DRAFT

Groundwater Level Declining Trend in Dhaka City Aquifer

1
Anwar Zahid, 2Alamgir Hossain, 3Md. Ejar Uddin, 4Farah Deeba

Abstract
Dhaka is traditionally dependent on groundwater of Dupi Tila aquifer for drinking water
supply. In addition, most of the industries and bigger user groups are utilizing groundwater
for their need by sinking private tubewells. The Dupi Tila aquifer, lying underneath the
Madhupur clay has been providing about 82% of the total supply of good quality water in
Dhaka city. Considering the approaching population of 10 million, about 1.6 Mm 3 (million
m3) of water is required every day to fulfill the demand of city dwellers. Amongst this
demand, about 1.5 Mm3 are withdrawn by DWASA tubewells with remarkable system loss
and private owned tubewells and 4 surface water treatment plant of DWASA meets up partial
fulfillment. Therefore, the inhabitants are experiencing shortage of water. Compared to the
over exploitation of groundwater, the renewable recharge to aquifer is very negligible. The
rechargeable surface area is decreasing day by day due to construction of buildings, roads and
concrete pavements as well as unplanned urbanization. Besides, 6 to10m thick compact upper
clay layer in the subsurface, which is about 40m in the eastern part, is also responsible for
almost no vertical recharge though the average annual rainfall in the city area is about
1800mm. As a result, the lowering trend of groundwater level since last 32 years is 20 to 30m
with an average decline of more than 1.0m per year without replenishing water table that
causes groundwater mining in the city area. BWDB groundwater observation well data also
shows a continuous decline in water level with little or even no fluctuation that is typical for
over exploitable aquifers. The present water table (June, 2003) from ground surface observed
at BWDB monitoring wells in the city area ranges from 19.62 to 53.5m. Under the present
abstraction scenario the groundwater level would continue to decline at a rate of 3.0m/year in
the densely populated areas. The declination of groundwater is less in the areas close to the
riverbank of Buriganga and Turag mainly due to partial horizontal inflow of river water.
Maximum declination of groundwater is observed in the central part of the city compared to
the river periphery, creating a cone of depression with little exception in Hazaribagh area
where a local cone of depression appears due to excessive withdrawal by tannery industries.
If the groundwater level declination continues in such an alarming rate because of
uncontrolled abstraction, this will create pressure on water storage and may invite subsidence,
ecological and environmental hazards. To avoid further deterioration of aquifer condition and
combat the situation urgent action plan is required without delay.

Introduction
Dhaka, a densely populated city in Bangladesh, has experienced large-scale development of
groundwater to meet up the water supply demand for its rapid growing inhabitants.
Groundwater is the first choice for the city dwellers as it is superior in quality and easy to
develop and hence Dhaka is dependent mainly on groundwater resources from fluvio-deltaic
aquifer of Pliocene Dupi Tila formation. The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority

Authors Address: 1,2Ground Water Hydrology and 3Ground Water Processing Branch, Bangladesh Water
Development Board, 72, Green Road, Dhaka-1205, 4104, Katasur, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207.
(DWASA), established in 1962, has been taking the responsibility to supply water to the city.
In addition, most industries and bigger users utilize groundwater by sinking own tubewells.

Considering the total population of 10 million, about 1.6 Mm3 of water is required every day
to fulfill the municipal demand. Amongst this demand about 1.5 Mm 3 is withdrawn by 410
DWASA tubewells, where system loss is assumed more than 25%. Therefore shortage of
water already being experienced by the inhabitants that is trying to meet up by installing
surface water treatment plants and private tubewells. The uncontrolled abstraction of
groundwater creates water resources management problem in Dhaka city. It is estimated that
the volume extracted by more than 900 private deep tubewells in the city area may be more
than 50% of the DWASA figure (DWRMP, 1999). On the other hand, the rechargeable areas
are being reduced gradually due to urbanization. So, natural water recharge to aquifer cannot
keep pace with the water withdrawal since two decades, causing declination of water table
(Table-1, Fig.1).
Table 1. Comparison of DWASA groundwater withdrawal and decline of groundwater table

