Abstract

Scarcity of groundwater is a severe problem in this region due to over exploitation of groundwater from unconfined hard rock aquifers. The main objectives of this study are to analyse the spatiotemporal variability and fluctuation of groundwater table and to predict the location of groundwater depression pockets. Total 21 consecutive years (1996–2017) groundwater monitoring well data (pre- and post-monsoon) have been collected from CGWB, Government of India. The nonparametric Mann–Kendall trend analysis and standardized precipitation index (SPI) have been applied to detect the trend of groundwater level and rainfall variability, respectively. Exponential smoothing has also been fitted for future prediction. The pre- and post-monsoon results (1996–2017) showed that around 77% (22 stations) and 78% (23) monitoring stations were indicating declining trend of groundwater table at the rate of −0.006 to −0.205 m/year and −0.005 to −0.192 m/year, respectively. Similarly, future (2040) groundwater depression result predicted that around 75% (21) stations, the groundwater table will be depleted above 5 m during pre-monsoon while about 53% (16 stations) monitoring wells, the groundwater table will be fallen above 5 m during post-monsoon. Consequently, around 52% (15) and 50% (14) stations are being faced groundwater drought in the recurrent interval of above 2 years during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon, respectively. Driving factors of water table depletion are huge withdrawal of groundwater for dry farming and reduction of recharge areas due to rapid land use modification. The uniqueness of this study exhibits the nature of declining trend of groundwater table and identification of depression pockets.

Highlights

  • In the recent years, excessive stress on groundwater resource is due to unexpected population growth along with urban and rural infrastructural development

  • Excessive stress on groundwater resource is due to unexpected population growth along with urban and rural infrastructural development. This indispensable natural renewal resource can sustain the whole biota of the earth system and this renewal resource which is automatically recharged through precipitation

  • To determine the changing pattern, distribution and variation of groundwater table in pre- and post-monsoon, the borehole data were analysed for the time frame (1996–2017)

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Summary

Introduction

Excessive stress on groundwater resource is due to unexpected population growth along with urban and rural infrastructural development. This indispensable natural renewal resource can sustain the whole biota of the earth system and this renewal resource which is automatically recharged through precipitation. Different geological structures such as fault, joint, bedding, cleavage, fracture, foliation and lineaments have the ability to transmit and store the groundwater through the porous, saturated water bearing and water holding aquifer (Nilsen et al 2003; Basu and Bera 2010). A sustainable use of this natural resource should be maintained in various parts of the world (Assaf and Saadeh 2009)

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