Groundwater quality and health risk assessment in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt of the northwestern Himalayas

Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water in the Baddi–Barotiwala–Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt of the northwestern Himalayas, where rapid pharmaceutical and manufacturing growth has intensified concerns over water quality and public health. This study highlighted the groundwater suitability for drinking purpose, with a strong focus on evaluating associated human health risks from fluoride and arsenic contamination. A total of 50 groundwater samples were analyzed for 13 physicochemical parameters with several (TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl−, F−, K+, HCO3− and As) exceeding permissible limits. Drinking water quality index assessment revealed that most of the groundwater samples fell into “poor” category, indicating groundwater unsuitability for human consumption. Lifetime Cancer Risk (LTCR) from arsenic exceeded the acceptable benchmark in 92% samples for children, 88% for females and 86% for males, whereas fluoride revealed elevated Hazard Quotient (HQ) values in 12% of samples with males and children and 2% with females highlighting the greater vulnerability of younger population. Strict effluent control and sustainable groundwater monitoring are crucial to ensure safe water supply and protect human health in local communities of the northwestern Himalayas. Beyond local relevance, the outcomes contribute valuable insights for sustainable groundwater governance in rapidly industrializing regions of the Himalayas and support progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 6.