Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method

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According to SDG 6 it is crucial to provide every citizen with equitable water quality and quantity. Methods The study area is the smart city of Bhubaneswar with 67 wards and three zones: the north zone, south-west zone, and south-east zone with around 12.4 lakh population. To maintain the water quality in the supply pipeline in this city, which is always assumed to be safe, it needs to be examined within certain time intervals to check the contamination. In this context, studies on water quality parameters in the supply pipeline network from different anticipated vulnerable areas have been collected for testing. In this context, water samples were collected from areas near industries, market complexes, educational institutions, and construction sites of each ward of Bhubaneswar. Nearly 10 water quality parameters were tested and analyzed using the weighted arithmetic water quality index method. This method takes input of all the parameters and provides the overall water quality index value, which classifies the water in different grades like excellent, good, poor, and very poor quality. Results According to the WHO (2011) guidelines, the study found that there is a deviation in the parameters like 10.78% in pH, 19.48% in dissolved oxygen, 43.88% in conductivity, and 22.95% in hardness from the standard limit, but the overall water quality index indicates the water is not in the poor and very poor range. Also, water quality index values identify that the water in the south-east zone is excellent compared to the north and south-west zones. The reason for the slight deterioration is due to the underground cable works, road works and also some areas where the old pipeline system is still existing due to personal encroachment of people as per Public health Engineering department. 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F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.1 ) NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article. Close Copy Citation Details Export Export Citation Sciwheel EndNote Ref. Manager Bibtex ProCite Sente EXPORT Select a format first Track Share ▬ ✚ Research Article Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] Kshyana Prava Samal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0200-5182 1 , Ashok Kumar Tarai 2 Kshyana Prava Samal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0200-5182 1 , Ashok Kumar Tarai 2 PUBLISHED 28 Oct 2024 Author details Author details 1 Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India 2 Research Scholar, School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India Kshyana Prava Samal Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation Ashok Kumar Tarai Roles: Resources, Software, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing OPEN PEER REVIEW DETAILS REVIEWER STATUS This article is included in the Enhancing water, energy, and food security in an era of increasing demand, degradation, depletion and climate change collection. Abstract Background Drinking water of the right and approved quality is a basic requirement for the development of any civilization. According to SDG 6 it is crucial to provide every citizen with equitable water quality and quantity. Methods The study area is the smart city of Bhubaneswar with 67 wards and three zones: the north zone, south-west zone, and south-east zone with around 12.4 lakh population. To maintain the water quality in the supply pipeline in this city, which is always assumed to be safe, it needs to be examined within certain time intervals to check the contamination. In this context, studies on water quality parameters in the supply pipeline network from different anticipated vulnerable areas have been collected for testing. In this context, water samples were collected from areas near industries, market complexes, educational institutions, and construction sites of each ward of Bhubaneswar. Nearly 10 water quality parameters were tested and analyzed using the weighted arithmetic water quality index method. This method takes input of all the parameters and provides the overall water quality index value, which classifies the water in different grades like excellent, good, poor, and very poor quality. Results According to the WHO (2011) guidelines, the study found that there is a deviation in the parameters like 10.78% in pH, 19.48% in dissolved oxygen, 43.88% in conductivity, and 22.95% in hardness from the standard limit, but the overall water quality index indicates the water is not in the poor and very poor range. Also, water quality index values identify that the water in the south-east zone is excellent compared to the north and south-west zones. The reason for the slight deterioration is due to the underground cable works, road works and also some areas where the old pipeline system is still existing due to personal encroachment of people as per Public health Engineering department. READ ALL READ LESS Keywords Drinking water, Heavy metal contamination, SDG 6, Supply water, Water quality parameter, Water quality index Corresponding Author(s) Kshyana Prava Samal ( [email protected] ) Close Corresponding author: Kshyana Prava Samal Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Grant information: This study was supported by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024. Indian Council of Social science and Research with (F.No. 02/147/2021-22/ICSSR/MJ/RP). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Copyright: © 2024 Samal KP and Tarai AK. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. How to cite: Samal KP and Tarai AK. Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.1 ) First published: 28 Oct 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.1 ) Latest published: 30 Oct 2025, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.3 )  There is a newer version of this article available. Suppress this message for one day. 1. Introduction The global water consumption has expanded, and this value will continue to increase over the next 50 years. To fulfill Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation, safe and reasonably priced drinking water must be provided by 2030. According to the Honorable Minister of Urban Development, Bhubaneswar topped the list of the top 20 smart cities out of 98 nominated cities. Bhubaneswar was selected under the Smart City Development Plan of the Indian Government. The primary mission of a smart city is to fulfill citizens’ desired aspirations in a smart and sustainable manner. Thus, it is worthwhile to determine the extent of water quality detrimental across the wards of Bhubaneswar and intervene in a suitable way to ensure that the SDGs are met. It has been observed that cities like Bhubaneswar with large populations depend more on surface water than on groundwater. Water quality can deteriorate during distribution because of several variables, including interactions within the bulk water or between the distributed water and pipe material ( Kirmeyer et al. 2001 ). Furthermore, the breakdown of disinfectants, such as chlorine, can deteriorate the microbiological conditions of the distribution system, putting customers’ health at risk ( Clark and Haught, 2005 ). Due to rapid urbanization, people’s concern for health issues, and the higher aspiration level of consumers in Bhubaneswar, the government has focused more on water supply for human consumption ( Government of Odisha, 2013 ). Domestic water demand is growing dramatically in Bhubaneswar because of the twin phenomena of population growth and rural-urban migration, which enhance industrialization, market segmentation, construction, etc. Nowadays, owing to population growth, a huge gap is created between population and water sources, leading to the rapid expansion of various water networks. A potable piped water supply with access to good quality at a low cost, equitable, sustainable, and environmentally acceptable is urgently needed. The aging and deterioration of pipeline systems in the distribution has now become a challenge to overcome ( Shannon et al., 2008 ). Although the piped water supply has been implemented in Bhubaneswar, a mid-sized city and state capital of Odisha, India, the question arises as to whether equity in quality with real sense has been achieved. Because the public comes from a variety of professional backgrounds, it is important to raise awareness about the quality of the water supply ( Nasirian, 2007 ). The water quality index (WQI), which was initially developed by Horton in 1965, has been widely used by many researchers. The WQI is an all-inclusive instrument that combines several supply water chemical constituents in a comprehensible format. This is accomplished by using an aggregation function and selectively weighing the water quality factors ( Abtahi et al. 2015 ). Moreover, the Water Quality Index (WQI) has demonstrated efficacy in disseminating water quality data to decision makers, as evidenced by its extensive implementation in numerous water quality assessment ( Batabyal and Chakraborty, 2015 ; Chen et al., 2019 ). The Water Quality Index (WQI), frequently employed by researchers in developing nations, utilizes the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method (WAWQIM). This strategy is especially common in areas with inadequate infrastructure for comprehensive data collection ( Yogendra & Puttaiah 2008 ). This study employed the Water Quality Index (WQI) as a tool to scrutinize water quality and its variations. Assuming that the piped water supply system is consistently of high quality and safe, several investigations on its quality have been conducted. We measured some of the critical quality characteristics at 335 locations that received piped water supply in order to determine the answer to this issue. The water quality parameters studied include hardness, pH, chloride, dissolved oxygen (DO), alkalinity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, sulfate, lead, copper, and zinc. Few studies on the quality measurement of supply water have assumed that supply water quality deteriorates with the aging of infrastructure, type of pipe materials, and the combination of wastewater and drinking water ( Liu et al., 2017 ). Potable water needs to maintain its quality according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization ( WHO, 2011 ) and BIS ( Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 10500:2012 ). Sometimes, these factors may lead to a loss in the quality of the piped water supply. It was observed that most of the leak points were detected as damages and cracks owing to the laxity of contractors during installation and pipe fittings. In addition, most of the leak points were detected at the connection points of couplings, elbows, valves, and saddle clamps. Backfilling and bedding sand containing large and sharp stones causes pipes and fittings to scratch and puncture ( Qahtani et al., 2020 ). Furthermore, it was also found that the water quality deteriorated when synthetic materials were used in water pipes, particularly when trace organics were leached out by the flowing water. After testing, the presence of carbon tetra chloride (CTC), toluene, chloroform, styrene, and O-xylene were also detected in the water pipeline system ( Shaikh et al., 2019 ). The variation in dissolved oxygen is directly related to the corrosion rate through redox couple reactions in pipeline systems. Dissolved oxygen consumption is related to pipeline materials such as copper, steel, and iron ( Vargas et al., 2010 ). Biochemical oxygen demand was used to calculate the total amount of oxygen consumed over an extended period of time by bacteria and other microorganisms involved in stabilizing decomposable organic matter. Biochemical oxygen demand tests are widely used to assess the effects of effluents from sources, such as pulp mills, municipal wastewater treatment facilities, feedlots, and vegetation used in food processing, which can include large amounts of biodegradable organics. According to Dey et al. (2021) , an increased oxygen demand indicates the possibility of an increase in dissolved oxygen as the organic content in the sewage is oxidized by macrobiotics. The extremely low oxygen demand indicates the presence of toxic or nonbiodegradable contaminants in pure water. When the biochemical oxygen demand of drinking water ranges from 1 to 2 ppm, it is considered reasonably clean; when it falls between 3 and 5 ppm, it is considered moderately clean. The biochemical oxygen demand of contaminated water is 6–9 ppm. A high level of pollution is indicated by a biochemical oxygen demand of more than 10 ppm in water ( Koda et al., 2017 ). Corrosion and water quality degradation in water distribution systems are significantly influenced by the pipe type used. A combination of unlined cast iron pipes and galvanized pipes was used to study the characteristics of the deposited scale and water quality in the water distribution system. Bench testing was conducted to assess water quality parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation and reduction potential, alkalinity, conductivity, turbidity, color, Fe2+, and Zn 2+ . It was found that the significant effect of the pipe material on the corrosion scale characteristics leads to water quality variation. Iron, which is primarily released as ferric particulates from pipe lines, affects pH and alkalinity levels ( Li et al. 2016 ). Learbuch et al. (2021) observed the impact of pipe material on the microbial population and biofilm development in semi-stagnant conditions. It was deduced that pipe material plays an important role in the growth of biomass concentration, the increase of specific microorganisms, and the bacterial community composition in the distribution system with unchlorinated drinking water. 