Groundwater Recharge Potential Zones Research Articles

Groundwater recharge potential zone modeling in the Wadi Al-Lith Basin, Saudi Arabia

The management of groundwater resources is crucial in arid and semi-arid regions such as Al-Lith Basin, and therefore, the identification of suitable areas for groundwater recharge is important in solving the problem of water scarcity and ensuring the long-term sustainability of aquifers. In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, in conjunction with GIS, was applied to locate potential zones for groundwater recharge in the Al-Lith basin. The research methodology includes collecting the essential data, including lineament density, slope, rainfall, drainage density, LU/LC, soil, elevation, and TWI. AHP is used to assign relative weights to different qualities, considering their significance in influencing groundwater recharge. The ArcGIS was employed to process and analyze the weighted layers, which resulted in the creation of a comprehensive map illustrating the potential for groundwater recharge. The study results suggested that the Al-Lith Subbasin has several zones that exhibit different levels of groundwater recharge capability. The results obtained from this study indicated that 12.83% of the basin area has significant groundwater recharge potential zones (GWPZ), ranging from high to very high levels. The groundwater recharge potential zones in the basin are categorized as very poor to poor, covering 19.4% of the area, while the moderate groundwater recharge potential zones represent 67.77% of the basin area. The groundwater protection zones were validated using 19 wells distributed across the basin. The validation findings indicate there is an overlap between the GWPZ classes and the wells in the specified location. Overall, the findings of this study can enhance groundwater resource management and inform policy development for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing groundwater recharge.

Determination of the Groundwater Potential Zones in Babylon Using Remote Sensing & GIS Techniques

Freshwater found underground in the tiny spaces (pores) of soil and rocks is known as groundwater. Groundwater is a valuable resource that considerably contributes to the yearly supplies. To preserve water quality and oversee groundwater systems, evaluation of the potential zone of groundwater recharge is crucial. Using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, groundwater potential zones are identified. This study proposes to use satellite imagery and the software program (ArcGIS) to find a groundwater potential zone in Babylon City, Iraq. A groundwater map has been created using various data, namely slope, drainage density, lineament density, land use/land cover, geology type, soil type, and rainfall map. All these data are collected using a weighted overlay tool. Five categories were created based on the groundwater results: very poor, poor, moderate, good, and exceptional. The 'good' class covers about 32% of the study area. The current study shows that excellent groundwater class exists in Al-Hindiyah Dam, Al-Muhaweel, Al-Midhatiyah, Al-Kifil, and Al-Mashrua’a. The excellent groundwater class in Al-Shommali covers approximately 198.0054 km2. Certain areas like Al-Musaib Center, Al-Hilla Center, Al-Hashimiyah, and Abi Garaq don't have much groundwater. The moderate and excellent classes cover around 19% of the study area. The main conclusion is that Remote Sensing and GIS have gained recognition as a practical approach to mapping groundwater potential zones due to their ability to integrate diverse spatial data.

Mapping natural groundwater potential recharge zones using GIS-AHP in the Upper Cheliff alluvial aquifer, Algeria

Water scarcity is a big issue in arid and semi-arid regions. This challenge is particularly evident in the Upper Cheliff plain in Algeria, where the alluvial aquifer plays a vital role in drinking water supply and supporting irrigation. This aquifer faces high demand and quality issues. A study was conducted in this context, employing a cartographic approach to assess potential groundwater recharge from precipitation into the alluvial aquifer. The current study aimed at mapping zones with potential natural groundwater recharge zones by applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) integrated within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, combining various factors that can influence recharge, such as rainfall, surface soil type, slope degree, land use and land cover, unsaturated zone, groundwater depth, and curve number. The map resulting from the analysis indicates that only 22% of the assessed area covers zones with very low and low potential recharge, 35% with moderate potential recharge zones, and 43% with high and very high potential recharge zones. This map reveals that the eastern region of the plain, from the cities of Djendel to Ain Soltane, is moderately to highly favorable for recharge. This is due to the natural recharge from rainfall and watercourse infiltration during dam release periods, excess irrigation water, and recharge from the Miocene sandstone aquifer in areas with direct aquifer contact. A validation process was performed using data from 66 wells distributed in this plain and it indicated that 48 wells exhibited good agreement with the resulting map, while 18 wells showed slight deviations. The results indicate an agreement of 72.72% between expected and exist number value of wells which confirming the good prediction of the AHP technique.

