POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF INVERTED WELLS

USING RAINWATER FOR GROUNDWATER

RECHARGE IN LAHORE CITY

Department of Civil Engineering

University Of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
Narowal Campus
MEMBERS

Presented By:
Ali Usman Abbas 2017-Civ-313
Muhammad Hamza Raza 2017-Civ-314
Muhammad Talha Yasir 2017-Civ-317
Imran Saddique 2017-Civ-331

Project Instructor:
Engr. Sohail Rao

2
SCOPE OF RESEARCH

The scope of the current research comprised of two parts.

 Part 1 includes collection and review of groundwater literature related to Pakistan’s Punjab and
synthesis of key findings on groundwater (GW) development & use, GW major challenges, GW
management opportunities and GW management initiatives being taken by the Punjab Government. In
Pakistan’s Punjab, groundwater professionals have published a lot of material (research and technical
reports & papers) on various aspects of groundwater resource. Though there is a huge wealth of
literature available on groundwater, only a few will be reviewed in the present study.
 Part 2 of the current research includes field study on potential evaluation of inverted wells using
rainwater for the recharge of groundwater aquifer of Lahore City in collaboration with Pakistan
Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) through its Lahore regional office.

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OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH

The objectives of the current research include:

 To portray groundwater (GW) potential, development and use scenario in Punjab 
 To identify major GW management challenges in Punjab
 To present an overview of GW management efforts made by the Punjab Government
 To perform situational quantitative and qualitative analysis of Lahore City aquifer
 To present artificial groundwater recharge perspective
 To evaluate potential of inverted wells for recharge of groundwater aquifers
 To synthesize recommendations on GW management for Punjab and Lahore City

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The present research will consist of two parts.

 Part 1 will include review of groundwater related literature and synthesis of key findings on
different aspects of groundwater resource of Punjab.
 Part 2 will include field study on potential evaluation of inverted wells using rainwater for
recharging the groundwater aquifer of Lahore City in collaboration with Pakistan Council of
Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) through its Lahore regional office. The approaches to
be used for conducting research under part1 and part 2 of the current study are described
below.

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EXPECTED OUTCOME

 The literature related to groundwater potential, development, utilization, major challenges,

GW management opportunities and initiatives taken by the Punjab Government to address
major GW management issues in Punjab.
 Overview of various research studies on water currently being conducted by the PCRWR
including study on inverted well technology to the researchers of the Civil Engineering
Department of the UET Narowal.
  The proposed research is expected to start in September 2020 and will be completed in about
- 10 month.

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CONTENTS

 Introduction
 Ground water challenges in Punjab
 G.W management efforts In Punjab
 Situational analysis of Lahore city aquifer
 Artificial groundwater recharge perspective
 Potential evaluation of inverted wells
 Conclusions and reccomendations

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INTRODUCTION

 Groundwater provides potable water to about 2 billion people which is equivalent to 33% of
the global population
 India, China and Pakistan alone account for one-third of global groundwater usage
 In these countries, farmers are pumping groundwater faster than nature is replenishing it,
causing a continuous drop in groundwater tables thereby causing depletion of groundwater
resource
 Pakistan is the fourth largest user of groundwater among all countries (after India, USA and
China).

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LAHORE G.W SCENERIO

 A highly transmissive unconfined aquifer lies under the city of Lahore which covers approximately
1772 square kilometers.
 Aquifer thickness is more than 400 meters.
 Major sources of groundwater recharge for Lahore are rainfall and seepage from river Ravi.
 In Lahore City, currently, 1800 public and private tubewells having design capacity of approximately
82 cumec are extracting about 4.32 million cubic meter water daily.
 The water table in the city is declining drastically; as an average of 1 m per annum.
 Currently, no institutional management and regulation exists for proper management and regulation of
GW resource in the Lahore City.

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GROUNDWATER DEPLETION PROBLEMS

 GW depletion (declining groundwater tables) due to over-exploitation and deterioration of

groundwater quality are the two major immediate GWM challenges facing Punjab and Lahore City.
 The difference b/w ground water extraction and ground water recharge exceeded 27% which is a major
problem in Punjab.
 As per June 2011 conditions, 20% irrigated area of Punjab province was facing groundwater depletion
i.e. having depth to water table more than 12m.
 Due to saltwater intrusion, about 200 public tubewells initially installed in fresh groundwater zone of
Punjab have been abandoned due to increase in salinity over time.

