Hydrology Journal

The problem of water scarcity takes the centre stage during the lean period when demand surpasses supply. Discharge of eight springs and rainfall data within the core of the Pauri urban centre is collected on a daily time step and analysed using a simple mathematical approach to assess the reliability of spring flow as a source of fresh water, and to have a preliminary understanding of the aquifer characteristic that feeds these key sources of valuable water. The spring hydrograph, recession constant, flow half-life and time lag between recharge event (rainfall) and subsequent increase in discharge of springs show that spring flow is mainly sustained by the slow flow component of base flow through smaller fracture's aquifer matrix and partly by faster flow component (quick flow) drained through the well interconnected group of larger fractures. This study is an attempt to characterise and quantify the available spring resources in a Himalayan hilly region where spring flow is an important source of water. Understanding of the low flow becomes more important as these urban centres in hilly areas are struggling to find a solution for water scarcity.