Assessment Of Spring Water And Soil Quality In Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, India

Abstract

Drinking water quality assessment is an essential and crucial process to ensure whether the water is safe for consumption and other uses, especially in remote regions where there is a lack of periodic assessment. The study evaluated pH, turbidity, total hardness, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, dissolved iron, free chlorine, alkalinity, and salinity using the AE103 Drinking Water Combination Test Kit. Water samples were collected from six springs across different villages in Zanskar and analysed to determine their compliance with BIS (IS 10500:2012) and WHO drinking water standards.  The findings indicated that most springs meet permissible limits for essential parameters, though some show elevated nitrate, hardness, and dissolved iron levels, likely due to natural geological conditions and limited anthropogenic influence. Recommendations include periodic monitoring, community awareness programs, and low-cost filtration solutions to ensure sustainable water quality management.