Investigation, simulation, identification and prediction of groundwater levels in coastal areas of Purba Midnapur, India, using MODFLOW

Abstract

The groundwater modelling tool is an important structural tool for solving many groundwater-related problems. Visual-MODFLOW is one of such tool that uses finite-difference (FD) method to unravel the problems. In this paper, Visual-MODFLOW 2000 has been utilized for analysing the groundwater-level simulation in Purba (East) Midnapur, West Bengal, India. The data of pumping well discharge have been collected at two different time periods 2002 and 2012. The simulated pumping well records for 2012 based on the pumping well discharges measured in 2002 and the observed records in 2012 have been critically examined, compared, and correlation coefficients are found out to signify data validity. Also simulated groundwater-level data of 2019 to 2023 based on well discharge records in 2002 and 2012 have also been correlated for its justification. This paper concluded that the groundwater flow occurs from south to north direction of East Midnapur, as the saline water intrusion from the nearby sea takes place into the aquifers towards inland direction. It confirms a good agreement with future simulation data. In the real field situation, saline water encroachments have affected the aquifers and it has covered up to 50 km of location from Kalindi (near seashore) to Nandakumar (inland) location. This paper focuses on the groundwater-level forecasting in prospective groundwater managing scenarios in the region concern.