Groundwater Scarcity Research Articles

Evaluation of groundwater quality and reverse osmosis water treatment plants in the endemic areas of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka

Community-based reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plants are employed as an interim solution for producing safe drinking water for the endemic areas of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in the rural dry zone of Sri Lanka. It is recognized that RO-treated groundwater diminishes the progression of CKDu; thus, proper maintenance of these RO plants would be indispensable to protect public health. The present study broadly investigated the quality of groundwater in CKDu-endemic areas, and the performance, operations, and maintenance of the RO plants which purified this groundwater. The feedwater (i.e., groundwater) and treated water from 32 RO plants in Anuradhapura District, comprising 27 in the CKDu high-risk (HR) region and 5 in the low-risk (LR) region, were analyzed for major chemical and biological water quality parameters. Alkalinity, hardness, and microbiological parameters in groundwaters exceeded the maximum allowable levels (MALs) for drinking in all study areas. Additionally, TDS and magnesium exceeded the MALs, exclusively in the HR areas. Elevated occurrence of magnesium-predominant hardness and ionicity in groundwater showed significant relations with the incidence of CKDu. All RO plants achieved high removal rates (>95%) for excessive chemical constituents in groundwater, but the recovery rates were fairly low (~46%). The current disinfection practices in RO plants were insufficient to ensure the microbial safety of the product water. Low demand for product water, scarcity of groundwater, lack of technical capacity of the local communities, poor maintenance practices and unplanned brine removal were the key issues related to RO plant O&M. Unless properly handled, the lack of rules and regulations for RO water treatment in the CKDu-endemic region could lead to numerous environmental and public health issues in the future.

Delineation of groundwater potential zones in a drought-prone semi-arid region of east India using GIS and analytical hierarchical process techniques

Over-extraction of groundwater has compromised its climatic resilience properties and the arid/semi-arid rural tracts are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the risks of groundwater scarcity. This study has employed a combination of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) techniques to delineate the Groundwater Potential Zones (GPZs) of the semi-arid Birbhum district in eastern India which suffers from seasonal drought during lean periods. For a reliable evaluation, a large number of thematic layers (N = 12) including geology, geomorphology, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), fault and lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, soil type, slope, roughness, topographic wetness index, topographic position index and curvature were considered for this assessment. Multicollinearity and consistency checks were performed prior integrating the layers to avoid a non-trivial degree of accuracy in prediction output. The GPZ map was obtained with an accuracy of 80.49% with respect to the observation tube well data. Based on the obtained output, 38.24%, 24.24% and 11.14% of areas of the district classified as moderate, poor, and very poor GPZs, respectively, whereas only 26.38% of the district classified as high to very high GPZs. Cross-validation using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve revealed a good prediction accuracy of 71.50%. Furthermore, map removal and single parameter sensitivity analysis was also performed which revealed geology, geomorphology, soil types, rainfall, LULC and lineament density as the most influential parameters for the prediction model where exclusion of any thematic layer significantly changes the prediction accuracy and area of each GPZ class. The most convincing GPZs are recorded in some parts of the Mayurakshi and Ajay river basins and certain alluvial aquifer regions. Nonetheless, the study recommends the adaptation of Managed Aquifer Recharge techniques including rainwater harvesting, alternative cropping patterns and irrigation techniques such as sprinklers, drips and micro irrigations to increase the groundwater potential of the water crisis zones.