2. Methods 2.1 Study area Bhubaneswar is situated at 20 °12 n to 20 °25’ N latitude and 85 °44’E to 85 °55’E longitude across the main axis of eastern Ghats in the Khordha district of Odisha on the western flange, as shown in Figure 1a (also refer underlying data). Bhubaneswar is the capital city of eastern Odisha. The rich heritage associated with the city, the spread of religious spots (Bhubaneswar is referred to as Temple City), contemporary acknowledgement as an education, and IT hub have contributed significantly to the growth and publicity of the city. Figure 1a. Bhubaneswar index map. The BMC (Bhubaneswar Municipality Corporation) has separated the city of Bhubaneswar into three zones. There were 21 wards in the north zone, 21 in the south-west zone, and 25 in the south-east zone. The total population in all of these wards was approximately one million. The study concentrated on piped supply water in the northern, South-West, and South-East zones of Bhubaneswar, which comprises 67 wards, as per Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation ( BMC, 2011 ). The supply water sample collection areas were emphasized, keeping the following vulnerable areas in mind: industrial areas, market complexes, high-density populations, construction sites, and academic institutions. The water quality parameters for Bhubaneswar were tested zone-wise in the laboratory according to the guidelines stated in the BIS ( Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 10500:2012 ). Water samples were taken at random from the 67 wards listed above, and the results are shown as ward-wise data. The detail flow chart of the process is mentioned in the Figure 1b . In each ward, five locations were selected, keeping in mind the areas with the presence of more population, new ongoing constructions, more academic institutions or industries, and the presence of market hubs. The areas were selected keeping in mind that there is a greater chance of contamination in comparison to other areas due to the multiusers in one place and the chance of more wear and tear, corrosion, leakage, etc. of the water pipeline system. Figure 1b. Flow chart of the detail study. These parameters were selected by reviewing previous studies on the quality of potable water. Supply water samples were collected with a sample size of approximately 335 from different locations and two samples from the same location. The samples were kept at approximately 5 °C in glass bottles with a one liter capacity for analysis. From each location, two water samples were collected in clean screw-tight bottles. The testing procedure followed the American Public Health Association (APHA) book. Parameters such as sulfate, nitrate, lead, copper, and zinc were obtained from the State Pollution Control Board Laboratory in Bhubaneswar. Physicochemical parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, sulfate, nitrate were tested using the standard methods in APHA (1926) . The weighted arithmetic index approach was used to calculate the water quality index by considering the average value of each parameter ( Brown et al., 1970 ). Bhubaneswar City mostly depends on surface water sources such as the Mahanandi, Kuakhai, and Daya rivers. The intake points are located on the banks of these rivers. There are multiple water treatment plants (WTP) with a capacity of millions of gallons per day (MGD) that supply treated water to Bhubaneswar City. Thereafter, the treated water is transmitted to the mass-balancing reservoir, the underground reservoir (UGR), which is pumped to the elevated service reservoir (ESR). House-level connections receive water from elevated service reservoirs through gravity. A schematic of these sources is presented in Figure 2 . Figure 2. Schematic diagram of Bhubaneswar water supply system. 2.1.1 Use of ArcGIS Software for identification of contaminated areas This study applied ArcGIS software to identify the topographical features of possible contaminated areas through spatial analysis and visualization. The advanced functionalities of ArcGIS facilitate a comprehensive understanding of environmental degradation and strengthen environmental management strategies. To explore the spatial variation in water quality parameters over the area of Bhubaneswar, the inverse distance weighted interpolation technique was used to produce different maps using the ArcGIS tool with scaling of the concentration of water quality parameters. 2.1.2 Interpolating surfaces in ARCGIS by Inverse distance-weighted interpolation (IDW) ArcGIS Spatial Analyst offers several interpolation tools for generating surface grids from point data. IDW method is used, when the set of points are dense enough to capture the extent of local surface variation needed for analysis. This is one of the simplest and most readily available methods. The method assumes that a weighted average of values at points within a certain cut-off distance or from a given number m of the closest points (typically 10 to 30) can approximate the value at an unsampled point. Weights are usually inversely proportional to a power of distance ( Sajil Kumar & Kuriachan, 2022 ; Watson, 2013 ), which is shown in Equation 1 . (1) λ i = Di − a ∑ i = 1 n Di − a where λ i is the weight of the unknown point; D i is the distance between point i and the unknown point; and a is the power of ten of weight. While this basic method is easy to implement and is available in almost any GIS. IDW calculates cell values using a linearly weighted combination of sample points. The assigned weight is a function of the distance of an input point from the output cell location. The greater the distance, the less influence the cell has on the output value. 2.2 Analysis of water quality parameters 2.2.1 Calculation of Water Quality Index The WQI was determined using drinking water quality criteria recognized by the Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Oni and Fasakin (2016) , the WQI approach is a useful tool for educating the public and policymakers about the quality of the water. It is a unambiguous tool that makes it possible to integrate water metrics that are crucial for the water quality. Here ten parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, total dissolved solids, biochemical Oxygen demand, sulphate and nitrate are considered for calculation of water quality index. Parameters like lead copper and zinc are excluded from the calculation because these values are below the range of detectable limit. Given these conditions, the weighted arithmetic index approach ( Brown et al., 1970 ) is utilized in this work to compute the WQI, which is the most appropriate technique to assess the impact of pollution on supply water. The Water Quality Index (WQI) ( Inayathulla et al., 2013 ) is given as: WQI = ∑ i = 1 n q i w i ∑ i = 1 n w i , Where, q i = quality rating of i th water quality parameter w i = unit weight of i th water quality parameter ≃ 1; and q i relates the value of the parameter in polluted water to the standard permissible value i,e. q i = 100 ( v i − v i 0 s i − v i 0 ) k = 1 ∑ i = 1 n 1 s i Where, v i = estimated value of the i th parameter, v io = ideal value of the i th parameter s i = standard permissible value of the i th parameter as per IS 10500 In most of the cases, v io = 0 except for pH and dissolved oxygen For pH, v io = 7 and for dissolved oxygen, v io = 14.6 mg/l The unit weight ( w i ), which is inversely proportional to the values of the recommended standards is obtained as: w i = k si , Where k = 1 ∑ i = 1 n 1 / si The rating of the water quality using the above method is shown in Table 1 . Table 1. Water quality status using Water Quality Index values ( Sinha, Kumar & Singh, 2014 ). Water Quality Index Level Water Quality Status 0-25 Excellent Water Quality 26-50 Good Water Quality 51-75 Poor Water Quality 76-100 Very Poor Water Quality >100 Unsuitable for Drinking 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Water quality parameters: Zone wise Statistical Overview The statistical summary of water quality parameters and their comparison with the permissible limits indicate that the percentage of samples deviating from the permissible limit as per IS 10500 (2012) are shown in Table 2 . The water quality parameters were plotted for the three different zones using box-whisker plots, as illustrated in Figure 3-a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j . The corresponding maps with vulnerable and safe areas are shown in Figures 4 – 13 (refer underlying data). Table 2. Summary statistics of water quality parameters and comparison with IS 10500 (2012) standards. Water quality parameters Zones Min. Max. Avg. Standard Deviation IS 10500 Guidelines No. of samples exceeded the permissible limit Percentage of samples exceeded the permissible limit (%) pH North 5.56 8.61 7.66 0.70 6.5-8.5 13 12.62 South-West 5.56 8.61 7.73 0.69 14 13.33 South-East 6.23 8.59 7.56 0.48 8 6.40 Dissolved Oxygen North 5.91 8.38 7.50 0.52 6.5-8 mg/l 22 21.35 South-West 5.91 8.95 7.54 0.54 23 21.90 South-East 5.91 8.20 7.43 0.49 19 15.20 Electrical Conductivity (EC) North 58.25 480.30 255.42 90.63 300 mg/l 33 32.03 South-West 67.70 519.90 251.01 85.78 29 27.61 South-East 173.16 581.47 342.97 73.69 90 72 Alkalinity North 16.00 128.00 58.83 21.85 200 mg/l - - South-West 16.00 128.00 59.64 21.97 - - South-East 22.00 78.00 46.05 13.75 - - Hardness North 13.12 262.40 118.45 60.24 200 mg/l 14 13.59 South-West 13.12 229.60 116.96 57.98 11 10.47 South-East 98.40 268.96 186.09 40.78 56 44.8 Chloride North 18.46 87.03 33.86 11.65 250 mg/l - - South-West 18.46 87.03 34.29 10.76 - - South-East 21.30 64.61 38.84 7.61 - - Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) North 37.86 312.20 166.02 58.91 500 mg/l - - South-West 44.01 337.94 163.16 55.75 - - South-East 112.56 377.96 222.93 47.90 - - Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) North 0.58 4.98 2.54 1.32 <5.0 mg/l - - South-West 0.58 4.98 2.75 1.26 - - South-East 0.55 4.60 2.39 1.00 - - Sulphate North 3 30 15.57282 8.307334 200 mg/l - - South-West 3 30 17.14286 8.105588 - - South-East 3 30 16.88 8.048843 - - Nitrate North 0.2 24.9 11.80777 7.346517 45 mg/l - - South-West 3 30 16.41905 7.595268 - - South-East 3 30 16.88 8.062858 - - Figure 3. Box-whisker plot represents comparison (a) pH, (b) dissolved Oxygen, (c) electrical conductivity, (d) alkalinity, (e) hardness, (f) chloride, (g) total dissolved solids, (h) biochemical oxygen demand, (i) sulphate, (j) nitrate between north zone, south-west zone and south-east zone. Figure 4. Ward wise pH in supply water of Bhubaneswar (Refer underlying data). Table 2 represents the pH levels, with a standard deviation ranging from 0.48 to 0.70 across zones, which demonstrates moderate variability, while the average pH values fall within the recommended range of 6.5 to 8.5. The percentage of samples exceeding the permissible limit was minimum in the southeast zone, that is, 6.40%, and the maximum variation was 13.33% in the southwest zone. Dissolved oxygen levels exhibited moderate variability, with standard deviations ranging from 0.49 0.54. Despite the average values being within the acceptable range of 6.5-8 mg/l. The percentage of samples exceeding the permissible limit was minimum in the southeast zone, that is, 15.20%, and the maximum variation was 21.90% in the south-west zone. Electrical conductivity values, with standard deviations ranging from 73.69 to 90.63, indicate considerable variability in mineral content across zones. While the average electrical conductivity values generally align with the guidelines, the percentage of samples exceeding the permissible limits has a minimum of 27.61% in the southwest zone and a maximum of 72% in the southeast zone. These parameters exhibited varying levels of variability and adherence to guidelines across zones. Hardness and total dissolved solids showed significant standard deviations ranging from 40.78 to 60.24 and from 47.90 to 58.91, respectively, indicating substantial variability in mineral content. The minimum variation in hardness was 44.8% in the east zone and a maximum of 10.47% in the southwest zone. The percentage of samples exceeding permissible limits varied widely across parameters and zones, highlighting the complexity of water quality management. Parameters such as alkalinity, hardness, chloride, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, sulfate, and nitrate were within permissible ranges. As shown in Figure 3 , a comparative analysis was performed for various water quality parameters across three distinct geographic zones: north, south-west, and south-east. Each box-whisker plot represents the distribution and central tendency of a specific parameter within the zones. 