<p>Groundwater, a primary irrigation source in Punjab, India, faces increasing demand due to low rainfall and intensive agricultural activity. The limited groundwater and interrupted water cycle due to climate change and inadequate water supply through the canals are unable to fulfill the irrigation demand. Therefore, searching out alternative sources is the foremost requirement at this stage to fulfill water demand. This study explores wastewater ponds in Punjab villages as potential alternative irrigation sources. A total of 118 ponds, varying in vegetation (algae, duckweed, water hyacinth, grass) and visual pollution index (from extremely polluted to no pollution), were analyzed for physicochemical and biological parameters. The majority of the ponds (78%) were found with no vegetation cover, and the visual pollution index identified the majority of ponds to be in the clear (36%) and low polluted (35%) category. The analysis was carried out onsite as well as at lab scale after collecting the grab samples. Many parameters exceeded the recommended limits for irrigation. A Wastewater Quality Index (WWQI) was developed to classify the ponds into five categories: excellent, good, regular, bad, and very bad. The WWQI analysis indicated that raw ponds with clear water and no vegetation could be suitable for irrigation based on their WWQI scores. Promoting the reuse of such wastewater aligns with sustainable water management practices, reduces dependence on groundwater, and enhances rural water resilience.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>