Assessment of Physico-chemical characteristics of water and Water Quality Index of Jambadahalla Dam, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka

The present study deals with the assessment of water quality of Jambadahalla dam situated in Chikmagalur district, Karnataka state to know the status and suitability of water for human usage. Surface water samples were collected for a period of three seasons. The collected water sample subjected to analysis of various physico-chemical parameters viz. air and water temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate. According to classification of dam on the basis of total alkalinity and total hardness the water body is nutrient rich during all seasons and falls under the category of moderately hard during all the seasons respectively. The water quality index (WQI) shows that the Jambadahalla dam water belongs to good water category. All the physico-chemical parameters were well within the permissible limit of drinking water standards.