Year 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2003

No. of DWASA Tubewell 49 75 130 197 300 410
Withdrawal (Mm3/day) 0.109 0.217 0.516 0.767 1.2 1.5
Water Table (m) from 0.5-10.5 0.05-9.0 6.0-22.5 12.5-32.0 19.0-41.5 19.0-54.0
Ground Surface

Withdrawal of Groundwater in Million Liter/day

W it h d ra w a l in M lit e r/d a y

1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

Ye ar
Abstraction

Figure 1. Withdrawal of groundwater (million liter/day).

Dhaka city lies between latitudes 23º43' and 23º54' N and longitudes 90º20' and 90º30' E and
covers an area of about 260km2 having the altitude of 6.5 to 9m above mean sea level. The
rivers Buriganga surround the city to the south and west and Lakhya and Balu to the east. The
convergence of the Turag and Bansi rivers limits the northern boundary. The city experiences
two types of climates-the wet and the dry with an average annual rainfall of about 1800mm.

Geologically the study area is situated in the central portion of the platform flank and
surrounded by Chandpur-Barishal Gravity High in the east and south and by Faridpur Trough
to the west. Madhupur Forest Tract borders on the north and northwest. Two distinct
depositional entities characterize the sediments of the area,
a. Pleistocene Madhupur clay formation, well dissected with clay and very fine sand
particles identifiable by its topography, surface feature, drainage system and soil
characteristics.

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 b. Pliocene Dupi Tila formation, unconformably overlain by the Madhupur clay and
is characterized by medium to coarse sand with occasional gravel and
conglomerates.
NW-SE trending fault along the Buriganga river, N-S trending Baunia fault in the west and
the Demra fault in the eastern outskirts has been identified around the city (Ahmed et. al,
1998).

Finer plastic concretions and impervious clay ranges from 6 to 10m in most of the places,
with exceptions up to 40m in eastern Dhaka, from ground surface characterize the city area.
X-ray diffraction results of selected samples of the Madhupur clay reveals that this clay
mainly consists of kaolinite (26.79-53.33%) and illite (13.73-33.04%) with very small
amount of illite-smectite (2.11-12.94%) down to 5m depth (Nairuzzaman et al, 2000). The
higher co-efficient of permeability is related to higher amount of illite-smectite mixed layer
clay minerals. The vertical permeability varies from 6.5x10-4 to 1.5x10-2 m/day (DWASA,
1991) that can neither yield to wells nor transmit appreciable water to the aquifer below
(Table-2).

Table 2. Permeability of aquifer material for Dhaka aquifer (DWASA, 1991)

Soil Type Permeability (meter/day)

Modhupur Tract Recent Floodplain
Clay 0.01 0.02
Silt 0.1 0.2
Fine sand 13.0 26.0
Medium sand 25.0 50.0
Coarse sand 46.0 90.0
Gravel 25.0 50.0

The lithologic borelog and aquifer test data indicate that whole of the upper aquifer system is
hydraulically connected. The average transmissivity of this aquifer system is 1850 m 2/day
that indicates well to excellent water transmissing capacity within the aquifer.

Materials and methods

Ground Water Hydrology (GWH) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has
water level monitoring network of 1250 piezometers throughout the country. 7 nos. of such
piezometric observation wells within Dhaka city is considered to assess the declining trend of
groundwater level. Detailed information of these piezometers is given in table-3.

