Influence of groundwater recharge in Vaniyar sub-basin, South India: inference to socioeconomic benefits

Abstract

In recent decades, increasing population activities are a complex task throughout the world. The scarcity of water in southern India is high as compared to the global average. Progressive development of the aquifer system by artificial recharging can be considered as a tool for increasing groundwater resource. The water conservation techniques had been used for increasing groundwater storage in the hard rock. ‘This research focuses on estimation of groundwater recharges using empirical model through artificial recharge structures, which plays a major role to enhance recharge. The groundwater recharge by water table fluctuation is estimated in context of recharge structures. It is an important role as sustainable development of groundwater resources. The normal groundwater renews by an annual rainfall varied from 11 to 16%. The total recharge is estimated 173.12 ha m in which the influence by conservation recharge structures varies from 0.34 to 26.33 which indicates the groundwater storage optimal maintained in the Pappireddipatti watershed (total number of structures is 22), whereas Vaniyar sub-basin groundwater recharge is estimated 530.30 ha m (total number of structures is 138). The performance of artificial recharge structures is to reduce extra surface runoff in the watershed. The optimal performances need to maintain for continuous withdrawal of groundwater through natural and artificial recharge structures. An empirical approach is used for the assessment of the recharge from rainfall with reasonable accuracy on the periodic groundwater recharge in the hard rock aquifer. The rainfall based on Thiessen polygon method was prepared by annual fall from three-gauge station in the watershed. The effective depth of precipitation of the rainfall is 915.31 mm. Hence, the recharge rate could be increased in close to suitable recharge site in the watershed. A GIS approach was utilized to incorporate six contributing variables: lithology, land use/land cover, soil types, geomorphology, drainage, and slope. The outcome of benefits showed that around 72% of the evaluation zone is assigned as good to moderate potential groundwater recharge whereas low bring down potential groundwater energize ranges with poor potential groundwater recharge covers 38% in the area. The outcomes demonstrate that the groundwater recharge potential zone is focusing on sustainable groundwater development. Further, there is improved in water level in low recharge area to moderate recharge with respect to rainfall influence at recharge structures. It confirms the interconnection of the aquifer.