Machine learning techniques in river water quality modelling: a research travelogue

Water is a prime necessity for the survival and sustenance of all living beings. Over the past few years, the water quality of rivers has been adversely affected due to harmful wastes and pollutants. This ever-increasing water pollution is a matter of great concern as it is deteriorating the water quality, making it unfit for any type of use. Contaminated water resources can cause serious effects on humans as well as aquatic life. Hence, water quality monitoring of reservoirs is essential. Recently, water quality modelling using AI techniques has generated a lot of interest and it can be very beneficial in ecological and water resources management. This paper presents the state-of-the-art application of machine learning techniques in forecasting river water quality. It highlights the different key techniques, advantages, disadvantages, and applications with respect to monitoring the river water quality. The review also intends to find the existing challenges and opportunities for future research.