Table 3. Information of selected piezometers

Well ID Location Thana Lat. Long. Depth RL of GW Level

GL (m)
GT2608001 Joar Shahara Cantonment 23.81 90.42 48.78 6.87 38.85
GT2668019 Khilgaon Sabujbagh 23.75 90.43 56.40 6.67 52.75
GT2616005 Green Road Tejgaon 23.74 90.37 77.74 6.15 54.17
GT2626900 Banani Gulshan 23.79 90.41 145.42 6.06 44.5
GT2642900 Palashi Lalbagh 23.72 90.39 134.15 8.10 40.5
GT2648010 Monipur Mirpur 23.80 90.97 42.68 6.72 51.55
GT2650011 PC Culture Mohammadpur 23.77 90.35 34.75 7.11 29.60
GT2616012 Sultanganj Dhanmondi 23.76 90.36 30.92 9.10 30.5
GT2688021 Gandaria Sutrapur 23.70 90.42 42.07 6.68 19.32

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GWH has also regular subsurface exploration program to know Lithology and aquifer
properties and to identify potential aquifer. Till today about 570 nos test holes were drilled
down to depth of 150 to 300m. One GWH borelog of each selected thana area was analyzed
to identify aquifer system and sediment type of that area. BUET borelogs were taken into
consideration for comparison and completion of cross-sections to assume the extension of
aquifer material. Hydrographs were prepared collecting groundwater table data from BWDB
piezometers for the last 5 years. But, groundwater table data since 1970 were analyzed to
assess the trend of declination. Groundwater contour map is prepared to see the direction of
groundwater level and direction of flow (Fig.2).

34
36

34 38

32 40

30

28

26
50
48
46 44
42

40

22
26 30 34

Figure 2. Maximum depth to groundwater table (in meter) from ground surface (BWDB, 2001).
Page-4
Aquifer system and trend of water table declination

a. Mirpur

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 130 and 175m, test holes drilled at Mirpur colony and
Santikunjo village respectively, were considered to observe aquifer condition
(Fig. a.1). The thickness of upper clay ranges from 15 to 18m, which is very
compact in nature. This clay layer is underlain by fine grained sandy layer of 25
to 30m thick with discontinuous clay lenses. The medium to fine sand layer
exists down to 100 to 105m from the surface inter-bedded with coarse sand and
gravel at depth. About 25m thick clay layer is encountered below the main
aquifer. Below this clay zone a thick medium to coarse grained sand layer with
gravel is observed in BUET log. Groundwater table was measured as 51.55m
from ground surface in the piezometer located at densely populated Monipur
(Fig.a.2, Table-a.1). The lowering of water table since 1970 is about 48m and is
13.5m since 2000. The overlying hard clay formation, mainly composed of
kaolinite and illite, (Nairuzzaman et al, 2000) and increased urbanization retard
vertical recharge to aquifer.

Figure a.1 Lithological cross-section under Mirpur thana

G ro u n d w a t e r D e p th (m )

14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32

34
36

8/12/1991 7/12/1993 7/12/1995 6/12/1997 6/12/1999

Observation Date

Figure a.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (Monipur, Mirpur).

Table a.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Mirpur)

1970 1980 1990 1998 1999

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min

Page-5
 10.32 2.29 8.46 3.36 15.39 14.05 29.42 27.11 32.72 29.44
2000 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min
38.02 32.77 47.80 45.21 51.55 47.95
b. Mohammadpur

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 385 and 122m drilled within a kilometer in parliament
compound, were considered to observe the aquifer condition (Fig.b.1). The upper clay layer,
with traces of silt and very fine sand at depth, ranges between 10 and 25m depth from ground
surface. This aquitard is underlain by fine to very fine sand with a thickness of 20 to 25m.
The promising part of medium to coarse sand aquifer, with gravel at depth, extends down to
the depth of 110 to 130m. Below this formation, more than 200m thick silty clay layer, inter
bedded with medium to coarse sand at deeper part is observed. The piezometer considered for
this zone is located at PC culture housing complex, about 1.5 km far from the parliament
compound but lies within the densely populated area of Mohammadpur. The declination of
groundwater table from ground surface is recorded 25.5m since 1980 and is 8.28m since 2000
(Fig. b.2, Table-b.1). The depth to water table is 29.6m, which is less compared to central and
eastern part of the city. The urbanization in the western part of Mohammadpur has been
developed recently and still there are huge rechargeable open places in that area. So, vertical
percolation of rain water through loosely compact silty clay and infiltrated river water from
western boundary may allow recharge to groundwater aquifer. But the situation would be
degraded with rapid growing urbanization at those areas of Adabar, Shekhertek etc.