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TECHNICAL DATA COLLECTION

Data collected from different approach included;

 Data on depth to groundwater table in Lahore City
 Data on rainfall and depth to water table for inverted well located at PCRWR Regional office
Lahore
 Data on rainfall and depth to water table for inverted well located at Stedec office, Lahore,
 Data on soil and water profiles (for July 2015 prior to construction and operation of inverted
wells) at three study wells location

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WATER DECLINATION TABLE

1.2

1
1 0.95 0.95
0.89 0.9

0.77
Decline Water Table

0.8

0.6 0.55
0.5 0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.1
0.05
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

YEAR

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AMOUNT OF RAINFALL IN LAHORE

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OVERALL (PUBLIC PLUS PRIVATE SECTOR) GROUNDWATER
DEVELOPMENT

 In the year 2000-01, there were 588,130 total tube-wells (including public and private tube-wells) in
Punjab. During 2006-07, total number of tube-wells in Pakistan was 887416
 It is reported in the literature that currently, about 1.2 million tubewells are working in Pakistan
 These tubewells are exploiting 62 – 68 BCM of groundwater per annum
 On average, every fourth family owns a tube-well and a large proportion of non-owners purchase
groundwater from their neighbors
 Considering estimates made by ACE & Halcrow, groundwater development potential in Punjab is
about 50 BCM

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MAJOR GROUNDWATER CHALLENGES IN PUNJAB

 Declining groundwater tables, high pumping costs, deterioration of groundwater quality,

increasing soil salinization are considered to be the major immediate issues for sustainability
of GW use in Punjab
 The detailed deliberation on these issues is provided below.
1. Technical Issues
2. Declining Groundwater Tables
 In fresh groundwater areas of Punjab, groundwater tables have fallen from 1.5 m (5 ft) in the
areas near the major rivers to more than 6 m (20 ft) in the central parts of Doabs

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POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

The major policy and institutional issues include

 Lack of GW abstraction rights system and its enforcement
 GW multiple useage
 Lack of comprehensive and effective GW regulatory framework
 Lack of GW management institutions and their capacity
 Lack of adequate GW knowledge base.

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RECOMMENDATIONS ON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

 Devise strategies for saline water intrusion control.

 Develop and implement secondary salinization management interventions.
 Research on groundwater recharge is urgently required
 Improve canal water supply.
 Improve water use efficiency/water productivity.
 Demand of water should be managed.
 Low water delta crops should be preferred to high delta crops

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GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT EFFORTS IN PUNJAB

2005 to 2014 Efforts:

 In 2005, Punjab Government took various initiatives to address GWM challenges in the province
 A brief overview of these efforts and initiatives is provided below.
Punjab Groundwater Management Plan (PGWMP) Development
 P&D board took serious steps to manage GWM in 2007 as a result of which PGWMP was established.
 This plan was based on the review of data and documents collected under PPSGDP and its updating up
to year 2005
 It covered policy guidelines, strategy and action plan for GWM and regulation

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2014 TO DATE EFFORTS: CURRENT SCENARIO

 Punjab Irrigation Department are continuing their efforts to monitor and manage GW in
Punjab.
 Currently, the GWMNO (DLR) is updating GW level and quality data by monitoring GW
level and quality across the entire Punjab biannually; pre- and post- monsoon
 GW level and quality data is also posted on PID’s website through PMIU of PID.
 The groundwater management approach emerging from pilot areas is intended to extend to
other areas of the Punjab.
 Ground water monitoring was done at national level.

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SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF LAHORE CITY AQUIFER

Artificial groundwater recharge (AGWR) is the process by which the groundwater recharge is
augmented at the rate much higher than those under natural condition of percolation.
 In most low rainfall areas of the world, availability of surface water is low which results in huge dependency on
groundwater resource for agriculture, domestic and industrial uses.
 Under such conditions, artificial groundwater recharge is vital to:
1. Improve the groundwater situation in the areas having depleted groundwater aquifers;
2. Avoid depletion of water resources when abstraction takes place for water supply; and
3. Reduce environmental impacts on sensitive water-dependent features such as wetlands.