3.2 Comparative Analysis of Water Quality parameters in North, South-West, and South-East zones From Table 2 and Figure 3(a) (refer underlying data), it is found that the Bhubaneswar piped supply water has a pH range of 5.56 to 8.61 in both the north and south-west zones, whereas it is 6.23 to 8.59 in the south-east zone. The average values of all three zones were 7.66, 7.73, and 7.56, respectively, indicating that the supply water was slightly alkaline. The contents of hydroxides, carbonates, and bicarbonates primarily regulate the alkalinity of the groundwater ( Sajil Kumar et al., 2013 ). Piped supply water samples exceeding the permissible limit were 12.62%, 13.33% in the south-west zone, and 6.4% in the south-east zones, respectively. The standard deviation was 0.48 to 0.70, which indicates that the value clustered tightly to the mean. Figure 3(a) represents the areas that are more affected by pH: Damana Area of Ward No. 8 and Indradhanu Market Area of Ward No. 27, whose pH values were 8.61. Areas with acidic water have also been detected, such as Sriram Nagar of Ward No. 59, Swadhin Nagar of Ward No. 34, and Pancha Sakha Nagar of Ward No. 64, with pH values of 5.56, 5.74, 5.74 and 5.56, respectively. The results show that the areas that are affected by this variation in pH are expected to be affected by factors such as the old age of supply pipes (more than 40 years) due to a lack of maintenance and many newly constructed underground sewerage systems, which cause contamination in the pipeline system ( Eun et al., 2011 ). Dissolved oxygen values are a significant indicator of water quality and organic pollution in water bodies. Dissolved oxygen had average values of 7.5, 7.54, and 7.43 in the north, south, west, and southeast zones, respectively. There is a deviation of dissolved oxygen values of 21.35%, 21.9%, and 15.2% from the permissible range in the northern, South-west and South-east respectively, as shown in Table 2 and Figure 3(b) . In addition, it was found that there were some areas with dissolved oxygen values less than 6 mg/l, such as Sikharchandi Nagar of Word No. 2, Shakti Vihar of Ward No. 20, Shree Vihar of Ward No. 22, Dumduma Phase 3 of Ward No. 64, and Jharapada High School Area of Ward No. 42, as presented in Figure 5 Ward wise dissolved oxygen in supply water of Bhubaneswar, refer underlying data. Typically, polyphosphates are coated inside municipal water supply pipes to shield the metal from oxygen exposure, resulting in high dissolved oxygen concentrations ( Sarin et al., 2004 ). Figure 5. Ward wise dissolved oxygen in supply water of Bhubaneswar. It is well understood that the electrical conductivity of water determines the minerals and salts that are dissolved in the water. Electrical conductivity ranges from 58.25 s/cm to 480 s/cm in the north zone, 67.7 s/cm to 519.9 s/cm in the South-West zone, and 173 s/cm to 581.47 s/cm in Bhubaneswar’s South-East zone, respectively. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 3(c) , in the north zone, 32.03% of the samples, 27.61% in the south-west zone, and 72% in the south-east zone are beyond the permissible limit. Some areas had a conductivity higher than 500 μs/cm: Sir Pu Bhoi Sahi of ward no. 51, Nico Park Lake area of ward no. 28, Bhoi Sahi of Ward no. 28, Gridco Colony of ward no. 29, Sarala Nagar, and Santoshi Nagar of Ward no. 31, as shown in Figure 6 Ward wise electrical conductivity in supply water of Bhubaneswar Refer underlying data. Runoff water, septic systems, animal waste, and sewage leakage into the ruptured old pipeline system are the causes of this The alkalinity values of the different areas presented in Figure 3(d) indicate that in all three zones, the data are below the permissible limit. Low values of alkalinity were observed in the southeast zone and high values in the northern zone. As shown in Figure 7 (refer underlying data) Ward wise alkalinity in supply water of Bhubaneswar, no areas were affected by the alkalinity. Figure 6. Ward wise electrical conductivity in supply water of Bhubaneswar. Figure 7. Ward wise alkalinity in supply water of Bhubaneswar. Hardness concentration varied between 13.12 mg/l and 262.2 mg/l in the north zone, 13.12 mg/l to 229.6 mg/l in the south-west zone, and 98.4 mg/l to 268.96 mg/l in the south-east zone, with an average value of 118.45 mg/l, 116.96 mg/l, and 186.09 mg/l, respectively, presented in Table 2 and Figure 3(e) . The presence of cations such as calcium, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and other bivalent and trivalent cations is the cause of water hardness ( Malakootian et al., 2010 ). Supply of water with a high hardness level results in a poor taste of water. Furthermore, persistent use of an aberrant concentration in humans might result in kidney stones and cardiovascular issues ( Chaudhary and Satheeshkumar, 2018 ). The highest deviation in hardness was found in two areas: Champa Pokhari of ward no. 45 and Rabindra Mandap of ward no. 36. These are the maximum values of the hardness of the supply water in Bhubaneswar, as shown in Figure 8 (refer underlying data) Ward wise hardness in supply water of Bhubaneswar. Figure 8. Ward wise hardness in supply water of Bhubaneswar. Chloride infiltrates supply water systems through a combination of natural processes, such as soil erosion, geological weathering, and human activities, such as fertilizer usage and wastewater discharge ( Clesceri, 2012 ). In the North zone, the mean chloride level is recorded at 33.86 mg/l, while in the South-West zone, it slightly increases to 34.29 mg/l, and in the South-East zone, it further rises to 38.84 mg/l, as illustrated in Figure 3(f) . The standard deviation values for chloride vary across zones, with the north zone exhibiting 11.65, the South-West zone at 10.76, and the South-East zone at 7.61. These deviations indicate the extent of variability in the chloride levels within each zone. Remarkably, Figure 9 Ward wise chloride in supply water of Bhubaneswar (refer underlying data), shows no deviation from the permissible limit, confirming the safety of the Bhubaneswar water supply in terms of chloride contamination. Figure 9. Ward wise chloride in supply water of Bhubaneswar. Total dissolved solids in the supply water varied between 37.86 mg/l and 312.2 mg/l in the north zone, 44.01 mg/l to 337.94 mg/l in the South-West zone, and 112.565 mg/l to 377.96 mg/l in the South-East zone, as per Figure 3(g) . The average concentration of the supply water samples of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar was 166.02 mg/l, 163.16 mg/l, and 222.93 mg/l in the above-mentioned three zones, respectively. This demonstrates that the overall quality of the supply water is below the permissible level of 500 mg/l (IS 10500, 2012). In Figure 10 (refer underlying data) Ward wise Total dissolved solids in supply water of Bhubaneswar, it is demonstrated that no total dissolved solid value has exceeded the permissible limit. Figure 10. Ward wise Total dissolved solids in supply water of Bhubaneswar. As shown in Figure 3(h) , the mean value in the three zones varies from 2.39 2.75. This indicates a relatively consistent range of values across the zones. According to Figure 11 Ward wise biochemical oxygen demand in supply water of Bhubaneswar (refer underlying data), all biochemical oxygen demand values fell within the allowed range. This suggests that the water quality in the measured zones met the specified standards or regulatory requirements, affirming the overall environmental health in those areas. Figure 11. Ward wise biochemical oxygen demand in supply water of Bhubaneswar. According to IS-10500-2012 standards, the acceptable range for sulfate is set at 200 mg/l, with levels beyond 400 mg/l seeming harmful and potentially disease-causing if used for consumption. Various factors contribute to the presence of sulfate, including mineral dissolution, atmospheric deposition, and human activities such as fertilizer use and mining ( Shengnan et al., 2021 ). The high sulfate levels found in many global aquifers are largely due to gypsum. The average value ranges between 15.57 mg/l and 17.14 mg/l in the three zones of Bhubaneswar. Figure 12 Ward wise sulphate in supply water of Bhubaneswar (refer underlying data), and 3(i) (refer underlying data) show that the sulfate value does not exceed the permissible limit. Figure 12. Ward wise sulphate in supply water of Bhubaneswar. According to IS10500-2012 standards, the nitrate value range was set at 45 mg/l, representing the desired level, and all samples fell within the permissible limit. The maximum observed value was 30 mg/l in both the Southeast and Southwest zones, as illustrated in Figure 3(j) . Adherence to regulatory standards is critical for ensuring water safety. The prevalence of high precipitation rates, which facilitate fertilizer infiltration, has been identified as the primary driver behind elevated NO3- values in the source of the supply water ( Wagh et al., 2017 , 2018 ). High concentrations of nitrate cause the blue baby syndrome ( Elwood and van der Werf, 2022 ). Figure 13 Ward wise nitrate in supply water of Bhubaneswar (refer underlying data), (refer underlying data) indicates that Bhubaneswar supply water is safe in terms of nitrate contamination. Figure 13. Ward wise nitrate in supply water of Bhubaneswar. 3.3 Water Quality Index status values in North zone, South-West zone and South-East zone From Table 3 , it is observed that water quality is excellent and good in the supply water of the northern, south-west, and south-east zones of Bhubaneswar. The highest percentage of excellent water quality was found in the south-east zone of Bhubaneswar (28.58%), while the lowest percentage was found in the south-west zone (9.53%). The highest percentage of good water quality (90.47%) was found in the south-west zone of Bhubaneswar. The northern and south-east zone show 70-80% of a good water quality index. This is because the southeast zone has less human interference. The percentage of good quality is lower in the south-west zone than in others because many old pipeline networks still exist in these areas, as per the report of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED). No signs of poor, very poor, or unsuitable water quality indices were found in any of the zones. Table 3. Water quality Index status of supply water in different zones of Bhubaneswar ( Gao et al., 2020 ). Water Quality Status North Zone South-West zone South-East zone Excellent Water Quality 23.81% 9.53% 28.58% Good Water Quality 76.19% 90.47% 71.42% Poor Water Quality - - - Very Poor Water Quality - - - Unsuitable for Drinking - - - As shown in Figure 14 Comparison of water Quality Index of supply water in different zones of Bhubaneswar (refer underlying data), the overall water quality of Bhubaneswar is in good condition, although some parameters deviated slightly from their permissible limits. This is because of the large sample size in a greater number of areas, where the deviations in most of the parameters are within the permissible limit, and very few parameters, such as hardness and electrical conductivity, deviated in a slightly higher range from the permissible limit. However, it did not significantly affect the water quality index values. Figure 14. Comparison of water quality index of the north zone, south-west zone and south-east zone. 4. Conclusion This study evaluated the overall water quality of supply water in different zones of Bhubaneswar, where the excellent water quality percentage was comparatively less than the percentage of good water quality. The south-west zone more areas are excellent water quality than north-zone and south-east zone. The study indicates that if the water supply network system is not properly monitored, future water quality deterioration will be a major issue. Suitable policies should be incorporated to address these issues in the future. A pipeline system of higher-grade material can be suggested where quality deterioration has already begun. Advanced technologies for the detection of faults in pipeline systems must be followed prior to water contamination. Declarations Consent for publication All authors critically evaluated the manuscript for intellectual content, approved the final version to be published, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Data availability Underlying data Figshare: Title: Research Raw Data files for supply water of Bhubaneswar, https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.26819056.v4 ( Samal and Prava 2024 ). This Project contains the following underlying data: • Volunerable Area maps using ArcGIS for all the 8 parameters and also Bhubaneswar Study area map (JPG format with 300 dpi) • Water Quality parameters in different zones and it’s comparison (JPG format with 300 dpi). • Excel Data of 10 parameters of 67 wards divided into three zones (.xls) • Excel Data of Water Quality Index calculation of 67 wards divided into three zones (.xls) Data are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero ‘No Rights Reserved’ data waiver (CC0 Public domain dedication). References Abtahi M, et al. : A modified drinking water quality index (DWQI) for assessing drinking source water quality in rural communities of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Ecol. Indic. 