Groundwater utilization and management: policy guidelines for the South West Saurashtra region

• Published in: Sustainable water resources management 2017-09, Vol.3 (3), p.241-255
• Main Authors: Vekariya, P. B., Rank, H. D., Vadher, P. G., Gontia, N. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Agricultural management; Aquifers; Balance sheets; CAD; Carbonates; Classification; Computer aided design; Contours; Development Economics; Earth; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Global positioning systems; GPS; Groundwater; Groundwater irrigation; Groundwater levels; Groundwater potential; Groundwater quality; Groundwater table; Guidelines; Harvesting; Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Irrigation; Methods; Monsoons; Original Article; Parameters; pH effects; Policies; Positioning systems; Pumping; Rain; Rainfall; Recharge; Salts; Sodium; Sodium carbonate; Software; Soil; Soil salinity; Storage coefficient; Sustainable Development; Water balance; Water consumption; Water harvesting; Water level fluctuations; Water Policy/Water Governance/Water Management; Water potential; Water quality; Water resources; Water table; Wind
• ISSN: 2363-5037; 2363-5045
• DOI: 10.1007/s40899-017-0086-7

The South West part of Saurashtra is connected to Arabian Sea which in the Southern side of Junagadh city (Gujarat, India). The study area covers 14 Taluka blocks and which mostly depends on groundwater for irrigation. An attempt has been made to assess the groundwater resources and groundwater quality in the region for its prospect and sustainable development. Groundwater potential was estimated by Thiessen Polygon network, aquifer properties, and ground water-level fluctuations. Contour maps of pre- and post-monsoon absolute head, water table and change in water table were prepared using their 3 year (2009 and 2011) average values. The contour maps were prepared using tools like, Bhuvan, Google earth and AutoCAD software. Absolute water head was determined subtracting water table from the reduce level. The reduced level at ground surface beside observation well was recorded using global positioning system and Google earth. The storage coefficient and transmissibility were determined by pumping well test using Papadopoulos and Jacob methods. Variations in the region in storage coefficient and transmissibility are presented by contour maps. Estimated groundwater potential was verified basis on (1) water balance sheet, (2) estimated groundwater draft, and (3) MODFLOW solution. The water balance sheet was prepared by comparing total water potential and total water consumption in the region; groundwater draft was estimated by pumping structures working in the region. The groundwater potential of South West Saurashtra region was estimated 4060.67 million cubic meter (MCM), 1747.21 MCM direct rainfall recharge was estimated, and 2313.45 MCM recharge from water harvesting structures was estimated. Change in water table has negative values and shows that groundwater level in the region is in increasing in trend. Groundwater quality classification maps were prepared based on three parameters electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC); Sharma and Minhas (Management options and policy guidelines for use of poor quality groundwater in agriculture, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, 2003). Result shows that the region may be divided into three groundwater quality classes for irrigation under post-monsoon observation: 7598.09, 1564.05, and 139.95 km 2 areas were found as Good, Marginal saline, and Saline classes, respectively. While in pre-monsoon observation, 7168.48, 1628.38, and 505.23 km 2 areas w