Figure b.1 Lithological cross-section under Mohammadpur thana.

G ro u n d w a t e r D e p t h (m )

18

20

22

24

26

28

6/12/1998 6/12/1999 5/12/2000 5/12/2001 5/12/2002

Observation Date

Figure b.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (PC culture, Mohammadpur).

Table b.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Mohammadpur)

1980 1990 1998 1999

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
Page-6
 10.90 5.03 17.13 6.59 18.83 17.90 19.95 18.82
2000 2001 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
22.05 19.85 25.17 22.14 28.08 25.23 28.13 29.60
c. Dhanmondi

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 230 and 70m, test hole drilled at Dhaka University campus
and Hazaribagh respectively, were considered to assess aquifer condition (Fig. c.1). The
upper clay layer (9m) is observed at the borelogs located about 2.5km from each other. This
clay layer is underlain by 10 to 12m thick very fine to fine sand followed by fine to medium
sand down to 90m from ground surface. Medium to coarse sand with gravel at depth was
observed at BWDB borelog down to 145m with a thickness of about 55m. Fine to medium
sand again appears down to drilled 230m separated by a clay lens at 143m. The water table in
the piezometer at Sultanganj is measured as 30.5m that is declined about 4.5m since 2000
(Fig. c.2, Table-c.1). The depth to water table and annual declination is less compared to
central and eastern part of the city, though hundreds of tubewells are operated by tannery
industries. Vertical infiltration of rain water through aquitard of remarkable open lowlands
west of the area and horizontal inflow of Buriganga water may increase recharge to aquifer
(Ahmed et al, 1998). But discharge of huge solid wastes and liquid effluent of tannery
industries without proper treatment is a big threat to groundwater environment.

Figure c.1 Lithological cross-section under Dhanmondi thana.

Year
0
1997
-2 1997.5 1998 1998.5 1999 1999.5 2000 2000.5 2001

-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
-14
-16
-18
-20

Maximum Minimum

Figure c.2 Groundwater level hydrograph (Sultanganl Dhanmondi). ,

Table c.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Dhanmondi)

1979 1990 1998 1999

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min

Page-7
 10.12 7.02 16.07 14.54 21.64 20.34 23.44 21.41
2000 2001 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
25.18 23.26 27.96 25.29 27.45 24.60 29.65 27.63
d. Lalbagh

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 135 and 50m, test holes drilled within a kilometer at BUET
compound and Azimpur respectively, were considered to monitor the aquifer condition (Fig.
d.1). The thickness of upper stiff silty clay layer ranges between 7 and 9m from the surface
that is underlain by a very fine to fine sand bed down to 90m. Fine to medium sand formation
extends down to drilled 135m with a thickness of more than 40m observed at BWDB
borelog. The water table is about 19 to 40m from ground surface in the Sutrapur-Lalbagh area
that declined about 9m at Polashi and less at river periphery since 2000 (Fig. d.2, Table-d.1).
Declination of groundwater in the region is about 40m since 1980, which is higher, compared
to other areas due to early development of groundwater in this older part of the city. The
direct recharge of Buriganga river water is contributing a portion to the aquifer but scope of
vertical recharge is less due to dense urbanization (Ahmed et. al, 1998).
D e p t h ( m ) fr o m l a n d s u r fa c e

Figure d.1 Lithological cross-section under Lalbagh thana.

28

30

32

34

36

38
6/12/1998 6/12/1999 5/12/2000 5/12/2001 5/12/2002

Figure d.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (Polashi, Lalbagh).

