Water Quality Analysis and Prediction Using Machine Learning

Abstract

Introduction: Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human necessity and a growing global concern. With increasing industrialization and urbanization, water sources are becoming more susceptible to contamination, making it essential to monitor and assess water quality efficiently. This project focuses on the development of a predictive system using machine learning algorithms to determine the potability of water based on various physical and chemical parameters such as pH, hardness, chloramines, sulfate, and more. By leveraging advanced data science techniques, the model classifies water as either potable or non-potable, providing a data-driven approach to support public health and environmental safety. The system not only enhances decision-making for water management authorities but also empowers communities with insights into the quality of their water supply.

Objectives: To develop a machine learning-based system capable of accurately predicting the potability of water using various physicochemical parameters. To analyze key water quality indicators such as pH, hardness, chloramines, sulfate, and trihalomethanes for identifying their influence on potability.To evaluate and compare the performance of different classification algorithms, including SVM, Random Forest, KNN, and Logistic Regression, for water quality prediction. To design a user-friendly web application that allows users to input water sample values or regional names and receive real-time potability analysis.

Methods: The methodology adopted in this project follows a structured data science workflow aimed at developing an accurate and efficient water potability prediction model. Initially, the dataset was collected from a publicly available source containing essential water quality parameters such as pH, hardness, chloramines, sulfate, and trihalomethanes. Preprocessing steps were performed to address missing values using statistical imputation techniques and to handle outliers that could skew the model's performance. Normalization was applied to bring all feature values within a consistent scale, ensuring improved algorithm convergence. Following this, an exploratory data analysis (EDA) was conducted to gain deeper insights into the dataset through statistical summaries, distribution histograms, correlation heatmaps, and skewness assessments. Multiple machine learning algorithms—including Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Naive Bayes—were implemented to evaluate classification performance. The models were assessed using key evaluation metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. The best-performing model was serialized and integrated into a web-based application using the Flask framework. Additionally, an AI-powered module was developed to allow users to enter a city or region name and receive detailed water quality analysis based on current or simulated environmental data.

Results: The implementation and evaluation of multiple machine learning models revealed varying levels of accuracy in predicting water potability. Among all the algorithms tested, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier demonstrated the most promising performance, achieving a balanced trade-off between precision and recall. With an overall accuracy of 64%, the SVM model effectively classified both potable and non-potable water samples. The classification report highlighted a precision of 0.71 for non-potable water and 0.56 for potable water, indicating a reasonably good differentiation between classes despite class imbalance in the dataset. These results underscore the potential of SVM in real-world applications, providing reliable predictions that can aid in water quality assessment and public health safety.

Conclusions: The Water Potability Prediction project demonstrates the practical application of machine learning techniques in addressing a critical public health issue—ensuring access to safe drinking water. By analyzing key water quality parameters and evaluating multiple classification algorithms, the project successfully identifies patterns and indicators that influence water potability. The Support Vector Machine model emerged as the most effective in terms of predictive accuracy and consistency, highlighting its suitability for real-world deployment. Furthermore, the integration of a user-friendly web interface and an AI-based regional analysis module enhances accessibility and usability for a wider audience. This project not only contributes to smarter environmental monitoring but also serves as a stepping stone toward data-driven solutions for sustainable water management and community well-being.