Water Resources of Himalayan Region: Conservation, Management and Quality Perspectives

Water sustains life on Earth, yet only about 2.7% of the planet’s water is fresh, and most of it remains locked in glaciers or underground. The Himalayan region, celebrated as the “Water Tower of Asia”, contributes nearly 86 million cubic meters of water annually and feeds many of the major river basins of the Indian subcontinent. However, climate change–induced glacier retreat, erratic rainfall patterns, rapid urbanization, deforestation, industrial pressures, and rising demand for safe water are placing unprecedented stress on the Himalayan water systems. 

This volume brings together comprehensive insights into the conservation, management, and quality dimensions of Himalayan water resources. It covers issues such as drying springs and strategies for their rejuvenation, climate change impacts on rainfed rivers, urban and tourism pressures on water security, recharge infrastructure for mountain governance, spring water quality assessment, scalable innovations for safe rural drinking water, climate-resilient water safety planning, capacity-building initiatives, groundwater evaluation and management strategies, and hydrometeorological studies including flash floods. 

Additional chapters explore water quality in major rivers such as the Ganga and Alaknanda, groundwater availability across Himalayan states, emerging contaminants in mountain waters, and sustainable approaches to water resource conservation with special reference to Uttarakhand. This book will serve as a valuable resource for students, researchers, academicians, policymakers, environmental practitioners, and all stakeholders engaged in Himalayan water studies and sustainable development.