Table d.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Sutrapur)

1980 1990 1998 1999

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
1.5 0.35 17.69 16.48 24.52 23.32 well dry well dry

Page-8
 2000 2001 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
39.90 32.05 39.30 34.54 41.67 39.47 42.51 41.78
e. Tejgaon

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 365 and 145m, test hole drilled at Tejgaon industrial zone and
Survey office compound respectively, were considered to assess aquifer condition (Fig. e.1).
Stiff to hard clay layer of 9 to 12m thick is observed at the borelogs located about 1.5km
from each other. This clay layer is underlain by very fine to fine sand formation of 25 to 30m
thick followed by fine to medium sand layer, coarse sand at depth, down to 145m. Below this
sand formation more than 200m thick clay layer, inter-bedded with 10 to 15m thick medium
grained sand layer is observed. The depth of groundwater table observed in piezometer near
Farmgate of central Dhaka is recorded 54.17m from ground surface that is the maximum
compared to water table in other piezometers (Fig. e.2, Table-e.1). This is due to over
exploitation of groundwater by city dwellers as well as by industries at Tejgaon area. The
dense urbanization and stiff clay layer in the surface retard vertical inflow. The horizontal
inflow from peripheral aquifers is due to cone of depression in the central part of the city. The
declination of groundwater table is 33.5m since 1990 and is about 13.5m since 2000.

Fig. e.1 Lithological cross-section under Tejgaon thana.

G ro u n d w a t e r D e p t h (m )

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

6/12/1998 6/12/1999 5/12/2000 5/12/2001 5/12/2002

Observation Date

Figure e.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (Green Road, Tejgaon).

Table e.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Tejgaon)

1990 1998 1999 2000

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
20.89 10.65 35.60 33.17 38.54 35.57 40.97 38.57

Page-9
 2001 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min
41.39 41.01 53.31 51.80 54.17 53.34
f. Sabujbagh

BUET borelogs of 65 and 80m at Taltola and Fakirapul respectively were considered to
assess the aquifer condition (Fig. f.1). Thick silty clay layer of 40 to 45m from the surface
characterize the subsurface lithology. At the eastern part of Dhaka city this unit is exposed
from matuail to Gulshan areas. This clay is underlain by fine to very fine sand of 15 to 25m
thick followed by fine to medium sand with coarse bed at depth down to drilled depth of
80m. The depth to water table observed in piezometer at Khilgaon is 52.75m from ground
surface that is declined about 51m since 1980 and 11.87m since 2000 (Fig. f.2, Table-f.1).
Clay layer of very high thickness retards both vertical and horizontal inflow to groundwater
aquifer though there is huge open areas in the eastern part till river Balu.

Fig. f.1 Lithological cross-section under Sabujbagh thana.

34
G ro u n d w a t e r D e p t h (m )

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

50

52
6/12/1998 6/12/1999 5/12/2000 5/12/2001 5/12/2002
Observation Date

Figure f.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (Khilgaon, Sabujbagh).

Table f.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Sabujbagh)

1980 1990 1998 1999

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
2.93 0.39 22.48 20.50 34.95 33.79 37.88 34.99
2001 2002 2003
Max Min Max Min Max Min

Page-10
 51.58 42.33 53.48 51.59 52.75 51.53

g. Gulshan

BWDB and BUET borelogs of 470 and 100m, test hole drilled at Banani and Baddah
respectively, were considered to assess aquifer condition (Fig. g.1). The silty clay formation
of 30 to 45m thick covers the area. This formation is underlain by fine to very fine sand of
about 15 to 20m thick follwed by fine to medium sand down to 240m depth. Medium to
coarse grained sand with trace gravel appears between 768 to 825m depth underlain by 60m
thick silty clay layer observed in BWDB borelog. Fine to medium sandy layer is encountered
below this clay. The depth to water table is 44.5m below surface observed in piezometer at
Banani that is 36.55m in Cantonment area. The lowering of water table is 27.5m since 1990
observed in Cantonment and 18.5m since 1998 observed in Banani area (Fig. g.2, Table-g.1).
The number of DWASA tubewells is less in this region compared to other parts of the city but
thick clay formation, composed of impervious kaolinite and illite, retards vertical infiltration
of rain water (Nairuzzaman et al, 2000).

Figure g.1 Lithological cross-section under Gulshan thana.

