Selecting IoT-Enabled Water Quality Index Parameters for Smart Environmental Management

The monitoring of water quality is crucial for safeguarding ecosystem health and ensuring the safety of water resources. The Water Quality Index (WQI) has been developed as a tool to condense complex water quality data into a single, easily interpretable value. Standard WQI calculations typically incorporate parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, and total dissolved solids (TDS). This study provides a comprehensive review of existing literature, focusing on the application of physico-chemical and biological sensors in water quality monitoring. The findings indicate that biological sensors, particularly those used for detecting contaminants such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), are often unsuitable for real-time monitoring due to inherent technical limitations. In contrast, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies significantly enhances the capability for real-time monitoring, enabling the prompt detection of variations in water quality. The study suggests that future research should prioritize the development of a WQI that incorporates the selected parameters identified in this research, ensuring that IoT-based water quality monitoring systems operate with greater efficiency and reliability. Such advancements are essential for supporting the sustainable management of water resources and enhancing environmental protection efforts.