Seasonal Variation of Springwater In-Situ Parameters in the Bhusundi Catchment, Gorkha, Nepal

Abstract

Spring is a concentrate flow of groundwater that appears at the earth’s surface. The seasonal variations of spring water quantity and quality are required to ensure water availability during the dry season. The research focuses on the seasonal variations of spring water quantity and quality with the spatial distribution of springs interlinking with geological settings of the area. Research framework has been established comprising spring inventories before and after the monsoon in 2017 AD of the Bhusundi catchment of the Gorkha district. The study area comprises phyllite and schist rocks of metamorphic origins as well as Nepheline Syenite of igneous origin. A total of 44 perennial springs along with the geological settings of the various springs were investigated for spring in-situ spring water parameters including spring discharge, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The variations of spring discharge, EC and TDS ranged from 0.16 lpm-62.7 lpm, 24.4-308.0 μS/cm and 14.74-199.00 ppm, respectively, in the study area. Metamorphic rocks of this area were developed secondary porosity creating interconnectivity of these pores and hence creating suitable conditions for spring occurrences. Seasonal variations of spring water quality and quantity provide good insights increasing the water security of local communities in the hilly region. Spring inventory along with their seasonal variability provides information for increasing water security of poor and marginalized people living in the scattered settlements of hilly regions of Nepal.

Spring Disappearance in the Indian Himalayas: A Geo-physical Appraisal

“…Studies on springs largely include spring hydrology and water quality assessments. Spring hydrology has been studied by Valdiya & Bartarya (1989), Negi & Joshi (2002), Adhikari et al (2021), Dhungel et al (2016), Rawat et al (2016), Poudel & Duex, (2017), Ghimire et al (2019), Tambe et al (2012), Pokhrel & Rijal (2020), Verger et al (2008) and Kumar & Sen (2018b) among others. Spring water quality assessments have been done by Kumar et al (1997), andKothyari (2003).…”

“…Spring water quality assessments have been done by Kumar et al (1997), andKothyari (2003). Thapa et al (2020), Pokhrel & Rijal (2020) and Rani et al (2021) and others. Studies on spring water runoff over the Himalayan region are hardly found.…”

“…Studies on spring water runoff over the Himalayan region are hardly found. Several studies have pointed towards anthropogenic factors like hydro-power projects (Sahu et al 2020b), dam and road constructions (Kumar & Sen, 2018a), and over-extraction of water resources (Negi & Joshi, 2002) including climatic factors like decreasing snowfall (Mir et al, 2015), decreasing snow cover depth (Kripalani et al, 2003;Singh et al, 2016), decreasing rainfall (Panwar, 2020;Pokhrel & Rijal et al, 2020), and increasing temperature (Sahu et al, 2020a) to influence, spring water discharge volumes. Panwar (2020) stated that rainfall among the climatic factors, and hydro-power generation among the anthropogenic factors, exert greater influence on spring water reduction and spring disappearance.…”