Current Research on Geography, Earth Science and Environment Vol. 9

An eco-hydrogeochemical assessment was conducted for Zeilad Lake in Manipur, a high-altitude, ecologically sensitive freshwater lake, using water quality indices and multivariate statistical techniques. The findings of the study highlight the need to conserve this pristine lake ecosystem and also advocate minimising human activities such as excessive slash and burn cultivation, deforestation, and changes in land use and land cover patterns, which cumulatively alter the existing lake ecosystem health. The water quality indices classify 78% of the samples as "excellent," 11% as "good," and 11% as "poor" quality water. This is attributed to the release of phosphate from the use of chemical fertilisers and other anthropogenic waste, leading to nutrient enrichment of the lake and causing significant ecological and ecohydrological disturbances to its current status. The hydrogeochemical facies indicated a Cl^--Ca²⁺ water type, suggesting the possibility of anthropogenic as well as brine-related geological influences, with rock-weathering identified as the dominant geochemical process shaping the lake's water chemistry. The bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses identified significant relationships among TDS, EC, and salinity, illustrating the prevalence of both carbonate and non-carbonate hardness as well as the impacts of inorganic pollutants from anthropogenic sources. Irrigation water quality indices indicate that water samples are suitable for irrigation and agricultural use, although slightly elevated magnesium levels were noted in a few water samples.