Impact of Tourism and Urbanization on Water Supply and Water Quality in Manali, Northern India

Eighty percent of Indians drink polluted water and annually more than two million people die of enteric diseases caused by consumption of polluted water. Water shortages are also important, since water supply is unreliable even in larger centres (such as Calcutta) or not present at all. This study assesses the impact of tourism and urbanization on the water supply of Manali, a town in the Indian Himalayas, and on the water quality of the river that flows through the town. I used structured and unstructured interviews, published and unpublished documents and field observations. The results provide insight into the drinking water situation in terms of quantity and quality, the pollution sources of Manali, and their impact on the water quality of the Beas River. Findings reveal that water demand during the peak tourist season is critical despite augmentation of the water supply system. Water-borne diseases occur in all areas despite the location of drinking water sources upstream from major contaminants. The water quality in the Beas River in Manali is generally good, but urbanization and tourism affect the downstream water quality.