D e p t h ( m ) fr o m l a n d s u r fa c e

26

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

6/12/1998 6/12/1999 5/12/2000 5/12/2001 5/12/2002

Figure g.2 Groundwater table hydrograph (Banani, Gulshan).

Table g.1 Depth to groundwater table from ground surface in meter (Banani)

1990 1998 1999 2000

Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
11.00 9.00 24.25 21.48 25.78 24.05 28.98 26.21
2001 2002 2003

Page-11
 Max Min Max Min Max Min
32.83 28.90 36.59 32.61 38.85 36.55

Findings and Discussion

The borehole logs at different areas of Dhaka city reveal that the surface of the eastern and
central part of the city is covered by 7 to 25m thick clay to silty clay formation that is 30 to
45m in the eastern regime. Although these confining clay layers store water, generally slower
or inhibit fluid flow through them (Willis et al, 2000). The intrinsic permeability and
hydraulic conductivity of these clay and silty clay varies from 10 -6 to 10-3 darcys and 10-9 to
10-6 cm/s respectively (Fetter, 1994). The upper aquifer system observed from selected cross-
sections can be divided into three major parts.
i) very fine to fine sand layer, in places associated with traces of silt and extends down
to the depth of 3o to 90m with thickness varies between 10 and 80m,
ii) fine to medium sandy layer in places associated with coarse sand at depth, extends
down to drilling depth of 100 to 240m with thickness ranges from 50 to more than
200m,
iii) medium to coarse sand formation with gravel, extends down to drilling depth of 95 to
260m with thickness ranges between 20 and 40m.

The permeability of the main portion of Dupi Tila aquifer, from where water is abstracted for
Dhaka city, is 25 to 46 meter/day for Modhupur Tract aquifers and 50 to 90 meter/day for
Recent Floodplain aquifers (DWASA, 1999).

When a well begins to pump water from an aquifer, the water is withdrawn from storage
around the well and from vertical leakage (Theis, 1938). In the Dupi Tila aquifer of Dhaka
city, withdrawals of water through hundreds of wells has increased cone of depression,
resulting contribution of water from storage of aquifer and these cones of depression create a
complex surface of water table. Hence, the development and management of groundwater is
more complicated than that of surface water. So, as the demand for groundwater use
increases, improved management practice is required. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater
can affect not only water supply for human consumption but also the maintenance of surface
water bodies for fish habitat and other environmental and ecological needs which ultimately
affect vegetation along water bodies.

Groundwater systems are changing naturally to some extent. Moreover, human induced
changes in the surrounding hydrologic environment sometimes create imbalanced situation
that stresses on the aquifer system. The development of a groundwater system is considered
to be ‘safe’ if the rate of abstraction of groundwater does not exceed the rate of natural
recharge. Groundwater sustainability is defined as development and use of groundwater in a
manner that can be maintained for an indefinite time without causing unacceptable
environmental, economic and social consequences within the context of the complete
hydrologic system of which groundwater is a part (William et al, 1999). But for mega cities
like Dhaka, it is often difficult to maintain inputs and outputs of water to the aquifer system
in equilibrium performing water budget analysis.

The areal extent of groundwater flow systems in Dhaka city may vary from a few square
kilometers to thousands of square kilometers. Pumping of more than thousand wells can have
significant effects on groundwater system. The piezometric observation wells of Dhaka city

Page-12
are located within the zone of influence of the pumping wells. So, measured water levels of
these wells are affected by the pumping wells and are not in natural condition. Hence
correction is needed assessing total withdrawal of groundwater by influencing tubewells
surrounding the piezometers. Accurate water levels are needed to determine hydraulic
gradient and thereby directions and rates of flow, locations of groundwater recharge and
discharge, the amount of water in storage in the aquifer, the change in storage over time and
aquifer hydraulic characteristics. The effect of continuous pumping from the aquifer is a great
problem to evaluate the well hydrographs of these observation wells. However, the present
(middle of 2003) depth to water table from ground surface is recorded as 19.32 to 30.5m in
the western part near the periphery of the river Buriganga and 52.75 to 54.17m in the central
and eastern part of the city. The average annual rate of declination in different parts of Dhaka
city is 0.17 to 0.6m from 1970 to 1980, 0.15 to 0.69m from 1980 to 1990, 0.56 to 2.26m from
1990 to 2000 and 1.24 to maximum of 3.16m in Tejgaon area since 1998.

