An integrated hydrogeological study to support sustainable development and management of groundwater resources: a case study from the Precambrian Crystalline Province, India

Madhnure, Pandith; Peddi, Nageshwar Rao; Allani, Damodar Rao

An integrated hydrogeological study to support sustainable development and management of groundwater resources: a case study from the Precambrian Crystalline Province, India | Etude hydrogéologique intégrée en appui au développement durable et à la gestion des ressources en eau souterraine: étude de cas dans la Province Cristallline Précambrienne, Inde Un estudio hidrogeológico integrado para el apoyo del desarrollo y la gestión sostenible de los recursos de agua subterránea: caso de estudio de la Provincia Precámbrica Cristalina, India 支撑地下水资源可持续开发和管理的水文地质综合研究:印度前寒武纪结晶岩地区的一个研究实例 Um estudo hidrogeológico integrado de apoio ao desenvolvimento sustentável e gestão dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos: um estudo de caso da Província Pré-Cambriana Cristalina, Índia

2016

Madhnure, Pandith | Peddi, Nageshwar Rao | Allani, Damodar Rao

The rapid expansion of agriculture, industries and urbanization has triggered unplanned groundwater development leading to severe stress on groundwater resources in crystalline rocks of India. With depleting resources from shallow aquifers, end users have developed resources from deeper aquifers, which have proved to be counterproductive economically and ecologically. An integrated hydrogeological study has been undertaken in the semi-arid Madharam watershed (95 km²) in Telangana State, which is underlain by granites. The results reveal two aquifer systems: a weathered zone (maximum 30 m depth) and a fractured zone (30–85 m depth). The weathered zone is unsaturated to its maximum extent, forcing users to tap groundwater from deeper aquifers. Higher orders of transmissivity, specific yield and infiltration rates are observed in the recharge zone, while moderate orders are observed in an intermediate zone, and lower orders in the discharge zone. This is due to the large weathering-zone thickness and a higher sand content in the recharge zone than in the discharge zone, where the weathered residuum contains more clay. The NO₃ ⁻ concentration is high in shallow irrigation wells, and F⁻ is high in deeper wells. Positive correlation is observed between F⁻ and depth in the recharge zone and its proximity. Nearly 50 % of groundwater samples are unfit for human consumption and the majority of irrigation-well samples are classed as medium to high risk for plant growth. Both supply-side and demand-side measures are recommended for sustainable development and management of this groundwater resource. The findings can be up-scaled to other similar environments.

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