Evaluation of water quality of Babolrood and Kharoon rivers for aquatics and aquaculture based on BCWQI index

Due to the importance of Babrolrud and Kharoon rivers in providing agricultural water and fish farming around these rivers and discharging many pollutants to them, it seems necessary to evaluate the water quality of these rivers. On the other hand, providing a proper picture of the status of surface water makes any management decision that has direct or indirect impact on the surface water of the country more consciously made. In this cross-sectional study, sampling was carried out monthly from seven stations in Babolrood and Kharoon rivers over a period of one year (September 2018 to September 2019). The studied parameters measured seasonally were acidity, electrical conductivity, temperature, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, sulfate ion and Fecal coliform and some heavy metals, including Co, Pb, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cr and Ni. The data from the experiment were analyzed using the BCWQI quality index. According to the BCWQI index, the overall water quality of river water at all stations studied was evaluated for aquaculture and fish farming, but was moderate for agricultural use. It was found to be suitable in terms of pH, temperature and Total dissolved solids but was found to be unsuitable for aquatic dissolved oxygen. It also increases stress due to water turbidity in the two rivers and almost throughout the study period, while negatively affecting photosynthesis in aquatic communities, In the case of TDS, they were generally within the acceptable range. Heavy metals, too, were virtually exceeded at all stations that caused poor health. In such circumstances, it is necessary to take precautionary and precautionary work to preserve the ecosystem.