Nitrates
Total Suspended Solids

According to the book Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring, the National Sanitation Foundation surveyed 142 people representing a wide range of positions at the local, state, and national level about 35 water quality tests for possible inclusion in an index. Nine factors were chosen and some were judged more important than others, so a weighted mean is used to combine the values.

So that field measurements could be converted to index values, respondents were asked by questionnaire to graph the level of water quality (0 through 100) corresponding to the field measurements (e.g., pH 2-12). The curves were then averaged and are thought to represent the best professional judgment of the respondents.

When test results from fewer than all nine measurements are available, we preserve the relative weights for each factor and scale the total so that the range remains 0 to 100.

Water Quality Index: Fecal Coli

Note: If the number of fecal coliform colonies is greater than 100,000,
the quality index equals 2.

     Fecal coliform:  (colonies/100 ml)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: Total Solids 

Note: If total solids is greater than 500 ppm,
the quality index equals 20.

       Total solids:  (ppm)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: DO sat (%)

Note: If dissolved oxygen is greater than 140%,
the quality index equals 50.

 Convert dissolved oxygen (%sat) to water quality index.

   Dissolved oxygen:  (%sat)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: pH

Note: If pH is less than 2.0 or greater than 12.0,
the quality index equals 0.

Convert pH to water quality index.

                 pH:  (units)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: Turbidity

Note: If turbidity is greater than 100 ntu,
the quality index equals 5.

Convert turbidity to water quality index.

          Turbidity:  (jtu)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: BOD

Note: If biochemical oxygen demand is greater than 30 ppm,
the quality index equals 2.

Convert biochemical oxygen demand (ppm) to water quality index.

Biochemical oxygen demand:  (ppm)

                           

      Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: Nitrate

Note: If nitrate nitrogen is greater than 100 ppm,
the quality index equals 1.

Convert nitrates (ppm) to water quality index.

           Nitrates:  (ppm)

                     

Water quality index: 

Water Quality Index: Total Phosphate

Note: If total phosphate is greater than 10 ppm,
the quality index equals 2.

Convert total phosphate (ppm) to water quality index.

    Total phosphate:  (ppm)

                     

Water quality index: 
   

For Temperature Calculation - Please go to: The Temperature Website

Calculation of Overall Water Quality Index

Factor

Weight

Quality Index

The 100 point index can be divided into several ranges corresponding to the general descriptive terms shown in the table below.

Alkalinity Speciation Calculator

More References Related to :

WQI Index- Consumer Support Group Online Calculators
http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oqualindexcvttemponlycalc.html

Path Finder Science
http://pathfinderscience.net/stream/cproto4.cfm

Water Quality Index Stream Monitoring Program
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0203052.pdf

Water Quality Index System for Rivers in Malaysia
http://agrolink.moa.my/did/river/sgklang/sgklang_wqi.htm
 

For More information about the
Environmental Quality Center, please contact:

Attn: Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
PO Box 111
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766

Home | Technology Outreach Program |  Drinking Water Help Guides | Contact Us
 Available Test Parameters   
 Research Interests, Funded Research and Applied Research 
  Homeowner Information Water Testing
 Environmental Topics - Infiltration, Soils, 
 Wellhead Protection, Groundwater, Watersheds
 PowerPoint Presentations

Watershed Monitoring, Research, Training,
Lake and Watershed Studies, Volunteer Monitoring Programs

 The Water Library - Pdf files on Water Issues and Topics
 Tools for Undergraduate Students
 Field Training and Workshops in Earth Science
 Affiliations and Hot Links  

| Search Our Site| 

Website Design by:
Web Design Pros.Net