Investigation ofseasonal water quality in wetlands of Jhajjar district (Haryana), India andsuitability for drinking and agricultural use

Surface freshwater bodies are essential for drinking and irrigation, but rapid development and industrial activities pollute these precious resources. This study investigates seasonal fluctuations in water quality and its suitability for drinking and agriculture in the wetlands of Jhajjar district (Haryana), India. Seventy-five water samples were collected from 25 locations during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons and tested for physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolves solids (TDS), turbidity, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl−), sulphate (SO42–), carbonate (CO32–), and bicarbonate (HCO3–) ions. The one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences ( p < 0.05) in the means of most of the water parameters during different seasons. The water quality index (WQI) revealed that more than 85 % of the samples were unfit for consumption. Irrigation indicators such as sodium absorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) suggested the appropriateness of samples for agricultural use. However, the magnesium hazard (MH) index and US salinity laboratory (USSL) diagram suggested that many samples were unsuitable for irrigation. The Piper trilinear diagram showed that Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃⁻ type water was predominant in all seasons, while the Gibbs plot identified evaporation and rock-water interactions as the primary factors influencing water chemistry. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated TDS, EC, and Cl⁻ as key drivers of water quality, while cluster analysis divided sampling locations into four primary groups. This study emphasizes the critical need for sustainable water management interventions and solutions to maintain public health and the long-term sustainability of agriculture.