Groundwater Quality Assessment in the Foothills of the Kumaun Himalaya, India

Access to clean and pollutant-free drinking water is a fundamental human necessity and is underscored by the United Nations as the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-6). In this context, the present study aims to assess the physicochemical quality of groundwater in the Kumaun foothills region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 20 groundwater samples were analyzed for key parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), turbidity, nitrate, fluoride, alkalinity, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, and chloride content. The pH values ranged from 6.62 to 8.43, TDS from 78 to 690 mg L^-1, and TH from 62 to 418 mg L^-1. Turbidity remained low (1-1.36 NTU) and nitrate (1.2-3.8 mg L^-1) as well as fluoride (0.12-0.25 mg L^-1) levels were well within permissible limits. While most parameters complied with BIS standards, magnesium slightly exceeded desirable limits in a few samples. Water Quality Index (WQI) values ranged from 30.1 to 77.9, categorizing the water quality from excellent to good and confirming its suitability for drinking purposes. This study introduces a regional-scale, data-driven evaluation of groundwater quality, providing a baseline for future monitoring. The innovation lies in integrating a comprehensive physicochemical analysis with WQI assessment in a region where such systematic studies remain scarce. The findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and localized water management strategies to ensure safe and sustainable use of groundwater resources.