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<p>This study presents an integrated hydrogeological, geochemical, and isotopic assessment of spring water quality and recharge vulnerability in the Ravi catchment of the northwestern Himalaya. A total of 981 springs were geotagged and surveyed, with 379 water samples analyzed for major ions and stable isotopes (δ1<sup>8</sup>O, δ2H). Hydrochemical facies analysis revealed Ca–HCO<sub>3</sub> and Ca–Mg–HCO<sub>3</sub> dominant types, reflecting the combined influence of silicate weathering and carbonate dissolution. To improve groundwater quality evaluation, entropy-weighted water quality indices (EWQI) were developed using both principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR). While the PCA-based model yielded a higher R2 (0.94), the MLR-based EWQI achieved a lower prediction error (1.21%), providing greater reliability for classification. Isotope-based two-component mixing models indicated that post-monsoon spring recharge is derived primarily (~ 62.5%) from Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall. Hydrogeological investigations at six representative springs demonstrated contrasting recharge mechanisms shaped by topography, lithology, and structural controls. Vulnerability index (VI) mapping revealed that 750 springs are moderately vulnerable and 231 highly vulnerable, with risk concentrated in the mid-catchment zone. The findings provide a replicable framework for spring source protection, highlight critical recharge zones, and guide targeted conservation and sustainable water management strategies in Himalayan and other mountainous regions.</p>

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Isotopic and geochemical insights into spring recharge and vulnerability in a Himalayan catchment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月26日

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  • Tanveer Dar,
  • Soban Singh Rawat,
  • Deepak Singh Bisht,
  • Stanzin Chenlak

摘要

This study presents an integrated hydrogeological, geochemical, and isotopic assessment of spring water quality and recharge vulnerability in the Ravi catchment of the northwestern Himalaya. A total of 981 springs were geotagged and surveyed, with 379 water samples analyzed for major ions and stable isotopes (δ18O, δ2H). Hydrochemical facies analysis revealed Ca–HCO3 and Ca–Mg–HCO3 dominant types, reflecting the combined influence of silicate weathering and carbonate dissolution. To improve groundwater quality evaluation, entropy-weighted water quality indices (EWQI) were developed using both principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR). While the PCA-based model yielded a higher R2 (0.94), the MLR-based EWQI achieved a lower prediction error (1.21%), providing greater reliability for classification. Isotope-based two-component mixing models indicated that post-monsoon spring recharge is derived primarily (~ 62.5%) from Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall. Hydrogeological investigations at six representative springs demonstrated contrasting recharge mechanisms shaped by topography, lithology, and structural controls. Vulnerability index (VI) mapping revealed that 750 springs are moderately vulnerable and 231 highly vulnerable, with risk concentrated in the mid-catchment zone. The findings provide a replicable framework for spring source protection, highlight critical recharge zones, and guide targeted conservation and sustainable water management strategies in Himalayan and other mountainous regions.