Contaminated water supplies upset the delicate balance of the aquatic ecology. Inland water features, especially lakes, dams, and ponds, where water is retained for longer periods of time and serves as the main supply of drinking water, become more problematic. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and evaluate the water quality of these inland water sources before using them for drinking. The present study evaluates thirteen essential physiochemical parameters of Shitla Lake of Durg, Chhattisgarh to determine the water quality for drinking purpose. The physiochemical parameters were calculated for each month in two years (June-2022 to May 2023). The water quality index (WQI) was calculated by using the values of some important physiochemical parameters. The results showed a significant difference (p≤ 0.05) in the recorded physiochemical properties across different months and years. Seasonal differences in the recorded physiochemical parameters were also found to be significant (p≤ 0.05). Finally the water quality index for dinking purpose was evaluated and, it was found that the quality of water varies from good to poor as per universal water quality index (U-WQI). It was observed that the water quality of Shitla Lake for drinking was good in winter season. But, in summer and monsoon the water of Shitla Lake was of poor quality for drinking. The seasonal changes in the water quality of Shitla Lake determine its necessity for adopting protective measures from the pollution during which the quality of water is deteriorated. Also the Lake is the primary source of drinking in the fringe area thus prior conservation strategies should be framed out to maintain good quality of its water.