Urban development and its impact on the depletion of groundwater aquifers in Mardan City, Pakistan

Abstract

The threat of chaotic and unorganized expansion of urban areas and growing stress of human actions on hydro-geomorphologic system frequently outcome in alteration of the current recharge system, which directs to numerous ecological challenges. This study attempts to examine the applicability of geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing in dealing with spatio-temporal variability of dynamic phenomena i.e. urban development and its relationship with groundwater aquifers. This research paper mainly covers quantitative impacts of urban advancement on the behavior of water lying beneath the earth surface in Mardan City (Pakistan). Satellite images were used to examine the expansion of urban areas in the city during the last two decades. The outcomes of this paper signify that both the land use/land cover and groundwater table has changed drastically in the study area over the study period. The investigation showed that the rapid increase in population coupled with inevitable urban growth over the surrounding fertile agricultural land were the most important factors of groundwater fluctuation in the study area. Moreover, GIS and remote sensing techniques have been found significant in measurement of spatial and temporal phenomenon of urban expansion and its effects on groundwater system.