Background: The aim of this work is to propose a new river water quality index using fuzzy logic. The proposed\nfuzzy index combines quality indicatorsâ�� prescribed thresholds extracted mainly from the Moroccan and the Quebec\nwater legislations. The latter is reputed for its strict water quality assessment. The proposed index combines six\nindicators, and not only does it exhibit a tool that accounts for the discrepancy between the two base indices, but\nalso provides a quantifiable score for the determined water quality. These classifications with a membership grade\ncan be of a sound support for decision-making, and can help assign each section of a river a gradual quality\nsub-objective to be reached.\nResults: To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the new index was used to classify water\nquality in a number of stations along the basins of Bouregreg-Chaouia and Zizi-Rh�©ris. The obtained classifications\nwere then compared to the conventional physicochemical water quality index currently in use in Morocco. The\nresults revealed that the fuzzy index provided stringent classifications compared to the conventional index in 41%\nand 33% of the cases for the two basins respectively. These noted exceptions are mainly due to the big disparities\nbetween the different quality thresholds in the two standards, especially for fecal coliform and total phosphorus.\nConclusions: These large disparities put forward an argument for the Moroccan water quality legislation to be\nupgraded to align water and environmental assessment methods with other countries in order to mitigate the risks\nof failing to achieve a good ecological status.
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