“IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL AREAS FOR GROUND WATER RECHARGE IN

SEMI-ARID LOW RAINFALL AREA”

CHAPTER 1
INTRDUCTION
1.1 General:
Water is the most essential natural resource for sustaining life. Its development and management is
critical for sustenance of life and other developmental activity. Water management is the activity of
planning, developing, distributing and development of strategy for the optimum use of water
resources. In view of the rapid increase in population, urbanization, and industrialization, the
demand for water for meeting various requirements is continuously increasing. Therefore,
conjunctive management of surface and ground water is the water resource management is a major
environmental, biological and socio-economic issue and will be an essential component of future
development. Especially in arid and semiarid regions where rainfall is low to medium, and
evaporation is high, management of water resources is critical. In semiarid regions of Karnataka,
there is large demand for water for agriculture, but due to inadequate surface water resources,
ground water resources becoming important resource. But due to hard rock terrain, percolation and
recharge is limited. In order to achieve sustainability, augmentation of water resources is essential.
Surface water is generally scant in semi arid regions owing to low rainfall and high evaporation
dominating in such regions. Semi arid climatic environments are undergoing a growing surface
water deficit across the world. Hence, groundwater is the major alternative. Groundwater is
dynamic and replenishable resource.
Groundwater is one of the most critical resources for drinking and irrigation. Groundwater is the
water that gets collected beneath the surface of the earth. The water that seeps through the surface
gets recharged by the process of infiltration. Infiltration is the process by which precipitation or the
bulk of rainwater soaks into subsurface soils and moves into rocks through cracks and pore spaces.
So when the water soaks into the ground and the groundwater gets recharged.
The exploitation and exploration of groundwater resources need understanding geology and
geomorphology of that area. The data and thematic maps such as satellite images, soil data drainage
data and rainfall data, are helpful for mapping of groundwater potential zones.Using remote sensing
and GIS the maps can be prepared which serve as efficient tools for detailed ground based hydro
geological surveys which ultimately lead to selection of suitable site for study. Satellite data offers
the unique capability for extracting information on geology, drainage, land use and land cover and

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soil. Information on all these factors is essential in understanding the groundwater.

Remote sensing data and Geographical Information System (GIS) combined with knowledge of
land use and land cover pattern helps to understand the area which can enable us to suggest a
suitable mode of ground water recharge method based on the local conditions.

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CHAPTER 2
2.1 LITRACHER SURVEY
Tejaswini, Hegde and Amba Shetty(2018) based on their studies on arid zone of parts of
Karnataka using Remote sensing, GIS and ground observed features like soil cover, drainage
and topography inferred that, due to high evaporation rates and moderate rainfall, artificial
ground water recharge is the viable attractive option. Analysis of Parameters likes water table
fluctuation, soil-cover thickness, Land use – land cover and rainfall patterns in the basin
enabled them to select potential area for recharge. Integration of spatial and non spatial data
for further targeting is suggested more appropriate locations such as lineament- interaction
for artificial recharge program at a finer resolution. Praveen Kumar Raia,Varun Narayan
Mishrab, Kshitij Mohana ElsevierB.V(2017) studied that remote sensing data GIS based
approach in evaluation of drainage morphometric parameters is more appropriate than the
conventional methods. GIS based approach facilitates analysis of different morphometric
parameters and to explore the relationship between the drainage morphometric and properties
of landforms, soils and eroded lands. Application of GIS modeling merged with remote
sensing has proven to be an efficient tool for understanding terrain parameters such as nature
of bedrock, infiltration capacity, surface run off etc., which helps in better understanding the
status of land form and their processes, drainage management and evolution of groundwater
potential for watershed planning and management. Hadi Allafta, Christian Opp and Suman
Patra (2020) demonstrated that remote sensing and GIS approaches are feasible tools for
demarcating Groundwater potential zones. The most influencing factors identified were
lithology, geomorphology, land use-land cover, rainfall and lineament density. The technique
of integrated remote sensing, GIS and secondary data on climatic parameters helps for
accurate ground water potential evaluation which gives scope for groundwater exploration.
Venkateswara Rao (1994) proposed an improved methodology for identification of
groundwater potential zones in a typical khondalitic terrain. It involved assigning numerical
weights and ratings to various geophysical and geomorphic parameters leading to
computation of Groundwater Potential Index (GWPI) of a given site. Saraf and Jain (1996)
demonstrated integrated use of Remote Sensing and GIS methods for groundwater
exploration in parts of Lalitpur District, U.P. Various sets of information layers such as

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geological, soil, topographical and groundwater information have been applied. The above
literature survey indicates that Remote sensing and GIS integrated with climatic parameters
and ground observed features enables to identify and delineate the potential zone for artificial
recharge. Therefore similar approach is followed in the present study also.