2015; 53 : 283–291. 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Comments on this article Comments (0) Version 3 VERSION 3 PUBLISHED 28 Oct 2024 ADD YOUR COMMENT Comment Author details Author details 1 Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India 2 Research Scholar, School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India Kshyana Prava Samal Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation Ashok Kumar Tarai Roles: Resources, Software, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing Competing interests No competing interests were disclosed. Grant information This study was supported by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024. Indian Council of Social science and Research with (F.No. 02/147/2021-22/ICSSR/MJ/RP). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Article Versions (3) version 3 Revised Published: 30 Oct 2025, 13:1286 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.3 version 2 Revised Published: 22 Apr 2025, 13:1286 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.2 version 1 Published: 28 Oct 2024, 13:1286 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.1 Copyright © 2024 Samal KP and Tarai AK. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Download Export To Sciwheel Bibtex EndNote ProCite Ref. Manager (RIS) Sente metrics Views Downloads F1000Research - - PubMed Central info_outline Data from PMC are received and updated monthly. - - Citations open_in_new 0 open_in_new 0 open_in_new SEE MORE DETAILS CITE how to cite this article Samal KP and Tarai AK. Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156276.1 ) NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article. COPY CITATION DETAILS track receive updates on this article Track an article to receive email alerts on any updates to this article. TRACK THIS ARTICLE Share Open Peer Review Current Reviewer Status: ? Key to Reviewer Statuses VIEW HIDE Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions Version 1 VERSION 1 PUBLISHED 28 Oct 2024 Views 0 Cite How to cite this report: K Srivastava S. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r350892 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-350892 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. Close Copy Citation Details Reviewer Report 13 Jan 2025 Sudhir K Srivastava , Central Ground Water Board, Lucknow, UP, India Approved with Reservations VIEWS 0 https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r350892 The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. ... Continue reading READ ALL The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly References 1. Srivastava Sudhir: VULNERABILITY TO CONTAMINATION OF SHALLOW GROUNDWATER OF BHUBANESWAR CITY DUE TO URBANIZATION. Research gate: . 2000. 2. Srivastava Sudhir: Contamination of shallow groundwater of Bhubaneswar city due to urbanization. Research gate: . 2014. Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise: Water Quality Ground Water Quality and Hydrochemistry I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. Close READ LESS CITE CITE HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT K Srivastava S. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r350892 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-350892 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article. COPY CITATION DETAILS Report a concern Author Response 21 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 21 Feb 2025 Author Response Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the ... Continue reading Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. Ans : The objective of the project is to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of supply water in the piped water supply system. Consequently, the Fe+2 and Zn2+ parameters related to the piped water supply system have been reviewed in Section 8 of the introduction. Since the scope of the project was limited to physico-chemical parameters, testing for Fe+2 and Zn2+ was not conducted. We greatly appreciate your comments, and it will be taken into consideration in the next phase of the project. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Ans: Most of the chemical analysis has been conducted at the output point of the pipe water supply, as the water in the pipeline system comes from the water treatment plant. The BOD values at the source point have not been considered, as the water is treated before distribution and meets the required standard limits. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. Ans : The objective of the project is to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of supply water in the piped water supply system. Consequently, the Fe+2 and Zn2+ parameters related to the piped water supply system have been reviewed in Section 8 of the introduction. Since the scope of the project was limited to physico-chemical parameters, testing for Fe+2 and Zn2+ was not conducted. We greatly appreciate your comments, and it will be taken into consideration in the next phase of the project. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Ans: Most of the chemical analysis has been conducted at the output point of the pipe water supply, as the water in the pipeline system comes from the water treatment plant. The BOD values at the source point have not been considered, as the water is treated before distribution and meets the required standard limits. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly Competing Interests: No Close Report a concern Respond or Comment COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT Author Response 21 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 21 Feb 2025 Author Response Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the ... Continue reading Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. Ans : The objective of the project is to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of supply water in the piped water supply system. Consequently, the Fe+2 and Zn2+ parameters related to the piped water supply system have been reviewed in Section 8 of the introduction. Since the scope of the project was limited to physico-chemical parameters, testing for Fe+2 and Zn2+ was not conducted. We greatly appreciate your comments, and it will be taken into consideration in the next phase of the project. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Ans: Most of the chemical analysis has been conducted at the output point of the pipe water supply, as the water in the pipeline system comes from the water treatment plant. The BOD values at the source point have not been considered, as the water is treated before distribution and meets the required standard limits. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. Ans : The objective of the project is to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of supply water in the piped water supply system. Consequently, the Fe+2 and Zn2+ parameters related to the piped water supply system have been reviewed in Section 8 of the introduction. Since the scope of the project was limited to physico-chemical parameters, testing for Fe+2 and Zn2+ was not conducted. We greatly appreciate your comments, and it will be taken into consideration in the next phase of the project. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Ans: Most of the chemical analysis has been conducted at the output point of the pipe water supply, as the water in the pipeline system comes from the water treatment plant. The BOD values at the source point have not been considered, as the water is treated before distribution and meets the required standard limits. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly Competing Interests: No Close Report a concern COMMENT ON THIS REPORT Views 0 Cite How to cite this report: Boualem B. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r348678 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-348678 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. Close Copy Citation Details Reviewer Report 13 Jan 2025 Bouselsal Boualem , University of Kasdi Merbah, Ouargla, Algeria Approved with Reservations VIEWS 0 https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r348678 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: ... Continue reading READ ALL First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). Use a Piper diagram to determine the chemical facies of water and analyze its evolution within the network. Improve maps by adding scales and locality names for better readability. 5. Conclusion Include specific and practical recommendations for managing water distribution networks, such as modernizing infrastructure and using corrosion-resistant materials. Propose targeted policy interventions to ensure consistent drinking water quality, especially in regions facing similar challenges. 6. References The number of cited references is insufficient. More high-quality articles should be consulted, particularly on water quality assessment methods and risks related to chemical quality. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Yes Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Yes Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Yes Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise: Fundamental Hydrogeology, Hydrogeochemistry, Water Drilling and Hydrodynamics, Groundwater Vulnerability and Management, Water Pollution, Hydrogeological Mapping, Aquifer Recharge and Potential Assessment. I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. Close READ LESS CITE CITE HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT Boualem B. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r348678 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-348678 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article. COPY CITATION DETAILS Report a concern Author Response 22 Apr 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 22 Apr 2025 Author Response Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". ... Continue reading Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. Ans: As per the journal format the abstract is categorized into three parts such as background, methods and results. All of three sections are included under the abstract section. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Ans: The objective of the project was to analysephysico-chemical parameter of water quality. The finding of the study shall help policy makers to develop a policy for regular monitoring and take necessary steps to replace pipe line system in phase wise manner. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Ans: The methods like National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) have been compared with Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method by Shweta Tyagi(2013) and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method was found suitable among all. Tyagi, S., Sharma, B., Singh, P., & Dobhal, R. (2013). Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. American Journal of water resources, 1(3), 34-38. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). The similar cities having old age pipeline system, needs to monitor water quality of physico-chemical parameters periodically. If there is deterioration of water quality, operators and policy makers to take necessary steps as suggested in conclusion paragraph. Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. Ans: Given in abstract and introduction section. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. Ans: Agree. However, the section is concise to depict all the geographical, social, economic along sampling process into one section for better understanding. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. The suggested area may be taken up in the next phase of the project. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. The scope of the project was to analyse water quality parameters within the distribution system. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare reservoir water quality with distribution network water quality. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a conventional water treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Ans: The average hardness value of each sampled zone has been compared with the standard mentioned by Sawyer and McCarty, 1967 and USEPA, 1994. It is found that piped water supply is in the range of moderately high hardness. The comparison statement is shown in below table 1.0 Table 1.0 Comparison of hardness parameter Sample Zone Field Observation (Average Value) Total Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l) Classification as per (Sawyer and McCarthy 1967) Classification as per USEPA, 1994 North 118.45 Moderately high moderately hard South-West 116.96 Moderately high moderately hard South-East 186.09 Hard very hard TDS and Electrical conductivity have been tested referring APHA 2022 standard method. The scatter plot between TDS and hardness has been generated and shown in Fig 1.0 to Fig 3.0. Fig 1.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness minimum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711235.Figure_1.0.pdf Fig 2.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness maximum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711236.Figure_2.0.pdf Fig 3.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness average value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711237.Figure_3.0.pdf Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). The department is taking necessary steps to replace the old pipes In phase manner. The scope of the study was to analyse water quality parameter and detect iron level which possibly due to corrosion. Therefore, specific importance to scaling and corrosion has not been stated. Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. Ans: As per the journal format the abstract is categorized into three parts such as background, methods and results. All of three sections are included under the abstract section. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Ans: The objective of the project was to analysephysico-chemical parameter of water quality. The finding of the study shall help policy makers to develop a policy for regular monitoring and take necessary steps to replace pipe line system in phase wise manner. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Ans: The methods like National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) have been compared with Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method by Shweta Tyagi(2013) and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method was found suitable among all. Tyagi, S., Sharma, B., Singh, P., & Dobhal, R. (2013). Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. American Journal of water resources, 1(3), 34-38. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). The similar cities having old age pipeline system, needs to monitor water quality of physico-chemical parameters periodically. If there is deterioration of water quality, operators and policy makers to take necessary steps as suggested in conclusion paragraph. Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. Ans: Given in abstract and introduction section. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. Ans: Agree. However, the section is concise to depict all the geographical, social, economic along sampling process into one section for better understanding. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. The suggested area may be taken up in the next phase of the project. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. The scope of the project was to analyse water quality parameters within the distribution system. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare reservoir water quality with distribution network water quality. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a conventional water treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Ans: The average hardness value of each sampled zone has been compared with the standard mentioned by Sawyer and McCarty, 1967 and USEPA, 1994. It is found that piped water supply is in the range of moderately high hardness. The comparison statement is shown in below table 1.0 Table 1.0 Comparison of hardness parameter Sample Zone Field Observation (Average Value) Total Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l) Classification as per (Sawyer and McCarthy 1967) Classification as per USEPA, 1994 North 118.45 Moderately high moderately hard South-West 116.96 Moderately high moderately hard South-East 186.09 Hard very hard TDS and Electrical conductivity have been tested referring APHA 2022 standard method. The scatter plot between TDS and hardness has been generated and shown in Fig 1.0 to Fig 3.0. Fig 1.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness minimum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711235.Figure_1.0.pdf Fig 2.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness maximum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711236.Figure_2.0.pdf Fig 3.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness average value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711237.Figure_3.0.pdf Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). The department is taking necessary steps to replace the old pipes In phase manner. The scope of the study was to analyse water quality parameter and detect iron level which possibly due to corrosion. Therefore, specific importance to scaling and corrosion has not been stated. Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Close Report a concern Respond or Comment COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT Author Response 22 Apr 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 22 Apr 2025 Author Response Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". ... Continue reading Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. Ans: As per the journal format the abstract is categorized into three parts such as background, methods and results. All of three sections are included under the abstract section. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Ans: The objective of the project was to analysephysico-chemical parameter of water quality. The finding of the study shall help policy makers to develop a policy for regular monitoring and take necessary steps to replace pipe line system in phase wise manner. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Ans: The methods like National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) have been compared with Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method by Shweta Tyagi(2013) and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method was found suitable among all. Tyagi, S., Sharma, B., Singh, P., & Dobhal, R. (2013). Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. American Journal of water resources, 1(3), 34-38. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). The similar cities having old age pipeline system, needs to monitor water quality of physico-chemical parameters periodically. If there is deterioration of water quality, operators and policy makers to take necessary steps as suggested in conclusion paragraph. Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. Ans: Given in abstract and introduction section. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. Ans: Agree. However, the section is concise to depict all the geographical, social, economic along sampling process into one section for better understanding. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. The suggested area may be taken up in the next phase of the project. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. The scope of the project was to analyse water quality parameters within the distribution system. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare reservoir water quality with distribution network water quality. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a conventional water treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Ans: The average hardness value of each sampled zone has been compared with the standard mentioned by Sawyer and McCarty, 1967 and USEPA, 1994. It is found that piped water supply is in the range of moderately high hardness. The comparison statement is shown in below table 1.0 Table 1.0 Comparison of hardness parameter Sample Zone Field Observation (Average Value) Total Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l) Classification as per (Sawyer and McCarthy 1967) Classification as per USEPA, 1994 North 118.45 Moderately high moderately hard South-West 116.96 Moderately high moderately hard South-East 186.09 Hard very hard TDS and Electrical conductivity have been tested referring APHA 2022 standard method. The scatter plot between TDS and hardness has been generated and shown in Fig 1.0 to Fig 3.0. Fig 1.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness minimum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711235.Figure_1.0.pdf Fig 2.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness maximum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711236.Figure_2.0.pdf Fig 3.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness average value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711237.Figure_3.0.pdf Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). The department is taking necessary steps to replace the old pipes In phase manner. The scope of the study was to analyse water quality parameter and detect iron level which possibly due to corrosion. Therefore, specific importance to scaling and corrosion has not been stated. Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. Ans: As per the journal format the abstract is categorized into three parts such as background, methods and results. All of three sections are included under the abstract section. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Ans: The objective of the project was to analysephysico-chemical parameter of water quality. The finding of the study shall help policy makers to develop a policy for regular monitoring and take necessary steps to replace pipe line system in phase wise manner. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Ans: The methods like National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) have been compared with Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method by Shweta Tyagi(2013) and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method was found suitable among all. Tyagi, S., Sharma, B., Singh, P., & Dobhal, R. (2013). Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. American Journal of water resources, 1(3), 34-38. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). The similar cities having old age pipeline system, needs to monitor water quality of physico-chemical parameters periodically. If there is deterioration of water quality, operators and policy makers to take necessary steps as suggested in conclusion paragraph. Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. Ans: Given in abstract and introduction section. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. Ans: Agree. However, the section is concise to depict all the geographical, social, economic along sampling process into one section for better understanding. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. The suggested area may be taken up in the next phase of the project. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. The scope of the project was to analyse water quality parameters within the distribution system. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare reservoir water quality with distribution network water quality. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a conventional water treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Ans: The average hardness value of each sampled zone has been compared with the standard mentioned by Sawyer and McCarty, 1967 and USEPA, 1994. It is found that piped water supply is in the range of moderately high hardness. The comparison statement is shown in below table 1.0 Table 1.0 Comparison of hardness parameter Sample Zone Field Observation (Average Value) Total Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l) Classification as per (Sawyer and McCarthy 1967) Classification as per USEPA, 1994 North 118.45 Moderately high moderately hard South-West 116.96 Moderately high moderately hard South-East 186.09 Hard very hard TDS and Electrical conductivity have been tested referring APHA 2022 standard method. The scatter plot between TDS and hardness has been generated and shown in Fig 1.0 to Fig 3.0. Fig 1.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness minimum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711235.Figure_1.0.pdf Fig 2.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness maximum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711236.Figure_2.0.pdf Fig 3.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness average value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711237.Figure_3.0.pdf Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). The department is taking necessary steps to replace the old pipes In phase manner. The scope of the study was to analyse water quality parameter and detect iron level which possibly due to corrosion. Therefore, specific importance to scaling and corrosion has not been stated. Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Close Report a concern COMMENT ON THIS REPORT Views 0 Cite How to cite this report: Muhammad Jahangir T. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r338598 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-338598 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. Close Copy Citation Details Reviewer Report 07 Jan 2025 Taj Muhammad Jahangir , University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan Approved with Reservations VIEWS 0 https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r338598 I am writing the following comments for the improvement of manuscript; The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The real objectives may given for to address within ... Continue reading READ ALL I am writing the following comments for the improvement of manuscript; The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Indicate the mass balance and error. The spatial variation may also explained. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise: Water quality chemical assessment I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. Close READ LESS CITE CITE HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT Muhammad Jahangir T. Reviewer Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r338598 ) The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-338598 NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article. COPY CITATION DETAILS Report a concern Author Response 22 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 22 Feb 2025 Author Response Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall ... Continue reading Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Competing Interests: NO Close Report a concern Respond or Comment COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT Author Response 22 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal , Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India 22 Feb 2025 Author Response Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall ... Continue reading Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Competing Interests: NO Close Report a concern COMMENT ON THIS REPORT Comments on this article Comments (0) Version 3 VERSION 3 PUBLISHED 28 Oct 2024 ADD YOUR COMMENT Comment keyboard_arrow_left keyboard_arrow_right Open Peer Review Reviewer Status info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions Reviewer Reports Invited Reviewers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Version 3 (revision) 30 Oct 25 read read Version 2 (revision) 22 Apr 25 read read read Version 1 28 Oct 24 read read read Taj Muhammad Jahangir , University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan Bouselsal Boualem , University of Kasdi Merbah, Ouargla, Algeria Sudhir K Srivastava , Central Ground Water Board, Lucknow, India Majeed Mattar Ramal , University of Anbar, Ramadi, Iraq Md. Ripaj Uddin , Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Dhaka, Bangladesh Eden T. Wasehun , North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, USA Comments on this article All Comments (0) Add a comment Sign up for content alerts Sign Up You are now signed up to receive this alert Browse by related subjects keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Ramal M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 14 Nov 2025 | for Version 3 Majeed Mattar Ramal , University of Anbar, Ramadi, Iraq 0 Views copyright © 2025 Ramal M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (0) Approved info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions The revised paper is suitable for indexing Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Environmental Engineering, Water Quality , EIA I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard. reply Respond to this report Responses (0) Ramal MM. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.188533.r428403) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v3#referee-response-428403 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Uddin M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 11 Nov 2025 | for Version 3 Md. Ripaj Uddin , Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Dhaka, Bangladesh 0 Views copyright © 2025 Uddin M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (0) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions Conclusion may rewrite for better expression. Please update the manuscript by incorporating the relevant literature, such as the following article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104431 ; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143453 ; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300878 ; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e2785 ; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133214 Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Environmental Engineering, Water Quality Assessment, Urban Hydrology. I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (0) Uddin MR. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.188533.r428405) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v3#referee-response-428405 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Wasehun E. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 16 Jun 2025 | for Version 2 Eden T. Wasehun , North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, USA 0 Views copyright © 2025 Wasehun E. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (0) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions The manuscript titled ‘ Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method ’ has evaluated an important issue of the spatial variation of piped water quality in an Indian smart city using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) and GIS based spatial interpolation. This is an important topic to understand piped water quality, but there are some concerns need to improve. Abstract: Of course, you describe the background, methods you used and results in the abstract, but the problem statement needs more elaboration and concisely description of the sampling design is needed. Introduction: Although you mentioned that you applied the widely used method, WAWQI, and focused one of the smart city’s piped networks, it is unclear of the explicit contribution of this study. Therefore, suggest to clearly point out the contribution of the study. Suggest to cite or add any prior municipal scale WQI studies in comparable Indian cities, and clearly differentiate your work. Several statements lack a theoretical basis. It is recommended to cite relevant literature to support the assertations. For example: Paragraph 4: “The Water Quality Index (WQI), frequently employed by researchers..” needs citation. Paragraph 5: “Few studies on the quality measurement of supply water have assumed that supply water quality deteriorates with the aging of infrastructure..” you cited only one source; either change “few studies” or add more references. Therefore, consider revising these sentences and some others with appropriate references to strengthen the argument. Methods It is good you visualize the study area but the map does not show where the each sample was collected. Therefore, suggest to redraw the figure 1a to show the sample locations. Why five points per ward, and how were “industries, markets, institutions” prioritized? Were samples taken at the same time or day or season across wards? This affects comparability. The description of qi and wi is mathematically correct, but the weights used for each parameter is not shown. Therefore, suggest to show the actual weights used in a table. Result The use of percentages of samples exceeding limits is helpful, but consider adding confidence intervals or hypothesis tests when comparing zones. Suggest to plot all figures (7- 16) in consistent color scales and legends, to compare the parameters ward wise. As can be seen from Table 4 and Figure 17, there is no “poor” or “very poor” zones, but given large parameter deviations, why does the composite WQI remain in the “good” range? A brief sensitivity analysis, for example leaving out one parameter, would help illustrate index robustness. Discussion The paper lacks more deeply interpretation of causes and implications. Why does the South-East zone consistently outperform others? Fewer old pipelines or lower vulnerable areas presence? What are the study limitations? Suggest how the water quality/ environment management/ Minister of Urban Development could use these findings. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Yes Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Yes Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Water quality, remote sensing, machine learning and deep learning application for environmental science I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (0) Wasehun ET. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.178630.r386278) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v2#referee-response-386278 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Uddin M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 28 May 2025 | for Version 2 Md. Ripaj Uddin , Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Dhaka, Bangladesh 0 Views copyright © 2025 Uddin M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (0) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions Dear authors, The manuscript titled "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method" presents a comprehensive evaluation of water quality in Bhubaneswar’s piped supply system. The study aligns with SDG 6 and employs a robust methodology, including spatial analysis via ArcGIS and the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI). While the work is valuable, certain areas require clarification and improvement to enhance its scientific rigor and readability. 1. Abstract: The problem statement and significance of deviations (e.g., 43.88% in conductivity) should be emphasized more clearly. 2. Introduction: The novelty of the study (e.g., focus on piped systems vs. groundwater) needs stronger justification. Link more explicitly to prior literature on urban water supply challenges. 3. Methodology Clarify whether samples were collected at consistent times/seasons to account for temporal variability. The absence of microbial testing (e.g., E. coli ) is a significant omission for a drinking water study. Justify or address this limitation. Update references to APHA (1926) with the latest edition (e.g., APHA 2024). 4. Results and Discussion Include basic statistical tests (e.g., ANOVA) to validate zone-wise differences in parameters like pH and conductivity. Add scales and legends to Figures 7–16 for better interpretability. Compare results with similar studies in other Indian cities (e.g., Kolkata, Indore) to contextualize findings. Incorporate indices like Langelier or Ryznar to assess pipeline corrosion risks. Suggest specific strategies for community engagement (e.g., workshops, mobile apps for reporting leaks). Correct Table 2 (e.g., EC should be µS/cm, not mg/l). Improve resolution and label clarity in maps (e.g., ward numbers in Figures 7–16). Ensure all data (e.g., raw parameter values) are accessible via Figshare or supplementary files. Consider a follow-up study incorporating microbial testing and advanced statistical modeling (e.g., PCA). 5. References: Expand citations to include recent WQI studies (e.g., Tyagi et al., 2013) and urban water quality literature. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Yes Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Environmental Engineering, Water Quality Assessment, Urban Hydrology. I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (0) Uddin MR. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.178630.r386283) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v2#referee-response-386283 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Ramal M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 20 May 2025 | for Version 2 Majeed Mattar Ramal , University of Anbar, Ramadi, Iraq 0 Views copyright © 2025 Ramal M. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (1) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions The study evaluates the water quality of Bhubaneswar’s piped supply system using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) method. It aligns with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and addresses gaps in monitoring urban water distribution networks. The methodology involves sampling 335 locations across 67 wards, analyzing 10 physicochemical parameters, and mapping spatial variations via ArcGIS. Key findings indicate overall "good" to "excellent" water quality, with localized deviations in pH, conductivity, and hardness linked to aging infrastructure and construction activities. Overall Evaluation Originality : Focus on urban piped systems adds value vs. groundwater/river studies. Impact : Findings aid Bhubaneswar’s PHED in infrastructure planning; model applicable to similar cities. Revisions Needed : Address methodological gaps (bacteriological tests, statistical depth) and improve clarity. Recommendation : Accept with Minor Revisions Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Partly Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? No Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Environmental Engineering, Water Quality , EIA I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (1) Author Response 12 Sep 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal, Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India Reviewer 4 The study evaluates the water quality of Bhubaneswar’s piped supply system using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) method. It aligns with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and addresses gaps in monitoring urban water distribution networks. The methodology involves sampling 335 locations across 67 wards, analyzing 10 physicochemical parameters, and mapping spatial variations via ArcGIS. Key findings indicate overall "good" to "excellent" water quality, with localized deviations in pH, conductivity, and hardness linked to aging infrastructure and construction activities. Overall Evaluation Originality : Focus on urban piped systems adds value vs. groundwater/river studies. Impact : Findings aid Bhubaneswar’s PHED in infrastructure planning; model applicable to similar cities. Revisions Needed : Address methodological gaps (bacteriological tests, statistical depth) and improve clarity. Recommendation : Accept with Minor Revisions Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Ans: Alignment with Research Objectives: The chosen design allows for the precise measurement of all the primary physico chemical parameters in the laboratory and scientifically validated with Govt laboratory checking . We 2. Technical Soundness of the Work: Methodological Rigor: All experimental protocols, data collection procedures, and analytical techniques were taken care using the, APHA, 2022. Where applicable, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed. Data Quality and Reproducibility: Steps were taken to ensure data integrity. Sample sizes were justified to ensure the study had sufficient statistical power to detect a meaningful effect. Statistical Analysis: The statistical methods are appropriate for the type of data collected. We have consulted with professional statisticians to confirm the correctness of our approach, which includes water quality analysis, Arc Gis for mapping the volunerable areas and for multiple comparisons were applied where it is necessary. Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Partly Ans: We thank the reviewer for raising this critical point. We are confident that the study design is robust and appropriate for addressing our research objectives, and that the work is technically sound. Study Design: We collected 335 pipe water samples from 67 wards, tested and analyzed them in the State Pollution Control Board laboratory following IS 10500:2012 standards. All protocols are well-established, with detailed descriptions provided in the Methods section to ensure transparency and replicability. If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Ans: Statistical Analysis: The statistical methods were appropriately chosen for the data structure and align with widely accepted applications of the water quality index reported in previous studies. Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? No Yes, we are committed to open science and reproducibility. All source data underlying our results are publicly available in Figshare : Research Raw Data files for supply water of Bhubaneswar (Samal and Prava, 2024), DOI: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.26819056.v4 . Data Availability Statement (for manuscript): All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article and its supplementary files, and are also available at the above repository. Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Ans: We thank the reviewer for this important question. We believe our conclusions are robust and directly supported by the results. The water quality index across wards and parameters beyond permissible limits are carefully presented in the results section. Direct Data–Claim Linkage: Each conclusion is explicitly supported by figures and tables, with evidence clearly shown in box plots and ArcGIS maps. Statistical Support: All reported differences and effects are backed by appropriate statistical analyses. Within the defined scope of this study, we are confident that the results provide a solid and sufficient foundation for our conclusions, with a clear and logical evidence-based presentation. Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Environmental Engineering, Water Quality , EIA I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. View more View less Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. reply Respond Report a concern Ramal MM. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.178630.r382667) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v2#referee-response-382667 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 K Srivastava S. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 13 Jan 2025 | for Version 1 Sudhir K Srivastava , Central Ground Water Board, Lucknow, UP, India 0 Views copyright © 2025 K Srivastava S. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (1) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly References 1. Srivastava Sudhir: VULNERABILITY TO CONTAMINATION OF SHALLOW GROUNDWATER OF BHUBANESWAR CITY DUE TO URBANIZATION. Research gate: . 2000. 2. Srivastava Sudhir: Contamination of shallow groundwater of Bhubaneswar city due to urbanization. Research gate: . 2014. Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Water Quality Ground Water Quality and Hydrochemistry I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (1) Author Response 21 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal, Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India Thank you, Sir, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. The authors have reported the analysis of Fe+2 and Zn 2+ under Introduction para 8th, but no where the data of Fe+2 has been seen or utilized. APHA (1926) is very old version of the book the latest version is 2023 edition. Ans : The objective of the project is to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of supply water in the piped water supply system. Consequently, the Fe+2 and Zn2+ parameters related to the piped water supply system have been reviewed in Section 8 of the introduction. Since the scope of the project was limited to physico-chemical parameters, testing for Fe+2 and Zn2+ was not conducted. We greatly appreciate your comments, and it will be taken into consideration in the next phase of the project. The most of the chemical analysis has been done on out put point of piped supply, not the source point of water supply. so the BOD values are not appropriate as the supply water has travelled so much distance. It has not been cleared about the treatment of surface water before its supply. Ans: Most of the chemical analysis has been conducted at the output point of the pipe water supply, as the water in the pipeline system comes from the water treatment plant. The BOD values at the source point have not been considered, as the water is treated before distribution and meets the required standard limits. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Partly Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Partly View more View less Competing Interests No reply Respond Report a concern K Srivastava S. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r350892) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-350892 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Boualem B. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 13 Jan 2025 | for Version 1 Bouselsal Boualem , University of Kasdi Merbah, Ouargla, Algeria 0 Views copyright © 2025 Boualem B. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (1) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). Use a Piper diagram to determine the chemical facies of water and analyze its evolution within the network. Improve maps by adding scales and locality names for better readability. 5. Conclusion Include specific and practical recommendations for managing water distribution networks, such as modernizing infrastructure and using corrosion-resistant materials. Propose targeted policy interventions to ensure consistent drinking water quality, especially in regions facing similar challenges. 6. References The number of cited references is insufficient. More high-quality articles should be consulted, particularly on water quality assessment methods and risks related to chemical quality. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Yes Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? Yes Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? Partly If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? Yes Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Yes Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? Yes Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Fundamental Hydrogeology, Hydrogeochemistry, Water Drilling and Hydrodynamics, Groundwater Vulnerability and Management, Water Pollution, Hydrogeological Mapping, Aquifer Recharge and Potential Assessment. I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (1) Author Response 22 Apr 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal, Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India Reviewer 3 First of all, thank you for inviting me to review this article "Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality Index method". After reading and analyzing it, here are my main observations: Content of the Article The article analyzes the quality of drinking water in Bhubaneswar, India, using the Water Quality Index (WQI). This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure universal access to safe and high-quality drinking water. The researchers collected and analyzed 335 water samples from three zones of the city (north, south-west, and south-east), covering 67 neighborhoods. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and hardness were evaluated in accordance with WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines. The results reveal that the water quality is generally good to excellent, with the south-east zone showing the best performance due to minimal human interference. However, some deviations from standards were observed, particularly in terms of pH and conductivity, mainly in areas with aging infrastructure or ongoing construction work. The authors recommend infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring, and the use of advanced technologies to prevent future water quality deterioration. Strengths of the Article The article stands out for its representative sampling, encompassing 335 samples from 67 neighborhoods, and its use of the Water Quality Index (WQI), which facilitates a comprehensive and understandable evaluation. It highlights disparities between the studied zones and identifies causes of degradation, such as aging infrastructure. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study proposes practical recommendations, including pipeline upgrades and the use of advanced technologies. Its rigorous methodology, adherence to international standards, and transparent data presentation make it a valuable contribution to urban water quality management. Recommendations for the Authors 1. Abstract The abstract should clarify the problem addressed by the study, its significance, and the method employed. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. Key findings should be highlighted concisely and quantitatively. Ans: Provided full length of the abstract for your kind reference. For example, specifying the parameters with significant deviations and the percentage of affected zones would strengthen the impact of the results. Ans: As per the journal format the abstract is categorized into three parts such as background, methods and results. All of three sections are included under the abstract section. 2. Introduction The novelty and specific contributions of the study should be clearly described and justified. Ans: The objective of the project was to analysephysico-chemical parameter of water quality. The finding of the study shall help policy makers to develop a policy for regular monitoring and take necessary steps to replace pipe line system in phase wise manner. Briefly compare the advantages of the proposed approach, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), with existing methods. Ans: The methods like National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI), Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) have been compared with Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method by Shweta Tyagi(2013) and Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method was found suitable among all. Tyagi, S., Sharma, B., Singh, P., & Dobhal, R. (2013). Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index. American Journal of water resources, 1(3), 34-38. Although the study is specific to Bhubaneswar, demonstrate how its findings can be applied to other regions with similar contexts (e.g., rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure). The similar cities having old age pipeline system, needs to monitor water quality of physico-chemical parameters periodically. If there is deterioration of water quality, operators and policy makers to take necessary steps as suggested in conclusion paragraph. Clarify the study's objectives and present them clearly at the end of the introduction. Ans: Given in abstract and introduction section. 