Water Quality

Uniform Protocol on Water Quality Monitoring (UPWQM, order 2005) notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change specifies periodic monitoring of surface water and ground water. The water quality monitoring stations for surface water are classified as Baseline, Trend and Flux (or Impact) stations. As per the protocol, the Baseline stations shall be monitored 4 times a year for perennial rivers and lakes and3 to 4 times during flow period for seasonal rivers. The Trend and Flux stations shall be monitored once in a month i.e. twelve times a year. The water quality monitoring stations for ground water are classified as Baseline and Trend stations. The Baseline and Trend stations shall be monitored twice a year (i.e. pre and post monsoon). The protocol has been circulated to all the concerned agencies both at Central as well as State level for implementation.