Ensuring water security by reviving selected springs in Kangra region, Himachal Himalaya, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the Himalaya, availability of fresh water is a need of mankind, but due to numerous unsustainable developments, hill peoplesare witnessing scarcity of potable water. Hence, there is an imperative need for continuous monitoring of different water sources of Himalaya along with sustainable groundwater management practices in the highlands. The present study is based on extensive field visits investigating natural and other anthropogenic influences on mountain springs, locally known as “boweris”. In the undertaken study, eleven boweris were identified in the Salol region of Kangra, out of which two were exclusively selected as representative boweris, for their detailed studies and revival during the year 2021–2022. The physio-chemical characteristics (pH, TDS, and Electrical Conductivity) of the collected water samples from the boweris and hand pumps were found to be within the acceptable limits as prescribed by Bureau of Indian standards. The correlation between the pairs of TDS-EC depicted a strong positive relationship in both post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons and was found to be 0.94 and 0.99, respectively. Results of the t-test show a statistically significant difference in the mean concentrations of TDS (p = 0.02) and EC (p = 0.01) compared to pH (p = 0.39) with no significant difference at 5% significance level during both the seasons in the studied area. It was evident from the field investigations that the recharge structures constructed are facilitating the local boweris in maintaining the water level during the dry seasons. In the Bhatlahru region, the water level in the boweris rose from 127 to 159 cm, whereas in the Salol region, a rise from 119 to 142 cm was observed. The obtained results support the effectiveness and suitability of the proposed structures for the sustainable water resource management in the lower Himalaya. However, regular and long-term hydrological monitoring of the existing groundwater sources of the Himalaya is required for a better understanding of groundwater dynamics.