Application of Geoelectrical Survey and Time-Lapse Resistivity with Groundwater Data in Delineating a Groundwater Potential Map: A Case Study from Phuket Island, Thailand

Ratha Men,Sakanann Vann,Kiyota Hashimoto,Thongchai Suteerasak,Avirut Puttiwongrak

doi:10.3390/su14010397

Abstract

Phuket is well-known around the world as a popular tourist destination. Tourism-related population growth depends more on groundwater as the only available source of potable water in Phuket. The proper precautions must be taken to reduce the risk of spending large sums of money in sinking abortive boreholes, and a groundwater potential map would enhance the success rate of future groundwater exploration and exploitation in the study area. Geoelectrical surveys were carried out in this study to collect electrical properties of the subsurface, and the Dar-Zarrouk parameters (DZP) were calculated using the geoelectrical data. The first thematic groundwater potential map was constructed using the interpretation of DZP, while the second thematic groundwater potential map was created using the basis maps of the depth-of-basement and aquifer thickness parameters. Finally, two thematic maps based on geographic information system (GIS) environments were overlaid on a groundwater potential map of Phuket. However, in order to provide a reliable assessment of groundwater potential, time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging was used to confirm the area of the high-potential zone indicated on the map. The map created by this study is aimed to act as a reference for future groundwater exploration and exploitation, preventing water supplies from becoming unsustainable through botched borehole drilling for groundwater production.

Highlights

Groundwater has become an important source of water and is used extensively in urbanization, industry development, and domestic consumption [1]
The map created in this study shows a substantial correlation with and certain similarities to the previous map of Charoenpong et al [8], as shown in Figure 10b, but the map created in this study reveals the comfortable details and updated version of the groundwater potential map, which is well expected to provide a broader and more accurate understanding of favorable groundwater potential areas
The groundwater potential of Phuket, Thailand, which is well known as a tourist destination, was identified and validated utilizing a geoelectrical survey and time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging, as well as the interpretation of geological datasets

Summary

Introduction

Groundwater has become an important source of water and is used extensively in urbanization, industry development, and domestic consumption [1]. Because of the growing demand for water, groundwater exploration is becoming increasingly important, in areas where surface water is scarce [2]. Phuket is a province located in southern Thailand, and it is an island well-known as a popular tourist destination around the world. Phuket was mostly a mining and industrial area, but it has been developed as a tourist destination since 1970s [4]. The residents of Phuket used to rely on surface water such as the canal and the river for their domestic water needs. The rapid and steady increase in tourists and tourism-related local residents has outweighed the potential potable water supply from surface water and

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion