Assessment of Water Quality Index of Durresi-Kavaja Basin, Albania

Water Quality Index was applied to assess suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes in Durresi-Kavaja Basin, Rrogozhina Aquifer, Albania. The availability of good quality water is a necessary feature for preventing diseases and improving quality of life. Durresi-Kavaja Region experienced recently a rapid urbanization that was accompanied by the enormous increase for drinking water demand which could be provided by further using groundwater. Thirty nine water samples were collected from Mars to June 2015, to assess groundwater quality of Durresi-Kavaja Basin. Eleven chemical parameters have been considered for calculating the WQI like: pH, general hardness (GH), calcium, magnesium, alkaline cations, iron, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, and total dissolved solids (TDS). The computed WQI shows that 23% of water sample falls in excellent category, 72% in good water category and 5% poor water category. Water from Durresi-Kavaja Basin is mostly suitable for drinking purposes up to depth 400-500m, but further action for salinity control is required.

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