Spring water quality and human health in foothill settlements of pir panjal range in anantnag and kulgam districts of jammu and kashmir state, India

Abstract

The present research work attempts to investigate the water quality of some selected springs in the foot hill settlements of Pir Panjal range in the Anantnag and Kulgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir state, to determine the suitability of water for drinking purposes and impact on human health. Since the area is rural in character, people generally go for open defecation and open solid waste/sewage/other waste disposal that ultimately find way into springs. Investigation reveals that the water quality of some of the springs has been deteriorated because of human impact. During the health survey of sample villages where the water of these springs is used for domestic purposes, it has been noted that about 72.6∈% of the people were suffering from different water borne diseases like diarrhoea (24.3∈%), dysentery (16.4∈%), typhoid (6.4∈%), gastroenteritis (15.6∈%), infectious hepatitis (9.8∈%) and poliomyelitis (0.14∈%). In this context, some suggestions have been made to restore the ecological balance of these water bodies that will help to maintain the water quality and health of the people.