English

The development of drainage basins to raise aquifer potentiality is considering the major target in Qena-Safaga-Bir Queh (central Eastern Desert). It is attributed to drought, scarce groundwater resource, expansion of agriculture, growth population, infrastructures, and civilization. Geological, hydrogeological, and morphometric information is used to prepare the drainage development plan and strategy. The morphometric parameters were used to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of the surficial lithology. The aquifer recharge rate was established according to permeability ranking of the surface geology. DEM, ETM+8, geologic map, and SPSS were used to characterize the hydrological parameters and delineate the watershed. Ten drainage basins were extracted and characterize for the morphometric analysis. The digital geological distribution, of each basin, was determined from geological and remote sensing data. The morphometric parameters (drainage density, constant channel maintenance, length of overland flow, drainage frequency, and drainage texture ratio) indicate the basins related to medium surface rock permeability (weight score 7-12). Multivariate statistical techniques were investigated using 17 morphometric descriptors (variables). The dendrogram analysis (R-mode) was divided into two cluster, which was subdivided into four groups. BirQueh basin is independent basin due to highest drainage area and perimeter. There is great hydrological similarity between sub basin 9 and 10 (wadi Qena). Wadi Safaga is hydrologically similar to sub basin 3, followed by sub basin 4. The principle component analysis contains four factors and represented by 74% of the total variance in the data. It identifies the promising areas in local scale, so that development and agriculture are easier. Key words: Drainage basins, morphometric parameters, SPSS, central Eastern desert.

Determining the occurrence of potential groundwater zones using integrated hydro-geomorphic parameters, GIS and remote sensing in Enugu State, Southeastern, Nigeria

In many parts of Nigeria, water resource is scarce, and where available, determining their abundance is difficult. In the present paper, various groundwater potential zones for the evaluation of groundwater availability in Enugu State have been delineated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The satellite images and conventional data obtained from US Geological Survey, World Soil Resources Office in Cooperation with Land and Water Development Division/FAO and Nigerian Geological Survey Agency are used to prepare the thematic layers viz. drainage density, geomorphology, slope, landcover/land use, soil, geology, rainfall and lineament density were converted to raster data adopting feature to raster converter device in ArcGIS. The raster maps of abovementioned factors are assigned a definite score and weight computed from multi-influencing factor approach. Additionally, each weighted thematic layer is statistically computed to generate groundwater potential zones map of the study area. The groundwater potential zones thus obtained were divided into four categories, viz., super-abundant, moderately abundant, abundant and scarce zones. The groundwater resources map demonstrates that the study area is dominated by abundant and scarce groundwater potential zones which covers surface area of about 6073.44 km2 (73.27%) of the study area while the remaining 2294.98 km2 (26.73%) are dominated by super-abundant and moderately abundant groundwater potentials. However, the result validation with boreholes/wells yield data collected from the study area showed good correlations with respect to groundwater potential zones map. It is concluded that the use of hydro-geomorphic approach is very efficient for the determination of groundwater potential zones.

SELF-ORGANIZING MAP WITH NGUYEN-WIDROW INITIALIZATION ALGORITHM FOR GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contamination plays a vital role in the utilization and protection of groundwater resource. In this study, a vulnerability map for Boracay Island, Philippines was developed using a modified self-organizing map algorithm to determine groundwater vulnerability in light of massive tourism developments in the island. Self-organizing map using the Nguyen-Widrow initialization algorithm was used to cluster DRASTIC data which were pre-processed using data cleaning normalization schemes. The vulnerability map developed showed that groundwater resource in the island is susceptible to contamination as confirmed by groundwater quality analysis. The result of the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the improved SOM algorithm as a tool for assessment of groundwater vulnerability and is comparable with the traditional DRASTIC method. The developed methodology allows grouping of datasets into clusters that represent the level of vulnerability to contamination of the groundwater. Further, this approach can be applied to other islands to ensure the balance between tourism developments and ecological integrity of the scarce groundwater resource.

The Water Status in China and an Adaptive Governance Frame for Water Management.

China is increasingly facing water-related problems, such as water scarcity, pollution, and overexploitation of groundwater. This paper discusses the water status in China and claims that governance is the cause of water-related problems. The structure of the current water management is analyzed to conclude that the control-command is a static approach which is less capable of dealing with the uncertainty in the water resources system. An adaptive governance frame is introduced, which highlights the learning process and participation. The learning process avoids making the same mistake twice and the participation ensures the diversity of information, which are both necessary for water resources management.