Aquifers Recharge Potentiality Evaluation using Bivariate and Multivariate Statistical Analysis: A Case Study in Malwathu Oya River Basin

An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater that plays a vital role in the hydrological cycle. Due to rapid population growth and urbanization, these valuable resources face threats like climate changes, pollution, and over-exploitation. Overdraft, where extraction exceeds recharge, can lead to groundwater depletion. Although Sri Lanka is not considered a water- scarce country, it faces rising water demands due to rapid population growth. Especially in dry zones, groundwater is crucial for drinking and agriculture; unauthorized agro-wells exacerbate groundwater issues. Therefore, this research aims to assess groundwater recharge potential zones in Malwathu Oya river basin using Bivariate and Multivariate statistical analysis. Comparing these techniques will lead to the precise identification of potential recharge areas. And this study primarily focuses on the implementation of GIS to find solutions for this kind of challenge without performing field investigations. Therefore, eight conditioning factors; water level, electrical conductivity, lithology, soil, slope, lineament density, drainage density and land use were selected as groundwater recharge influencing factors. The well inventory database consisted of 380 well locations and, out of these, 70% was considered as the training dataset, and the remaining 30% was taken as the testing data set. Groundwater recharge potential maps (GRP) were developed in ArcGIS 10.8, based on the results obtained from Frequency Ratio (FR), Logistic Regression (LR) and their ensemble method. For testing the accuracy of the FR model, test well locations were cross tabulated with the GRP map, and the highest well percentage was achieved in high groundwater recharge potential zone (37.39%). In the LR model, cross-tabulation results showed that 62.61% of testing wells were in the very high potential zones. The ensemble method of FR and LR revealed that 53.04% of test wells fall into the very high potential class. Hence, it can be assumed that LR predictions are more reliable than the FR model. To further validate the LR model and ensemble model, Receiver Operating Characteristics curve method was used. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) values for Success rate curve (SRC) and prediction rate curve (PRC) in LR method were 63% and 57% respectively. In ensemble method, the AUC values for SRC and PRC were 89% and 75%. These results indicate that the LR model is relatively poor estimator, whereas FR and LR ensemble method is relatively good estimator to evaluate groundwater recharge potential in Mulwathu Oya river basin.
 
 Keywords: Area under curve, Frequency ratio, GIS, Groundwater recharge, Logistic regression

Cost-Effective Groundwater Potential Mapping by Integrating Multiple Remote Sensing Data and the Index–Overlay Method

The Choushui River groundwater basin (CRGB) in Yunlin County, Taiwan, is a significant groundwater source for the western part of the region. However, increasing groundwater demand and human activities have triggered a potential crisis due to overexploitation. Therefore, groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) maps are crucial for mapping groundwater resources and water resource management. This study employs the normalized index–overlay method and fuzzy extended analytical hierarchy process (FE-AHP) to map GWPZs cost-effectively. The methodology objectively incorporates weightings from various thematic layers by normalizing and correlating parameters with observed groundwater availability (GA). Site-specific observations, including aquifer thickness, depth to the groundwater level, and porosity, inform GA calculations. Seven comprehensive layers derived from remote sensing (RS) data are processed to obtain weightings and ratings for the groundwater potential index (GWPI) in the CRGB. Selected parameters are categorized into hydrological processes, human interventions, geological, and surface profiles. Hydrological processes include precipitation, modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), and drainage density. Human interventions consist of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and normalized difference building index (NDBI). Surface profiles encompass the terrain ruggedness index (TRI) and slope, enhancing the study’s multi-criteria approach. The observed GA validates the GWPZ accuracy, classifying zones into five categories. According to the GWPI of FE-AHP, about 59.56% of the CRGB area can be categorized as “moderate” to “very good” potential groundwater recharge zones. Pearson’s correlation coefficient between GWPI and GA, based on FE-AHP, outperforms the conventional AHP. This RS-based approach efficiently evaluates GA in aquifers with limited wells, highlighting crucial zones in CRGB’s proximal-fan and southeastern mid-fan for informed groundwater management strategies.

