Spatial variation in groundwater quality with respect to surface water seepages in Kadhan area District Badin (Indus Delta), Sindh, Pakistan

• Published in: International Journal of Energy and Water Resources 2023-03, Vol.7 (1), p.105-117
• Main Authors: Jamali, Muhammad Afzal, Markhand, Akhtar Hussain, Agheem, Muhammad Hassan, Zardari, Shafquat Hussain, Arain, Asfand Yar Wali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Alluvial deposits; Alluvium; Aquifers; Brackish water; Canals; Clay; Coastal waters; Coastal zone; Coasts; Data collection; Data processing; Electrical resistivity; Electrodes; Fish hatcheries; Groundwater; Groundwater quality; Hatcheries; Penetration depth; Rivers; Saline water; Saline water intrusion; Salinity; Sand; Seawater; Spatial variations; Surface water; Thickness; Water quality; Water seepage; Water shortages
• ISSN: 2538-3604; 2522-0101
• DOI: 10.1007/s42108-022-00211-2

The main objective behind this study was to explore the freshwater aquifers at shallow depth in the Kadhan area of district Badin on the left bank of river Indus, Sindh, Pakistan. A total of ten Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were carried along two profiles with 05 VES at each profile. The Wenner array configurations were used for data collection. Total depth of penetration was 67 m. IPi2-win and Log plot software were used for data processing and modeling, three lithological layers i.e., Alluvium, Sandy Clay, and Sand were identified. On the basis of collected data, it is concluded that; after the upper layer of alluvium, freshwater aquifers of shallow depth were explored at four location points (VES 2, 3, 4, and 5 in northeast of Kadhan city) in the sand with resistivity values ranging from 30 to 37 Ωm, the thickness of water-bearing horizon was 11 m in profile 1. While, Brackish and Saline water aquifers were also present with resistivity values ranging from 1 to 3Ω m in Sand and Sandy Clay, respectively. In the southwest of Kadhan city profile 2 three distinct lithological layers were demarcated; an alluvium with apparent resistivity of 19 Ωm, Sandy Clay with computed resistivity of 1.5 Ωm bearing thickness of 49 m containing brackish water aquifer, and Sand with resistivity value of 4.2 Ωm bearing thickness of 14 m. Shallow freshwater aquifers were explored in only those areas where surface water reached and shallow aquifers got recharged by infiltration through agricultural land and fish hatcheries. The only possible way to stop saline water intrusion in coastal area to introduce a canal water system in the whole coastal area of the Badin, Sujawal and Thatta districts.