Hydrogeochemical facie and solute acquisition at Dal Lake of Kashmir and Dal Lake of Mcleodganj, northwest Himalaya, India

Lakes are one of the major freshwater resources and provide several economic and ecological services, but their natural scenario is continuously changing with time. The present study aims to understand the hydrogeochemical facie and solute acquisition at the Dal Lake of Kashmir, Srinagar (DLK) and Dal Lake of Mcleodganj, Dharamshala (DLM), located in the northwest Himalaya, India. The water samples collected from both lakes revealed the DLK was slightly alkaline (pH 7.4), while DLM as slightly acidic (pH 6.6). The analysis indicated that weathering of carbonate rocks imparts a greater contribution on solute acquisition as compared to silicate rocks. The inter-ionic ratio of HCO 3 – + SO 4 2– and Ca 2+ + Mg 2+ confirmed the impacts of cation exchange and dissolution of calcite, gypsum, and dolomite minerals in the lakes. Increased content of NO 3 – , NH 4 + and F – is related to some anthropogenic activities inside lakes and catchment regions. The water in DLK contained temporary (Ca 2+ –HCO 3 – ) and permanent hardness (Ca 2+ –SO 4 2– ), while that of DLM only had temporary hardness. The principle component analysis indicated 85.61 and 63.28% variance sum for DLK and DLM, respectively. Apart from this, the strong, moderate and weak loading of some parameters indicated major influence of geogenic sources. The parameters are also found to have a minor spatial variability in both lakes that may be due to different levels of erosion and human activities in the surrounding. These lakes somehow are able to sustain their natural status, but rather than some refined strategies are needed keeping in view changing scenario of lakes worldwide, for maintaining water quality and preservation of both lakes for the future because of their social, economic and ecological significances.