The thickness of the unsaturated zone is also an important factor for water table recharge.
Where the unsaturated zone is thinner, recharge can reach the water table faster. The
unsaturated zone can be expected as thinner near rivers Buriganga, Turag and Balu, where
infiltration of river water may reach the water table first, resulting in a localized groundwater
mound. Localized flow systems may develop that help water move laterally from the
temporary groundwater mounds towards the water table, where vertical infiltration can not
reach the water table. The cone shaped depression that is observed from groundwater contour
map, creates an opportunity of horizontal inflow from surrounding areas throughout the year
(Fig. 2). Differences of the river water and groundwater levels also support the scope of
horizontal inflow but the siltation of surrounding rivers are not favorable for the horizontal
inflow. Hence the contribution to the aquifer from the adjoining rivers is negligible. However,
The Buriganga allows direct recharge to the aquifer (Ahmed et al, 1998). Leakage from water
distribution lines that is about 25% of total abstraction by DWASA and sewage system is also
adding water to the aquifer but these are inadequate in fulfilling the loss of natural recharge.

More quantitative approach for water management is needed to perform water budget
analysis, which will account for all of the inputs and outputs to the system. This can be
expressed simply as (Willis et al, 2000),
INPUT – OUTPUT = ± ∆ STORAGE

Major inflow and outflow components considered for Dhaka aquifer are,

Inflow : Surface water of surrounding rivers,

imported water from adjacent aquifers, leakage of water
supply and sewage system.

Outflow : Withdrawal by tube wells.

Since urbanization and subsurface clay barrier retard vertical infiltration, which is very
negligible compared to withdrawal, and present groundwater table lies at greater depth below
the surface, precipitation and evapo-transpiration are not included in the budget analysis.
Precipitation that occurs in the urbanized areas mostly contributes water to surrounding rivers
through surface run-off.

Determination of additional groundwater recharge is very complicated. Water use records of

hundreds of individual water users and sewage dischargers must be collected. An accurate
Page-13
accounting involves long and detailed inventory analysis. However, total abstraction of
groundwater by DWASA and private tubewells can be considered as total outflow since flow
of groundwater concentrates towards the city from adjacent areas. As mining is occurred from
Dupi Tila aquifer, the discharging water is contributing both from horizontal inflow of water
from adjacent areas as well as from the storage of the aquifer. The annual withdrawal by
DWASA wells was 449.33 Mm3 (million m3) and by private tubewells was about 400 Mm3
for the year 2002 (DWASA, 2003). Using computer program, developed by M.Z. Abedin of
GWH, BWDB, the mining of groundwater from the storage for the year 2002 has been
calculated. Which is 215 mm/unit area with total of about 55.9 Mm3/year, where, area of
Dhaka city is considered as 260km2 and the average declination of water table as 2.36m. The
major portion of the rest withdrawn water was contributed by lateral inflow from adjacent
areas, causing continuous lowering of water table of those areas. The weighted specific yield
is calculated to be about 0.092 for the water table declining depth.

As sum of the pumping withdrawals has already been exceeded the available recharge, the
cone of depression will not stabilize and water levels will continue to fall if proper measures
are not taken in future. Under this situation the water in storage of the aquifer must be
considered as non-renewable resource (Fetter, 1994).

