This study assessed land-use impacts on surface-water quality and explored relationships between water indexes with water parameters. Twenty-seven water samples, collected from canals located in agricultural, industrial, and residential areas, were analyzed for 22 parameters. Water quality index (WQI), heavy
metal pollution index (HPI), and metal quality index (MQI) results showed poor to very poor water quality across all land uses. Agriculture had the highest WQI (39), followed by residential (12) and industrial areas (7). Industrial areas exhibited the highest HPI and MQI, indicating higher heavy metal pollution in the
areas. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between WQI and electrical conductivity and chemical oxygen demand (COD), explaining 71% of WQI variance. Discriminant analysis differentiated the three land uses with 100% accuracy using turbidity, COD, biochemical oxygen demand,
Mg, and, Na. Tailored management strategies should be developed for each land-used type to improve water quality in urban areas.
ⓒ 2026 BICE | Biochar-based Integrated Circular Economy for Paddy Rice.