Identification of the critical level of water recharge area in the Citarik subwatershed

The Citarik sub-watershed is part of the upstream Citarum watershed which has an area of 22.637.83 ha. This sub-watershed has upstream in the Buru Kareumbi Masigit Forest Conservation Area in Sumedang Regency and empties into the Citarum River in the Bandung Regency area. Land-use changes due to increasing socio-economic activities of the community have a reduction in water recharge areas in this region. Potential problems that can occur due to these conditions are the occurrence of groundwater scarcity, and flooding. This study is intended to determine the critical level of water recharge areas in the watershed. The research method uses descriptive analysis methods that refer to the classification of natural infiltration potential. Important parameters in the classification of natural infiltration include parameters of soil type, land cover, rainfall, and slope. The analysis showed that the critical level of water catchment in the Citarik sub-watershed with good conditions of 5.802.78 ha (25.63%), natural normal conditions 2.291.1 ha (10.12%), rather critical conditions 11.735.3 ha (51, 84%), conditions began to be critical of 1.892.91 ha (8.36%), and critical conditions were 915.73 ha (4.05%). Region are dominate of the water recharge conditions in the Citarik watershed with a rather critical level. Most of the areas with these conditions are settlements, so it is necessary to refill groundwater using infiltration well and bioretention ponds technology.

Environmental Challenges and the Measures Taken by the BMDA for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment in the Barind Tract, North-West of Bangladesh

Barind Tract, located in the North-West region of Bangladesh is a drought prone water stressed area. Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has made this desert like zone into a granary one through various activities including irrigation as major. Now, the agricultural pattern, cropping intensity, methods of cultivation, crop variety and yields – all show a positive change. The BMDA has significant impacts of reducing environmental impact as well as changing the living standard and socio-economic conditions of the rural people in Barind Tract. The present study aims to find out the environmental challenges faced by the farmers in the Barind Tract and the mitigation measures took by the BMDA as a large development partner for the sustainable development in the Barind Tract. As on environmental issue respondent in Puthia, Paba and Godagari zones identifies that low rainfall, extraction of ground water by DTWs (Deep Tubewells) and STWs (Shallow Tubewells), very thin flow of water in the rivers and also losses of groundwater from the aquifer to the river as base flow during dry season are the major causes of the scarcity of ground water in the Barind Tract. Droughts, high temperatures, less rainfalls, cyclones and thunderstorms and lightning also have been identified by respondents as the natural hazards affect their crop production and daily livelihood. To reduce the environmental challenges, no more new DTWs are being installed by BMDA (though private initiatives are still going on), emphasize on using more surface water from rivers and canals through low lift pumps, community based tree plantation programs in the project area, use renewable energy produced by solar panels and re-excavate canals and ponds for conservation of surface water. This study suggests that scientific assessment of groundwater resources with zoning for proper planning, increase augmentation of surface water as well as harvesting of rain water, crop zoning, increase cultivation of low water consuming crops and enhance groundwater recharge are now the demand of time for the study area.

Come rain, or come wells: How access to groundwater affects communal violence

This article empirically analyzes the relationship between groundwater scarcity and incidences of communal violence. Case studies suggest that appropriating water is more likely when resource scarcities are not effectively mitigated and where property rights are disputed. Yet, covering water more broadly remains piecemeal in quantitative research on communal conflict. While water scarcity features in large-N literature on climate variability and nonstate conflicts, such studies rely heavily on rainfall data which covers only one aspect of the hydrological cycle. Employing precipitation data alone neglects the use of groundwater, an important factor for drought resilience and the source for 50% of global drinking water. While rainfall remains key for agriculture, pastoralists and smallscale farmers in particular rely on groundwater as a buffer during dry periods. Thus, analyses on water scarcity and conflict ought to combine measures for groundwater, surface water, and precipitation. While controlling for other sources of water, the lack of groundwater access is hypothesized to increase incidences of violent communal conflict. The effect of groundwater on communal violence is also argued to vary with the presence of drought, low rainfall, in densely populated areas, and with state presence. These propositions are tested through large-N analyses using previously not utilized data on water availability with incidence data on violent conflict for Africa and the Middle East (1990–2014). The results show that lacking access to groundwater is associated with a higher risk of communal violence. Further, the effect of groundwater access on communal violence is conditioned by precipitation levels as well as population density. The results also suggest that the effect of groundwater on violence is smaller in areas with higher state presence.

