Pratyusha Tatavarthi, Prabhakar Singh, Vignesh Gandu, Dewanshi Dahake, Adarsh Reddy Vangala, Keerthi Katam

Abstract: Seasonal variations in water quality play a vital role in assessing the ecological and environmental behaviour of river systems, explicitly in agriculture-dominant regions like the Godavari River basin in Andhra Pradesh, India. The study focuses on evaluating spatiotemporal variations for key physicochemical parameters like pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), alkalinity, hardness, total solids (TS), chlorides, and optical density at 254 nm (OD254) during the three distinct hydrological seasons- pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon. Water samples were collected from strategically selected eight sites (named S1 to S8) along the river from Polavaram to Dowleswaram and were tested following standard laboratory procedures. The findings showed notable seasonal variations driven by anthropogenic activities, agricultural runoff, and monsoonal rainfall. While the greater amounts of chlorides during the pre-monsoon suggest pollutant deposition under low-flow circumstances, increased total solids during the monsoon were caused by surface runoff. Moderate levels of the majority of indicators in post-monsoon waters displayed the role of sedimentation and dilution. Site S2 was always recognized as an outlier based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), reflecting perennial pollution mostly due to organic content throughout the year. The results highlight the need to conduct ongoing seasonal monitoring to understand the changes in water quality, which can guide regional water management plans. The research highlights the need to practice integrated watershed management techniques in areas experiencing significant agricultural and industrial expansion to protect rivers.

Keywords: HCA, PCA, pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, Water quality

Date Published: October 17, 2025
DOI: 10.11159/ijepr.2025.007

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