Variations in Groundwater Quality under Different Vegetation Types in Delhi, India

Abstract

Present work was undertaken to study the groundwater quality and depth under different vegetated land covers in Delhi viz. protected forest area, trees outside forest and maintained park. Phytosociology, groundwater quality and depth for each land cover were studied. Protected forest area has the best groundwater quality as per BIS drinking water standards. Trees outside forest area reported the worst water quality among all the land covers with Water Quality Index (WQI) value of 297. Groundwater under maintained parks was also found in the category of 'very poor' quality according to WQI value. Water was available at minimum depth of 4.36 m below ground level under trees outside forest area. While maximum depth is reported from protected forest sites. Maximum number of tree species is recorded from protected forest area with only seven species common to all the three land covers. Land cover with maximum groundwater depth i.e., protected forest area has maximum tree species while trees outside forest area with groundwater available at least depth has reported minimum number of species.