3. Methodology The section "2.1 Study Area" should be limited to describing the geographical, social, and economic characteristics of the study area. Subsections on sampling and mapping should be separated for better clarity. Ans: Agree. However, the section is concise to depict all the geographical, social, economic along sampling process into one section for better understanding. The study does not address the bacteriological quality of water, a critical aspect for detecting contamination from wastewater, which poses a significant health risk. The suggested area may be taken up in the next phase of the project. 4. Results and Discussion Present the chemical composition of reservoir water before its injection into the network to analyze changes during distribution. The scope of the project was to analyse water quality parameters within the distribution system. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river. Therefore, it is not necessary to compare reservoir water quality with distribution network water quality. Describe the water treatment methods before distribution, as these can influence parameters such as hardness and chlorine concentration. It is understood from the department that raw water treated at a conventional water treatment plant to a desire standard which is situated at Mundali (lat- long- ) on bank of Mahanandi river Compare the findings with guideline values from the literature (Sawyer and McCarty, 1967; USEPA, 1994 for hardness; APHA, 2005 for TDS and electrical conductivity). Include scatter plots (e.g., TDS vs hardness) to highlight relationships between parameters. Ans: The average hardness value of each sampled zone has been compared with the standard mentioned by Sawyer and McCarty, 1967 and USEPA, 1994. It is found that piped water supply is in the range of moderately high hardness. The comparison statement is shown in below table 1.0 Table 1.0 Comparison of hardness parameter Sample Zone Field Observation (Average Value) Total Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l) Classification as per (Sawyer and McCarthy 1967) Classification as per USEPA, 1994 North 118.45 Moderately high moderately hard South-West 116.96 Moderately high moderately hard South-East 186.09 Hard very hard TDS and Electrical conductivity have been tested referring APHA 2022 standard method. The scatter plot between TDS and hardness has been generated and shown in Fig 1.0 to Fig 3.0. Fig 1.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness minimum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711235.Figure_1.0.pdf Fig 2.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness maximum value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711236.Figure_2.0.pdf Fig 3.0 Scatter plot for TDS and Hardness average value - Reference link: https://f1000research.s3.amazonaws.com/linked/711237.Figure_3.0.pdf Add relevant indices to detect risks of scaling and corrosion in the distribution network (e.g., Langelier, Ryznar, Larson-Skold indices). The department is taking necessary steps to replace the old pipes In phase manner. The scope of the study was to analyse water quality parameter and detect iron level which possibly due to corrosion. Therefore, specific importance to scaling and corrosion has not been stated. View more View less Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. reply Respond Report a concern Boualem B. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r348678) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-348678 keyboard_arrow_left Back to all reports Reviewer Report 0 Views copyright © 2025 Muhammad Jahangir T. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 07 Jan 2025 | for Version 1 Taj Muhammad Jahangir , University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan 0 Views copyright © 2025 Muhammad Jahangir T. This is an open access peer review report distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. format_quote Cite this report speaker_notes Responses (1) Approved With Reservations info_outline Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved The paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. Not approved Fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions I am writing the following comments for the improvement of manuscript; The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Indicate the mass balance and error. The spatial variation may also explained. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No Competing Interests No competing interests were disclosed. Reviewer Expertise Water quality chemical assessment I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above. reply Respond to this report Responses (1) Author Response 22 Feb 2025 Kshyana Prava Samal, Associate Professor & Associate Dean Academics,School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India Dear Sir, Thank you, for your valuable feedback and suggestions to improve the manuscript. KIndly find the Answers. The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No The manuscript is short and may be short communication. Overall each section needs improvements. The data collection from 67 wards in Bhubaneswar represents a comprehensive study, and all the data has been submitted to the f1000 research database repository on Figshare ( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). Physico-chemical parameters have been tested at a minimum of five locations within each ward and are presented for analysis. Therefore, the data appears to be suitable for the study. The real objectives may given for to address within the introduction. Already it is mentioned in the introduction as well as in Abstract. Those tests conducted in present work, may only be basis of objectives. Yes Table 2 guideline of EC is not mg/l, check other units and limits. Unit will be µs/Cm and have been changed in the manuscript. The nitrate 30 mg/l is quite high in rivers, It may checked, the source of pollution in ice melt water. The nitrate concentration of 30 mg/l could be attributed due to improper disposal of waste along the network. The source of water at within rivers that did not compared before wards. The comment raised by your kind good self is appreciated. The raw water get treated through a conventional water treatment plan prior distribution to the pipe line network. Therefore, the water quality of source is not compared with wards. Inter river comparison may also present of three rivers. Treated water is distributed in the pipeline network. The scope of the project was to analyse contamination within distribution system and not at the source. Therefore, inter river water quality comparison has not been conducted. This suggestion will be considered in our next phase of research. The methodology of parameters i.e nitrate may also explained. Therefore, WQI within good quality is suspected and may checked. The test has been carried out referring standard method stated in APHA 2022. The results of analysis may compared for statistical analysis, i.e t-test, PCA, Hierarchal analysis, piper diagram, SAR for irrigation. The project was sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the study area was limited to Bhubaneswar city for analysis of pipe water supply quality within the wards. Because of the time and space constraint we have limited our analysis with very few statistical parameter. As suggested by your good self-other statistical analysis will be considered in our next phase of study. The table for physico chemical parameters may also given supplementary. Already given in repository.( https://figshare.com/s/56b8ea8ad54c5449cc9d ). The discussion is very short and the number parameters were also less included, i.e metals. The study was focused on physio chemical parameters analysis. Due to the huge study area of 67 wards of Bhubaneswar the testing parameters had to reduce to complete the work in the project time frame. However, since the source of water is surface i.e rivers possibility of heavy metals is trivial. Therefore, heavy metal parameters test is not included under this scope of study. The abstract and conclusion should also improved. Improved, The revised manuscript is shared for your kind information. The results were not compared with local studies, and international rivers or water supply. Beyond the objective of the project. However, this will be considered in our next phase of the study. Importance of water if any public water, dependency of type of people on supply water that did not given in detail. Ans: Mentioned in the introduction section of the revised manuscript . The nature of water in different wards may compared with other smart cities. Incorporated in the revised manuscript as mentioned below. Groundwater is being extracted by households to meet the demand of drinking water. There is possibility of geogenic contamination of groundwater which may impact overall human health. The lack of proper regulation on groundwater extraction results in overexploitation in Indian cities (Suhag, 2016). As a result, utilities supplement surface water from distant sources, requiring significant investments in transmission infrastructure development (Larsen et al., 2016). The study conducted by World Resource Institute in the year 2020 classifies cities based on surface water availability index into six categories, (i) extremely low (-0.149 to -0.025); (ii) low (-0.024 to0.044); (iii) low to medium (0.045 –0.122); (iv) medium to high (0.123–0.198); high (0.199 – 0.275) and extremely high (0.276 – 0.389). The cities like Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Indore, Kochi are having surface water availability index between 0.199 to 0.278. Why samples crossed the limits, what was the reasons and how public awareness. Indicate the samples with GPS and contaminated samples. Because of the age old pipe line and waste water contamination, some samples quality parameter have crossed the permissible limilt. This finding of the paper shall be used by Public Health Engineering Department, Government to create public awareness, develop policy and take necessary measures to maintain the standard water quality parameters as per the IS 10500:2012 code. After submission of the report to the Government, necessary action will be taken at department label. Indicate the mass balance and error. Beyond the scope of the objective. The spatial variation may also explained. Explained in section 2.3.2 Spatial distribution maps were used to illustrate the variations in water quality parameters across Bhubaneswar city. These maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software, which offers a range of spatial interpolation techniques. While no single method is universally accurate for all types of studies (Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019), research has shown that Kriging methods, particularly the Ordinary Kriging (OK) method, tend to provide more precise prediction surfaces compared to other approaches (Coulibaly and Becker, 2007; Shamsudduha, 2007; Ohmer et al., 2017). However, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method is the most commonly used deterministic technique, often compared with Kriging methods (Li and Heap, 2011; Bronowicka-Mielniczuk et al., 2019). The IDW method is particularly suitable for analyzing data with low spatial autocorrelation (Jie et al., 2013). As a result, the spatial autocorrelation of the water quality values was taken into account when selecting the most appropriate method, which in this case was IDW. Bronowicka-Mielniczuk, U., Mielniczuk, J., Obro´slak, R., Przystupa, W., 2019. A comparison of some interpolation techniques for determining spatial distribution of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Int. J. Environ. Res. 13 (4), 679–687. Coulibaly, M., Becker, S., 2007. Spatial interpolation of annual precipitation in South Africa-comparison and evaluation of methods. pp.494–502 Water Int. 32 (3). This will be incorporated in manuscript. Figures may improved with ranges to better view. Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature? Partly Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound? No Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others? No If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate? No Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility? Partly Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results? No View more View less Competing Interests NO reply Respond Report a concern Muhammad Jahangir T. Peer Review Report For: Assessment of water quality in the piped water supply system by using Water Quality index method [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] . F1000Research 2024, 13 :1286 ( https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.171563.r338598) NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation. The direct URL for this report is: https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1286/v1#referee-response-338598 Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article: Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested Approved with reservations - A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit. 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