Groundwater augmentation plan for a degraded western ghat terrain using remote sensing and GIS
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Date
2007
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Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur
Abstract
The safe development of groundwater resource primarily depends upon the groundwater recharge. Artificial ground water recharge is essential in terrains with low natural groundwater recharge. Availability of non-committed runoff, hydrogeologically favourable area for recharge and site specific design of artificial recharge structures are the major requirements of an artificial groundwater recharge system. A quantitative evaluation of spatial and temporal distribution of groundwater recharge is a prerequisite for operating groundwater resource management system in an optimal manner. While enjoying a humid tropic climate with heavy rainfall, Kerala also faces acute shortage of fresh water during the summer season, especially in the high range areas. In this study, an effort is taken to prepare a groundwater augmentation plan for a highly degraded Western Ghats terrain, the Siruvani sub basin ofBhavani river basin. Plan includes the evaluation of spatiotemporal distribution of natural groundwater recharge, delineation of land slide resistant hydro-geologically suitable areas for artificial recharge and to suggestspecific recharge structures adapted to the terrain characters.
Using Thornthwaite-Mather water balance method, the spatiotemporal distribution of groundwater recharge was prepared and natural ground water recharge in the watershed was estimated. Penman method and NRCS curve number methods were employed for generating the water balance parameters. Monthly natural recharge varies from 0 to 44 Mm3. the total annual natural recharge was found as 158 Mm3. By analysing the infiltration rate, geology, geomorphology, rechargeable depth, slope and drainage density, land use, relative relief, soil depth etc., hydrogeologically potential areas for groundwater recharge systems and land slide prone areas were delineated through GIS weighted overlay analysis. Land slide prone areas were excluded from potential recharge areas. 46.78% of total area was found to be favourable for artificial recharge. The most suitable recharge structures suitable for the hard rock hilly terrains viz, check dams, subsurface dykes, recharge wells, runoff harvesting structures are suggested and suitable locations for the specific recharge measures were delineated.
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