Surface water quality profiling using the water quality index, pollution index and statistical methods: A critical review

Surface water is heavily exposed to contamination as this is the ubiquitous source for most of the water needs. This situation is exaggerated by the excessive population, heavy industrialization, rapid urbanization, and improper sanitation. Comprehensive measurement and knowledge extraction of surface water quality is therefore pivotal for ensuring safe and hygienic water use. Consequently, surface water quality profiling has received remarkable academic attention in recent decades that produces an ample amount of research results. This study, therefore, conducts a comprehensive systematic literature review to summarize and structure the existing literature and to identify current research trends and hotspots. Reported results suggest that the terrain of fresh surface water includes 13 distinct water sources that are predominantly used in 5 sectors.…