Water collection from air by ionic liquids for efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution by metal-free conjugated polymer photocatalysts

The scarcity of Groundwater on Earth increases the necessity to make full use of the ubiquitous atmospheric water (H2O). Photocatalytic conversion of the H2O from the air to hydrogen (H2) under visible-light irradiation by metal-free conjugated polymer photocatalysts (CMPs) would be an interesting and challenging route for fully utilizing H2O resources and converting to sustainable and green energy. However, there is no such strategy reported up to now, to the best of our knowledge. Here, for the first time, we used various CMPs for H2 production using captured moisture by ionic liquids (ILs) under visible-light irradiation. The presence of ILs in the H2O-absobed H2O/ILs mixtures could enhance photocatalytic H2 evolution rate when compared to the pure H2O. Particularly, the accelerated effect of [BMIM][BF4] was the highest (29-fold), with the highest H2 production rate of 96.5 μmol g−1 h−1 among all the IL-related systems investigated. We attributed the high efficiency of H2 photo-evolution from atmospheric H2O to the activation of H2O by ILs and the highly dispersion of photocatalysts in H2O/ILs system. This work might open a new field to convert sustainable and ubiquitous atmospheric H2O resources to clean H2 fuels.

A Systems Approach To Assess Trade Dependencies in U.S. Food-Energy-Water Nexus.

We present a network model of the United States (U.S.) interstate food transfers to analyze the trade dependency with respect to participating regions and embodied irrigation impacts from a food-energy-water (FEW) nexus perspective. To this end, we utilize systems analysis methods including the pointwise mutual information (PMI) measure to provide an indication of interdependencies by estimating probability of trade between states. PMI compares observed trade with a benchmark of what is statistically expected given the structure and flow in the network. This helps assess whether dependencies arising from empirically observed trade occur due to chance or preferential attachment. The implications of PMI values are demonstrated by using Texas as an example, the largest importer in the U.S. grain transfer network. We find that strong dependencies exist not only just with states (Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska) providing high volume of transfer to Texas but also with states that have comparatively lower trade (New Mexico). This is due to New Mexico's reliance on Texas as an important revenue source compared to its other connections. For Texas, import interdependencies arise from geographical proximity to trade. As these states primarily rely on the commonly shared High Plains aquifer for irrigation, overreliance poses a risk for water shortage for food supply in Texas. PMI values also indicate the capacity to trade more (the states are less reliant on each other than expected), and therefore provide an indication of where the trade could be shifted to avoid groundwater scarcity. However, some of the identified states rely on GHG emission intensive fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline for irrigation, highlighting a potential tradeoff between crop water footprint and switching to lower emissions pumping fuels.

Groundwater and surface water interactions in flat lands: the importance of ecological and flow regulation perspectives

Recharge in arid zones has been studied thoroughly due to the scarcity of groundwater that is available for extraction. However, the issue of depressed groundwater levels in sub-humid areas is mainly reflected by the contribution of the base flow to a watercourse; this contribution constitutes a very important alteration of the ecological conditions of a watercourse, including its substrate and surroundings. Continuous groundwater records from 2007 to 2014 for six wells located within the Del Azul Creek basin were analyzed. The recharge was calculated using the water table fluctuation method. The relationship between the groundwater level in each well and the base flow through a section of the creek was analyzed on a monthly basis to obtain a quadratic equation. The ecological flow of the stream was also determined, using the 7-day minimum flow method. Due that the base flow variations can strongly affect the ecological quality of this type of basin, with vertical flows more important than horizontal flows, the results are a contribution for water resource management practices in the areas of influence of surface water bodies. Groundwater mean monthly levels in wells located in the lower area of the basin, showed high adjustment coefficients for the quadratic equations that relate these levels to the base flow. These equations are good tools for decision makers regarding land use planning. Because our interest is low-flows, an equation that relates mean monthly base flow versus groundwater levels during the summer months are adjusted.