IoT-based data and analytic hierarchy process to map groundwater recharge with stormwater.

The sustainable management of groundwater resources in developing countries is often challenging due to limited measurement and monitoring infrastructure to collect data necessary for decision support. To make a contribution towards addressing these challenges, this study investigated the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and low-cost sensors to collect the required groundwater-level data and develop a model to map the recharge potential with stormwater. The study focused on two stormwater ponds located in a highly urbanised area in Cape Town, South Africa. A combination of Geographic Information System and analytic hierarchy process was integrated to generate a groundwater recharge potential zone map of the study area. The IoT-based data were used to develop and calibrate a numerical groundwater model in MODFLOW. The study determined that retrofitted stormwater ponds are potential groundwater augmentation zones and can provide opportunity for stormwater recharge in urban areas. Overall, this study highlights the potential of IoT to collect hydrogeological data with low-cost sensors. Data can be collected at high temporal resolution, and the spatial scale can be increased due to availability of low-cost sensors.

Groundwater Recharge Potentiality Mapping in Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert Basins of Egypt for Sustainable Agriculture Base Using Geomatics Approaches

In arid and hyper-arid areas, groundwater is a precious and rare resource. The need for water supply has grown over the past few decades as a result of population growth, urbanization, and agricultural endeavors. This research aims to locate groundwater recharge potential zones (GWPZs) using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) in the Wadi Qena Basin, Eastern Desert of Egypt, which represents one of the most promising valleys on which the government depends for land reclamations and developments. These approaches have been used to integrate and delineate the locations of high groundwater recharge and the potential of the Quaternary aquifer in the Wadi Qena basin. After allocating weight factors to identify features in each case based on infiltration, land use/land cover, slope, geology, topology, soil, drainage density, lineament density, rainfall, flow accumulation, and flow direction, these thematic maps were combined. The results of the GIS modeling led to the division of the area’s groundwater recharge potential into five groups, ranging from very high (in the western part) to very low (in the eastern part of the basin). The zones with the best prospects for groundwater exploration turned out to be the alluvial and flood plains, with their thick strata of sand and gravel. The groundwater recharge potential map was validated using data from the field and earlier investigations. The promising recharging areas show high suitability for soil cultivation. The results overall reveal that RS and GIS methodologies offer insightful instruments for more precise assessment, planning, and monitoring of water resources in arid regions and anywhere with similar setups for groundwater prospecting and management.

Identifying groundwater recharge potential zone using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in the semi-arid Shinile watershed, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Surface and groundwater are priceless resources not consistently concentrated both spatially and temporally. Groundwater is the most valuable resource and dynamic and is not distributed equally. Analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) were used in Shinile Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia to identify high-potential groundwater recharge zones. The amount of groundwater in a particular location depends on topography, lithology, geological structure, depth of weathering, slope, drainage pattern, land use land cover (LULC), and rainfall patterns. Numerous themes are covered in the potentiality mapping according to their relative relevance, including geology, slope gradient, LULC, soil texture, rainfall, lineament density, drainage density, groundwater fluctuation, etc. The weights of various themes have been determined using the AHP method, and then overlay analysis in the geospatial context has been completed. According to the investigation, the groundwater recharge potential zone has five levels: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The validation results using existing borehole sites demonstrate that the applied approach produces extremely dense data that can support long-term planning and sustainable groundwater resource utilization in a region with scarce water resources. This study guides effectively incorporating acceptable research findings into national policy and decision-making processes to dramatically improve groundwater supplies' sustainability in the study area.

