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Surface water pollution especially river bank pollution is one of the most serious issues, particularly in India. The quality of river water and the quantity of pollution in it must be assessed regularly. The information can be helpful for treating the water and making it potable and also for the development of water treatment policy. Therefore, the paper aims to explore seasonal (December 2018 (winter) (W 2018), May 2019 (summer) (S 2019), and December 2019 (winter) (W 2019)) variation in the physicochemical parameters of surface water and to estimate the surface water quality index of Amba River. The water samples were collected from 13 different locations, and parameters like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured for three seasons on the site. Then, samples were transported to the laboratory for analysis of other physicochemical parameters like sodium (Na) and total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), calcium (Ca+), magnesium (Mg+), chlorides (Cl−), sulfate (SO4−), phosphate (PO4−), nitrate (NO3−), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Seasonal fluctuations in surface water quality characteristics were documented, compared to standards, and the pollution status was investigated using the water quality index. The results revealed that the parameters like TDS, COD, BOD, TA, TH, Cl−, and PO4− were above the permissible limit at all sites and for all seasons concerning WHO standard’s limit. Anthropogenic activities, as well as untreated sewage and effluent, infiltrate the river ecology and pollute the surface water. Overall water quality index showed the river water falls under the poor category. Our hypothesis was that all human-induced industrial and residential activities are endangering the aquatic ecosystem and producing significant pollution. Hence, there is a need to restore the natural water quality, flow of the river, and routine clean-up process of polluted water.
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