How Does Livestock Contribute to the Efficiency of the Oases’ Farming Systems?

Multiple constraints, such as increased demographic pressure and growing competition for limited water resources, are significantly affecting farming systems in the oases. The combination of these constraining factors impacts the efficiency of inputs’ uses and hampers the incomes from agricultural activities. Livestock has always been a component of the oasis farming systems, covering a wide range of functions: transportation, soil preservation, income generation through meat and milk, draft, and saving. Faced with the recent changes, this study aimed to characterize the roles and contribution of livestock on the overall performances of the oasis farming systems. To do so, twelve farms illustrating four types of livestock systems were selected. Within each farm, we calculated common agricultural efficiency indicators to assess the use efficiency of the most critical production factors in the oasis: land, labor, water, and capital. The results demonstrated that efficient oasis farming systems rely on the crops/livestock association. Thereby, while providing self-consumed food products, livestock intensified farming systems (D’man prolific sheep with off-farm feed resources and dairy cattle) allow an increase in crops’ yields and their incomes. This is particularly obvious for date palms’ incomes, which benefit from the surplus irrigation of the underlying lucerne. In parallel, in specific contexts of the oases where the intensification of agriculture is quite impossible (for instance within areas with scarce groundwater or saline water, or in farms with limited capital) livestock remains the main source of income, adding value to the vast pastoral areas and the by-products of crops (wastes of dates, wheat bran, and straw, etc.).

The impact of using modern irrigation techniques on the ancient Mougheul palm grove, South-West of Algeria

Abstract To resist against a hostile environment, the oases of Saoura developed ingenious techniques of catchment and sharing of water to exploit the rare and precious waters of the groundwater. But the intervention of modern irrigation techniques has disrupted the entire oasis system inside the oasis such as the spring, the palm grove and the ksar. These techniques have overexploited the groundwater supplying the palm grove in terms of quantity and quality. For centuries, the oases of Mougheul used only the source (with a flow of 25 dm3∙s−1 in 2001) which is inside the oasis to irrigate the parcels and herds. After the year 2005, the state decided to supply the city of Bechar with drinking water through the catchment field of Mougheul through five modern boreholes, which had a profound impact on the oasis, its surroundings, and the whole artesian source. In this work, we study the impact of the use of modern catchment systems on the water source and the life of the Mougheul population. By interviewing farmers and landowners about the impact of groundwater scarcity on the oasis. This allowed knowing the current state of the oasis and the reasons for its deterioration.

Assessment of urban groundwater: towards integrated hydrogeological and effects-based monitoring

Urban groundwater is a core resource to human health, and well-being, decisive for sustainable development. Extreme weather events and active release of man-made chemicals are increasing groundwater scarcity and loss of quality around the world. Surface and subsurface release of chemical contaminants are among the most compromising activities. Groundwater management thus requires sound monitoring assessment, supporting decision making to control contamination and assist rational water use as well. Integrated monitoring assessment, encompassing chemical and ecotoxicological tools, is nowadays recognised as the most effective to protect and manage water systems. Nevertheless, groundwater assessment is still relying mostly on hydrogeochemical and chemical analyses only. This approach is useful to identify the presence of pollutants and important ionic elements, and groundwater nature for different purposes. However, these analytical techniques are often very expensive, performed at researcher request and give limited or null information about detrimental effects of chemicals on the biota, as well as toxicological interactions of chemicals occurring in complex mixtures of contaminants frequently found in groundwater. Through research development and validation, a series of effect-based tools are now available for use in integrated chemical and biological evaluations. Cost effective in vitro and/or in vivo bioassays, as well as biomarkers, addressing different modes of action can be selected for suitable surveillance, operational or investigative monitoring. This work provides a synthesis of valuable effect-based tools suitable for integrated quality evaluation and presents an example of integrated assessment (hydrogeological, effects-based assays, GIS-based mapping) of an urban groundwater system in a fissured bedrock medium (Porto, NW Portugal) and its management advantages tackling water scarcity.