Groundwater recharge assessment using GIS approach in Chiang Mai basin

The geographic information system (GIS) techniques were used to groundwater recharge estimation and groundwater recharge potential map in Chiang Mai Basin. The groundwater recharge estimation use slope, rainfall and infiltration factor for calculation. Amount of groundwater recharge are 597.20 – 896.19 m3/year. The study used lithology, land use, lineaments, drainage and slope gradient as influence factors to the groundwater recharge potential. The groundwater potentiality was integrated from thematic maps and derived from the sum of the weighted factor using weight overlay method in the GIS system. Almost of the study area is classified as the high groundwater recharge potential zone. The moderate groundwater recharge potential zone is located in the western part of study area and along with the Ping River.

Forecasting land use/cover changes and their influence on groundwater recharge in Chennai, India: Recommendations for sustainable urban development

ABSTRACT Land use/cover (LULC) changes significantly impact various environmental and social factors. In this study, we used a hybrid model that integrates Multi-Layer Perceptron-Markov Chain Analysis to forecast changes in LULC of Chennai city and its surrounding area until the year 2101. We also evaluated the impact of these changes on groundwater recharge potential zones (RPZ) and suggested policy recommendations for better urban planning. Our results indicate a rapid increase in built-up areas (238 km2/decade) and a corresponding decrease in agricultural lands (167 km2/decade), with a continuous reduction in the area occupied by the waterbodies (15 km2/decade). Furthermore, the estimated changes in RPZ demonstrate a decline in high recharge potential areas, emphasizing the need for effective policies to enhance groundwater recharge. The study provides insights into sustainable urban development. We recommended policies for promoting green urban spaces to mitigate LULC impacts on groundwater recharge.

Multi-criteria analysis using satellite images and GIS for mapping groundwater recharge zones in Saudi Arabia: A case study of the Riyadh Region

Abstract Water scarcity is well pronounced in arid and semiarid regions where potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation. Saudi Arabia is one of the most water-scarce regions where there are 2 billion m3 of annual renewable freshwater resources, besides 24 billion m3 of freshwater withdrawal, especially from the aquifers with fossil water. In Saudi Arabia, floods often occur and the harvest of flood water for groundwater recharge became an issue of discussion; however, this requires determining groundwater recharge potential (GWRP) zones where water naturally percolates and feeds the depleted aquifers. This study aims to produce a detailed (digital) map for GWRP zones for the Riyadh Region by using a multicriteria approach where datasets were derived from satellite images (Landsat 7 ETM+, Spot-5, and Aster) associated with thematic maps and field surveys. The geo-information system (GIS) was also used to manipulate and integrate the geospatial data layers which represent the controlling factors on GWRP. Results show five classes of GWRP zones, where about 36,448 km2 (89.2% of the Riyadh Region) belong to high and very high GWRP. The resulting map will be key information for decision-makers to select suitable localities for groundwater artificial recharge techniques as an adaptive measure for the changing climate.

Evaluation of the groundwater recharge potential zone by using GIS and remote sensing in Ziway Abijata sub-basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract Groundwater is fresh water that is stored in an underground zone, which is less vulnerable to pollution than surface water and communally used for economic, social, and ecological purposes. This study aimed to evaluate groundwater recharge potential by using a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing in the Ziway Abijata sub-basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. In the present study, the six parameters of soil drainage, slope, lineament density, drainage density, soil texture, and land use land cover were used. ArcGIS 10.3, ERDAS Imagine 2015, IDRISI Selva 17, Arc SWAT 10.3, and Google Earth Pro were applied. The results revealed that about 58 km2 (2.1%) and 1,442.5 km2 (52.9%) were ranked as excellent and good for the groundwater recharge potential. Consequently, about 1,183.2 km2 (43.4%) was covered by a moderate groundwater recharge zone. Larger parts of the study area were dominated by good and moderate groundwater recharge potential. Based on the results, we recommended that decision-makers, environmentalists, geologists, and other stakeholders will have a critical role in the improvements of the future sustainability and proper management of groundwater in the study area. Further researchers can investigate other ecological parameters and socio-economic data that were not included in the present study.

