Seasonal Variations in the Quality of Natural Drinking Ground Water: An Empirical Study of Chamba Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Seasonal variations influence both the quality and quantity of groundwater. This
study therefore analyzed the quality of water in seven major traditional natural drinking water
sources, randomly selected from different drainage systems in the Chamba Valley of
Himachal Pradesh, India, during the summer, autumn, and winter seasons. We empirically
assessed water from the sources at Rajnoun, Tatwani, Kuranh, Lohri Nara, Kandu,
Nainikhad, and Sarol for five key parameters: turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS),
total hardness (CaCO3), and chloride (Cl-). The results showed that autumn turbidity and pH
of the water source at Sarol exceeded acceptable limits, while turbidity at Rajnoun, Lohri
Nara, and Kandu was above approved levels but below the maximum permissible values as
per BIS 2012 (IS:10500) standards. All sources maintained acceptable TDS, total hardness
(CaCO3), and chloride (Cl-) levels across seasons, with pH generally within range except at
Sarol. The elevated turbidity and pH of the water in the Sarol source are correlated with its
well-like structure, where large volumes of water remain stagnant for extended periods, and
people draw it using their utensils. In contrast, other sources feature surface water drainage
systems. Although all parameters of the water sources investigated fall within drinking water
limits, they require specific maintenance to ensure the ongoing safety of groundwater
resources.
Keywords: Chamba Town,