INCOH/SAR-25/2002-Water quality indices

Abstract

Of all natural resources, water is unarguably the most essential and precious Life began in water, and life is nurtured with water. There are organisms, such as anaerobes, which can survive without oxygen. But no organism can survive for any length of time without water. The crucial role of water as the trigger and sustainer of civilizations has been witnessed throughout the human history. But, until as late as 1960s, the overriding interest in water has been vis-a- vis its quantity. Except in manifestly undesirable situations, the available water was automatically deemed utilizable water. Only during the last three decades of the twentieth century the concern for water quality has been exceedingly felt so that, by now, water quality has aquired as much importance as water quantity.