A model-based groundwater recharge zone mapping for food security: A case study of Notwane sub-catchment in Botswana

The understanding of groundwater recharge occurrence in drylands is central to water resources management for various uses. This study uses Remote Sensing and GIS techniques to understand where groundwater recharge occurs, and its implications for water and food security in Notwane River Basin located in the Botswana drylands. WetSpass, a distributed hydrological model was applied to map the potential groundwater recharge zones. Crop yield was predicted using the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) precision weighing system. Model inputs were land use, soil texture class, topology, slope, groundwater level and catchment hydro meteorological patterns from 1987 to 2017- all sourced from satellite images. Image based classification was done to map the land cover changes in the catchment using ILWIS 30 software. Model outputs were evapotranspiration, surface runoff and groundwater recharge zone maps. The results of image-based land cover classification showed an increase of Settlements/buildup area (22.35%), grassland (5.24%) and a decline in forest cover (3.64%), agricultural land (22.23%) and bareland (3.16%). The results indicate that high recharge zones are associated with low surface runoff in rural, forested areas with sandy soils and the opposite is true for urban, buildup with clay soils. CSIRO predicts yield estimation of up to 2.037 × 103 tonnes of drought resistant maize or sorghum annually using 1100 × 106 L of the available 517.32–434.32 mm/year and 532.64–426.50 mm/year potential surface runoff and groundwater recharge, respectively. Runoff and potential recharge in Notwane sub-catchment suggest an existence of water resources worthy to be explored for food security in water scarce drylands.

Mapping groundwater recharge potential zones in arid region using remote sensing and GIS perspective, Central Tunisia

Mapping groundwater recharge potential zones in arid region using remote sensing and GIS perspective, Central Tunisia

Groundwater Potential Mapping using Geospatial and AHP Techniques in Eastern Province of Rwanda

The article presents an analysis of the potential groundwater recharge zones in the Eastern Province of Rwanda using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in the area are influenced by several factors. To conduct the spatial analysis, seven theme layers were created and integrated, including geology, drainage density, rainfall, slope, soil, land use and land cover (LULC), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), based on multiple criteria, was utilized to assign weights to each layer. By overlaying the theme layers with the prescribed weights, a map of potential groundwater recharge zones was generated. These zones were classified into five categories: poor, fair, medium, good, and excellent, representing 173 km2 (1.9 %), 1002 km2 (11.3%), 5976 km2 (67.2%), 1732 km2 (19.5%), and 12 km2 (0.1%), respectively. The findings revealed that a significant portion of the study area exhibited good to moderate potential zones for groundwater. Among the seven districts in the Eastern Province, Rwamagana district had the highest coverage of good and excellent groundwater potential zones, accounting for 59% and 1% of the area, respectively. The accuracy of the GWPZ map was assessed by comparing it with borehole yield data, demonstrating the reliability of the chosen methodology. These validated results provide valuable support for the sustainable management and strategic utilization of groundwater resources in the study area. The study outcomes can guide decision-makers in making informed choices regarding the conservation of groundwater resources in the research area.