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CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Initially maps such as soil map, drainage map and satellite images are collected. Soil map and
drainage maps were generated from Bhuvan Software. The study area covering GANGAVATHI
taluk, sub watershed of Tungabhadra River is demarcated. During demarcation ridge and drainage are
considered. Toposheet is used for sub water catchment selection.

The satellite maps show critical variation. The tonal variation is either related to soil cover,
vegetation or rock type. It also shows moisture content in soil. In semi arid region the moisture
content in soil is very low. The satellite image obtained corresponds to dry season. Therefore the
tonal variation either reflects the soil or vegetation. There are dark tone areas at the same time there
is light tone areas and there is significant variation in both. Dark tone corresponds to excess runoff,
maximum runoff or moderate Runoff whereas light tone corresponds to excess runoff. We have to
select some of these are potential areas for artificial recharges or zones. Using drainage divide and
ridge, drainage basin is demarcated. Once drainage basin is demarcated the drainage ordering is done
following Horton 1945. Drainage characteristics such as drainage density, length and width of each
basin, area of the basin, drainage frequency, bifurcation ratio and elongation ratio were computed
following classical method (Horton 1945).From the drainage map we have traced individual drainage
lines following Horton method. Drainage ordering is done as first, second, third, fourth, fifth orders.
The GANGAVATHI watershed is fifth order basin.
Following Horton bifurcation ratio is calculated and determined which is defined by L/L+1. Where
L = particular drainage order
L+1= next higher order
This gives the bifurcation ratio according to Horton. Wherever bifurcation ratio is high in given basin
it is probably indicating lineament control. That point is also considered for identification of structure
then based on this drainage ordering we have categorised sub basins. Sub basins are considered based
on ridge or drainage divide. The area is sub divided into 9 sub basins to prioritize the basin.
Then from free downloadable satellite image visual interpretation is carried out especially based on

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tone (colour variations), linear features and drainage features. After georeferencing the obtained
satellite image in QGIS, lineaments were traced and directions were studied.
Lineament map using satellite image was superimposed on different thematic maps such as drainage
and soil map. Earlier soil map and drainage map were superimposed using QGIS. Soil map is
obtained from Bhuvan where soil type is differentiated based on their response to hydrologic
condition. Lineament mapping is done. These lineaments are special interest for ground water
recharge task. These identified lineaments are superposed on the drainage map to confirmation of
lineaments. Generally drainage follows zigzag path, wherever they follow straight line path that is
indicative of lineament. Low drainage density implies more water percolates, it means there is good
soil cover and therefore the aquifer facilitates percolation. Wherever there is high drainage density it
means more water flows on the ground. Less percolation implies either soil cover is not permitting
percolation or underlying rocks are not porous. Therefore soil cover, drainage density, and
lineaments together will help us to take bettedecision. the harmonised drainage and soil map
hydraulic properties are grouped into excess runoff, maximum runoff and moderate runoff. In which
excess runoff refers to plenty of water available and flood like situation is pertained. In maximum
runoff, infiltration is minimum and water is easily drained out. On moderate runoff probably neither
too high percolation nor too high floods is seen. Wherever drainage density is low and moderate
runoff or excess runoff is seen, such areas are potential areas and wherever drainage density is high
obviously water is drained out hence it is not suitable area.

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CHAPTER -4
4.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE REPORT
Identify the potential zones of ground water recharge in selected semi-arid regions of Karnataka.
Suggest suitable mode of ground water recharge method based on the local conditions.

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CONCLUSION:
Lineaments are potential indicators for artificial recharge. Based on these several recharge potential
zones are identified and shown in the map. Bifurcation ratio in the sub basin 5 and 8 indicates higher
order shows structural control and across these drainage boulder fill is ideal recharge mode. Whereas
in sub basins 1, 2, 3,4,7,9 lower and middle order sub basins are potential for recharge across the
drainage. Nala bund is suitable recharge mode. Based on these studies seventh sub basin where low
drainage density is observed is the potential area for recharge.

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