Identification of watershed preference management areas under water quality and scarcity constraints: case of Jhajjar district watershed, India

Groundwater quality, scarcity and over-exploitation of available resources have produced several critical problems in Jhajjar district, Haryana, India. Health problems associated with drinking of polluted groundwater and its escalating demands make management of groundwater more complicated and require more innovative scientific analyses for good strategies of water management. In this study, a comprehensive water management plan has been developed for seven sub-watersheds of Jhajjar district using the remote sensing and geographical information system techniques. This research work addresses a central concern: how an integrated watershed management system can be applied, which can solve both water quality and scarcity problem in semi-arid climatic conditions. About 30 parameters including linear, areal and relief aspects of watersheds were determined for these watersheds. The focus was given on the characteristics of drainage basins such as permeability, soil quality, slope, run-off time and time of concentration for watershed during a rainfall event. Analysis results show that most of the basins are of an elongated shape with low drainage density and texture, which makes recharge plan difficult. Based on the outcome of the morphometric analysis of sub-watersheds, various suitable recharge sites have been proposed along with recharge structures for various stream orders. This study will address the immediate need to incorporate groundwater quality and will also help in replenishing the groundwater resources if implemented.

WATER STRESS EFFECT ON THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION OF IRRIGATED RICE IN NORTHWEST REGIONS OF BANGLADESH

Like all animals, plant growth and productivity depend on water. Water plays an important role in plant vegetation as well as economic gain from the crop plant cultivation. An in-depth analysis is performed to see the impacts of water availability on functional factors of irrigated rice (Boro) production and productivity. Primary and secondary data were used to perform the qualitative and quantitative analysis. Primary data were collected from five districts of northwestern regions of Bangladesh considering the severity of groundwater scarcity. A total 643 samples were selected from irrigated rice (Boro) producer across the regions to analyze the water stress effect on factors of production and productivity. Severity of water stress has positive relationship with irrigation and pesticide cost, and negative relationship with lease value, labor and seed cost. Remaining two factors of production such as fertilizer and tillage cost shows a volatile indicator in water stressed condition. In the water stressed areas, though irrigation cost is higher, and farmers get lower yield from their land, but the net return is not much lower compared to less water stressed areas because of getting higher price of rice in the water stressed regions. The water stressed effect on irrigated rice production is significant which leads the policy maker to think of factors preventing farmers to adopt less water consuming crop varieties in the drought prone areas of Bangladesh and rice market to reach equilibrium price during the season.

The hydrogeological mapping of the southwestern part of Serang Regency, Banten, Indonesia

The development of Serang City as the central government of Banten Province leads to persistently increasing demand for clean water in the area and its surroundings. This study aimed to perform the hydrogeological mapping of the southwestern part of Serang Regency. The study area covered four districts, namely Baros, Padarincang, Paburuan, and Ciomas. These four districts are the clean water source of Serang City that also functions as a buffer zone designed for the development of freshwater fishery and wetland agriculture. Hydrogeological mapping in the study area is expected to be one of the inputs in planning the use of water resources. The method used in this research included analyses of drill data, geophysical measurement results, the findings of previous studies, hydrological map scale 1:250000, and geological map scale 1:100000, as well as geomorphological mapping and field survey. This research produced six classes of hydrogeological units that covered areas with scarce groundwater productivity up to those with high groundwater productivity.

