Stratigraphic modeling and hydraulic characterization of a typical basaltic aquifer system in the Kadva river basin, Nashik, India

Abstract

The primary objective of the study is to characterize the hydrogeologic status and identify the trend in groundwater storage of aquifer system to provide an improved understanding of the groundwater flow system in the Kadva river basin, India. This is accomplished by the integrated use of stratigraphic modeling, pressure derivative approach, and pumping test analysis. The results of the stratigraphic modeling indicate that the unconfined aquifer thickness ranging from 8.2 to 34.2 m and generally occur to the depth of 2.2–36.5 m below ground level (bgl), whereas semi-confined aquifer thickness ranges from 6.1 to 58.3 m and generally occurs 30.6 m bgl over the study area with an interconnected semi-confining unit of thickness ranging from 1.6 to 22.3 m. The pumping test results of unconfined aquifer in the study area show that the transmissivity varies from 15.66 to 98.18 m2/day, and the specific yield ranging from 8.2 × 10–4 to 3.2 × 10–2. Pumping test data and derivative analysis show that the deep aquifers are semi-confined with transmissivity ranging from 14.4 to 111.2 m2/day, storage coefficient varies from 1.56 × 10–4 to 4.83 × 10–4, and hydraulic resistance ranges from 93 to 1270 days. The values of hydraulic parameters revealed a remarkable spatial variability, suggesting that the basaltic aquifer system has strong heterogeneity. The results of the present study are helpful in the formulation of efficient policies for sustainable groundwater management in basaltic aquifers system in India in particular and worldwide in general.