Major Ion Chemistry of the Bheri (Snow-Fed) and the Babai (Rain-Fed) River Systems in Western Nepal: Implication on Water Quality

Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) is a water resource stressor globally with negative environmental impacts. This study describes the major ions and hydrochemistry of the first ever ongoing IBWT from snow-fed Bheri River to rain-fed Babai River in Western Nepal. Water samples from 10 sites, five from each river system, were collected in HDPE bottles for major ions (Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), Na^+, K^+, HCO_3^-, Cl^-, SO_4^(2-), NO_3^-, CO_3^(2-)) along with the estimation of pH, temperature and conductivity encompassing winter, spring, summer, and autumn in 2018. Ca^(2+)and HCO_3^- were the most dominant cation and anion, respectively, with 〖Ca-Mg-HCO〗_3 water type in both the river systems. Mann Whitney test revealed significant variation (p