Delineation of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones in the Middle Reach of Mahanadi River Basin using GIS-Based MCDM Technique

Delineation of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones in the Middle Reach of Mahanadi River Basin using GIS-Based MCDM Technique

Geospatial delineation of groundwater recharge potential zones in the Deccan basaltic province, India

Geospatial delineation of groundwater recharge potential zones in the Deccan basaltic province, India

Development and Application of a Methodology for the Identification of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones: A Case Study in the Virvini Micro-Basin, Tiraque, Bolivia

Groundwater plays a vital role in human consumption and irrigation in many parts of Bolivia; yet, the absence of policies to regulate its extraction and protect groundwater recharge areas has led to a decline in water tables and threatened food security. Some municipal initiatives have been implemented to develop regulations, but the lack of reliable hydrogeological data (such as aquifer geometry, groundwater level data, location of potential groundwater recharge zones, and flow dynamics) hinders their effective implementation. The case study presented herein focuses on a municipal policy in Tiraque, Bolivia, aimed at protecting groundwater recharge zones, in addition to the need for a reliable methodology for their technical identification. The EARLI approach (an acronym for “Enhanced Algorithm for Recharge based on the Rainfall and Land cover Inclusion”) is suggested as a participatory-simplified multi-criteria decision method to address the absence of hydrogeological data. This approach was adjusted to the basin’s specific conditions, including local vegetation communities and their influence on infiltration, and was applied as a pilot study in the Virvini micro-basin. The EARLI model emphasizes the spatial distribution of rainfall as an input indicator for potential recharge in addition to the biophysical characteristics of the catchment area. The methodology successfully mapped the degree of groundwater recharge potential and was validated by traditional hydrogeological models, field infiltration measurements, and the local community’s application of the tool. Therefore, the results of this study provide the necessary technical bases for groundwater-integrated management in Tiraque.

Identification of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones Using GIS Based Multi-Criteria and AHP Technique: A Case Study of Pune City, Western Maharashtra

With dwindling supply of surface water, Ground water is increasingly being used as a source of fresh water in many cities across the world. Consequently, there is an increasing need to evaluate groundwater potential of an area. Over the past few decades, Remote Sensing and GIS have been used for systematic investigations on potential recharge of aquifers. As in major cities of the world, the demand for water in Pune City is also increasing every year and demand outstrips the supply of surface water. This study delineated potential zones for artificial recharge across Pune City by using Multi-criteria analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques. Artificial recharge techniques especially the use of rainwater harvesting (RWH) are being deployed globally to augment supply of fresh water. Ground-water recharge is directly influenced by surface characteristics such as rainfall, geology, soil types, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), drainage, lineaments/fractures, etc. Hence, six such parameters, namely, LULC, Slope, Soil texture, Rainfall, Drainage density, and Geology were considered to generate a groundwater recharge potential map. Based on the analysis, the study area was zoned into five classes, namely, low, moderate, good, very good and high groundwater potentials. About 45% of the city shows good to high potential for recharge. The results reveal that the high and good potential recharge zones lie to the western part of the city, whereas the central part (inner city) and the eastern part show medium to low potential for recharge. The results can help to identify areas for recharge and formulate a framework for systematic recharge of the existing aquifers in the area under study.

Delineation of potential groundwater recharge zones using remote sensing, GIS, and AHP approaches

Groundwater resource plays a critical role in economic development, human health, and ecological diversity. Groundwater exploration has gained much prominence recently due to the rapid nature of geographic information systems and their ability to provide initial information on resources. Present study focuses on delination potential groundwater zones in Mulshi Taluka, Pune district, India, using remote sensing, GIS, and Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP). Geomorphology, geology, slope, drainage density, rainfall, landuse/landcover, lineament density, soil, Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), curvature, and Topographic wetness index (TWI) were used for delineation of the groundwater recharge zones. All thematic maps were weighted using the AHP method according to their characteristics and water potential. The final groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) map was divided into five categories, viz., very low (4%), low (25%), moderate (45%), high (18%), and very high (8%) zones, respectively. The final map identifies 4% of area under a very high recharge zone with natural infiltration ability. The region's central, southern, and western regions account for 80% of the study area's recharge potential. Finally, groundwater fluctuation data was used to verify the accuracy of the GWPZ map through receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). The AUC score for the AHP technique reveals 80.4% accuracy. Local and government authorities can use the study findings to effectively plan and manage groundwater development.