Seasonal and Climatic Factors on Water Quality: A Novel‐Framework for Public Health‐Oriented Water Resource Assessment

ABSTRACT This study investigated the seasonal dynamics of drinking water quality in Kota, Rajasthan, across three primary sources: handpumps (shallow‐groundwater), tubewells (deep‐groundwater), and surface water. Samples collected during summer, rainy, and winter seasons were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological parameters using a novel water quality health indicator (WQHI). Seasonal patterns showed that handpumps were influenced by rainfall‐induced leaching and microbial activity, whereas surface water quality was affected by urban runoff and industrial effluents. Tubewells, influenced primarily by geogenic factors, exhibited higher chemical contamination during winter due to stagnant flow. The WQHI integrates physical (15%), chemical (45%), and biological (40%), emphasizing health relevance. Results indicate that handpumps exhibited the highest total health impact, followed by surface water and tubewells, with biological contamination as the dominant risk. Correlation analysis showed that surface water influences shallow groundwater, while deeper groundwater remains geogenically controlled. WQHI offers a practical framework for seasonal, health‐focused water management.