Managing food and water security in Small Island States: New evidence from economic modelling of climate stressed groundwater resources

Climate-stressed groundwater resources present a growing challenge for protecting food security and economic sustainability, notably in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These states are some of the most vulnerable to climate stress because of their large coastlines, vulnerability to rising sea levels, weak access to reliable surface water, and limited food production capacity for handling increased groundwater scarcity. Impacts of climate stressed groundwater resources brought on by irrigation and growing urban demand in SIDS continue to receive widespread attention by both scientists and policymakers. Policies that limit pumping to protect aquifer sustainability reduce short-term economic welfare by unknown amounts that would otherwise be secured by both urban and irrigation water users. Yet, little scholarly research has addressed economic impacts of climate-water stress for the special needs of SIDS for which urban and irrigation pumping compete hydrologically and economically over long time periods. The original contribution of this work is to address that gap by employing downscaled data on precipitation from Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) climate scenarios. Its novel contribution is to conceptualize, develop, apply, and interpret an integrated hydro-economic framework to understand interconnected physical and economic linkages from managing an unconfined regional aquifer system under each of three climate and two policy scenarios. The application is to Barbados, a SIDS, for which current and future irrigation and urban demands compete for water. The framework integrates groundwater hydrology, climate scenarios, economics, land use, and groundwater management, with the intent to mitigate impacts of climate stress on current economic values of water as well as protecting future aquifer sustainability. Results provide a framework to guide water management for SIDS vulnerable to climate stress for which water of the right quantity, quality, timing, location, and price are essential elements of economic development.

Assessment of Dynamic Groundwater Reserve of Kamarup District Lower Assam, India

Despite sufficient rainfall, a large portion of the northeast region of India suffers from water scarcity especially during dry seasons when groundwater acts as a significant source of water supply. Consequently, a proper assessment of groundwater condition at a district/block level is very much essential to adopt sustainable water management practices. Additionally, climate change and crossborder water disputes generate new challenges in the water management of Northeast India. In this study, an attempt has been made to present groundwater scenario of Kamarup district in lower Assam as a case study representing North-East India. For this purpose, we used the available temporal groundwater-level data derived from observation wells at five sites namely Agyathuri, Azara, Bamunigaon, Khara and Rangia located in the Kamrup district (lower Assam) of north-east India. The dynamic groundwater reserve (DGWR) has been estimated for the period from 1996 to 2006 using groundwater level data from these five sites along with monthly rainfall data and published pumping test data. This will help to analyze the groundwater dynamics of the study area. In order to cross check the obtained results, we used terrestrial water storage changes (TWS) derived from GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite data. TWS is a satellite-based monthly mean liquid water equivalent thickness with one degree spatial and monthly temporal resolution available from 2002. Terrestrial water storage includes the soil moisture, surface water equivalent and groundwater anomaly based on satellite observations of earth gravity field from the (GRACE). In the present study, TWS data was analyzed for over a period of 5 years from 2002 to 2006. The results of the study indicate that the maximum groundwater fluctuation was in the range of 0.84 to 3.48 m and minimum between -5.07 to -1.47m. Over the entire study area, we observed a decrease in dynamic groundwater reserves. From the trend analysis, it is obvious that there is an increasing trend of groundwater level at Khara, Rangia and Bumungiaon site and a decreasing trend at Agyathuri and Azara site. Further, the DGWR results showed that two sites (Agyathuri and Azara) were continuously subjected to stress from 1999 onwards. We observed that the DGWR and TWS are showing a comparable negative trend in the dynamic groundwater storage capacity for the study period. In the year 2004 the recorded TWS and estimated average_DGWR are relatively high during the study period. Thus, the results of this study provide a clear picture of spatial and temporal variations of dynamic groundwater resources in the study area, based on which important recommendations can Research Article IJACEAR– An Open Access Journal (ISSN 2348-5124) International Journal of Advanced Civil Engineering and Architecture Research 90 be made for managing the scarce groundwater resources of the study area in a sustainable manner to address future challenges.