Tempo-spatial quality assessment of spring water using WQI and GIS modeling in Western Ghats region of India

The sustainability of spring water resources requires complete basin-wide water evaluations. Spring is an essential component of groundwater resources and shows a substantial role in strengthening the socioeconomic status of the rural population. Spring is an easily available groundwater resource in parts of the Himalayan and Western Ghats region, but it was lacking proper attention from the scientific community and administrations. In recent years, the significance of springs as a vital water supply resource has gained recognition, particularly within the headwater catchments of diverse river basins. Within these areas, ensuring a sustainable water supply has emerged as a significant societal challenge. Sustainability is the key factor that requires detailed hydrological and hydro-chemical investigations. Therefore in the current study, spring inventory work has been carried out in parts of the Western Ghats. A systematic study on selected springs was carried out; therefore, 25 samples were collected in pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) seasons for 2019. Parameters like TH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− were found within the limit according to World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. Permeability index (PI), percent sodium (%Na), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indices indicate the suitability of irrigation water. All samples have come within the excellent category of United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagrams, which indicates zero pollution. The values of the Water Quality Index (WQI) in the study area differ from 11.2 to 24.61 and fall in excellent quality. Overall, the study shows that spring water is suitable for drinking and irrigation. The study outcomes offer consistent evidence for water resource managers to prepare maintainable and more accurate basin management policies.