If the present rate of abstraction, extended urbanization and silting of riverbeds continues,
lateral inflow of water to groundwater aquifer will reduce. As a result, groundwater mining
will be aggravated. Because of the lowering of water table, re-sinking and re-fixturing of
many existing tubewells will be required at greater depth and thereby increased installation
and pumping cost. Moreover electricity consumption will be higher to lift water from greater
depth. If groundwater is continuously withdrawn, the ground surface may subside because the
water no longer supports the sediment (Plummer et al, 2003). Mexico city and a part of
California’s Centrall Valley has subsided more than 7 and 9m respectively because of the
continued abstraction of groundwater. Such subsidence can crack building foundations, roads,
and pipelines. Over pumping of groundwater also causes compaction and porosity loss in soil
and can permanently ruin good aquifers. Groundwater flow gradient towards the south-
central part of the city allows surface and river water pollutants finds its way to the aquifer.
Illegal use of riverbank, discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastes has severely
polluted the river water.

Conclusion and Recommendation

To minimize uncontrolled exploitation of groundwater from the aquifers and to ensure proper
management of groundwater resources ‘Ground Water Act’ should be formulated
immediately. Proper management, monitoring and utilization of existing legislation is needed
to reduce system loss and unnecessary use of supplied groundwater that would lessen
pressure on groundwater withdrawal. Groundwater development may take place over many
years; hence the effects of both current and future development must be considered in water
management strategy.

In present situation it is difficult to balance outflow and inflow to aquifer. But, by providing
more and more alternate source of water supply the condition of Dhaka aquifer can be
improved. The following measures may be considered,
 Installation of area wise surface water treatment plant.

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 Artificial recharge by injecting treated river water. Recharge basins can be used to
recharge aquifers. Treated surface water can be stored in infiltration ponds or basins or
pumping into the ground through recharge wells like supply wells, that can increase the
rate of water percolation towards water table.
 Installation of production well (Well Field) in the less developed aquifers, 5 to 10 km far
from the city boundary, and supply to the city by pipeline network.
 Dredging of peripheral rivers to remove siltation of finer particles and to create more
spaces for horizontal/ base flow to groundwater aquifers.

Assessment of groundwater recharge i.e. groundwater budget should be carried out regularly
to monitor aquifer status. Dependency on groundwater must be decreased. Present monitoring
network of BWDB and DWASA need to be extended by installing more piezometers at
different depth to observe increasing rate of groundwater table declination and probable
effects on quality due to lowering of water table.

References

Ahmed, K.M, Hassan, M.A, Sharif, S.U, Hossain, K.S, 1998. Effect of Urbanisation on Groundwater Regime,
Dhaka City, Bangladesh, Journal Geological Society of India, Vol. 52, August 1998, pp229-238.

BWDB Water Supply Paper-519, 1991. Effects of Over Withdrawal of Groundwater in Dhaka city, Ground
Water Circle-II.

DWASA, 2003. Present Status of Surface Water and Groundwater Conditions in Dhaka City, Workshop Paper
Presented by ATM Ataur Rahman, Managing Director, DWASA.

DWASA, 1999. Dhaka Water Resources Management Program Briefing, Vol. 2, Issue 2, February, 1999.

Fetter, C.W, 1994. Applied Hydrogeology, Prentice hall, 691p.

Morris, B.L, Seddique, A.A, Ahmed, K.M, 2003. Response of the Dupi Tila Aquifer to Intensive Pumping in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, Hydro Geology Journal (2003) 11:496-503.

Nairuzzaman M, Haque M.E, Rahman M.J.J, 2000, Influence of Clay minerals on Consolidation
Behavior of Madhupur Clay: A case Study from Some Samples of Greater Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Geoscience Journal, volume 6, 2000.

Plummer, McGeary, Carlson, 2003. Physical Geology, Mc Graw Hill, 574p.

Sharif, Md. Salah Uddin, 1996. Urban and Industrial Pollution to Ground Water of the Southern Part of Dhaka
City, Unpublished M.Sc Thesis, Dhaka University.

Willis D. W, John L.S, 2000. Manual of Applied Field Hydrogeology, McGraw-Hill, 608p.

William M. Alley, Thomas E. Reilly and O. Lehn Franke, 1999. Sustainibility of Ground-water Resources, U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 1186, 79p.

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