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ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

Artificial ground water recharge has following advantages;

1. Causes conservation and storage of excess surface water for future use;
2. Ensures a consistent & continuous supply of safe & freshwater, even during dry periods;
3. Prevents the salt water intrusion;
4. Improves the quality of existing groundwater through dilution; and
5. Improves bacteriological and other impurities from sewage and waste water by natural
filtration, so that water is suitable for reuse.

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METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

There are two types of artificial recharge

1. Direct method
2. Indirect method

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DIRECT METHOD

 Recharge wells  Injection Wells

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DIRECT METHOD

 Pitch and Shaft  Dug Wells

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INDIRECT METHOD

 Collector Wells

 Induced Recharge

 Pumping Wells

 Infiltration Gallery

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ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE METHODS USED IN PAKISTAN

There are some artificial methods used in Pakistan

 Small storage reservoirs
 Injection wells
 Ditch and furrow system
 Recharge pits
 Recharge wells using rainwater harvesting technique

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POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF INVERTED WELLS FOR
RECHARGING OF GROUNDWATER AQUIFER

An Overview of Inverted Wells Installed in Lahore City

Sr # Location Diameter of Diameter of pipe Length of blind Length of

bore (mm) (mm) pipe (m) strainer (m)
1 PCRWR Office 203 152 30 16
Lahore
2 Stedec Office 203 152 33 16
Lahore
3 Irrigation Colony 254 203 30 16
Lahore

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INVERTED WELLS

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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT PCRWR LAHORE OFFICE

 Table reveals rainfall depth and rainfall runoff volume that recharged aquifer during
the study period of July 2017 to March 2018. During this period, for 8 rainfall events,
rainfall depth and rainfall runoff volume that recharged aquifer were measured by
both PCRWR and UET research teams using rain gauge and flowmeter connected to
the inverted well, respectively.

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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT PCRWR LAHORE OFFICE

Rainfall Event # Date of Rainfall Event Rainfall depth (mm) Volume of rainfall runoff
(m3)
1 18/7/2017 0.5 1
2 8/8/2017 18 8
3 12/9/17 2 11
4 4/11/2017 7 1
5 12/12/2017 12 1
6 24/1/2018 7 3
7 12/2/2018 9 1.5
8 21/3/2018 10 2
TOTAL=28.5m3
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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT PCRWR LAHORE OFFICE

12

10
Ground Water Discharge (m3)

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Rainfall Event

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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT STEDEC OFFICE LAHORE

 Table reveals rainfall depth and rainfall runoff volume that recharged aquifer during
the study period (July 2017 to March 2018). During this period, for 6 rainfall events
rainfall depth and rainfall runoff volume that recharged aquifer were measured by
both PCRWR and UET research teams at STEDEC Office in Lahore

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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT STEDEC OFFICE LAHORE

Rainfall Event # Date of Rainfall Event Rainfall depth (mm) Volume of rainfall runoff
(m3)

1 2/8/2017 2 1
2 28/8/2017 35 8
3 24/11/17 8.1 0
4 2/2/2018 7.2 0
5 2/3/2018 10 0.3
6 24/4/2018 7 3
TOTAL=12.3m3

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CASE OF INVERTED WELL LOCATED AT STEDEC OFFICE LAHORE

7
Ground Water Discharge (m3)

0
1 2 3 4

Rainfall Event

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INVERTED WELLS GROUNDWATER QUALITY SCENARIO

Sr # Water Quality Parameter Analysis Result

Permissible Guidelines
1 Calcium (mg/L) 200 18
2 Chloride (mg/L) 250 30
3 Hardness (mg/L) 500 90
4 pH 6.5 – 8.5 6.53
5 Potassium (mg/L) 30 0.2
6 Sulphade (mg/L) 250 11
7 Sodium (mg/L) 200 9
8 Total Dissolved Solid 1000 110
(mg/L)
9 Turbidity 5 10.5
10 Arsenic 10 2.58
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POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF INVERTED WELLS

 Recharge of aquifer through an inverted wells is the most appropiate option of artifical
recharge for industrial and urban areas as it requires less space for whole system. Invert wells
installed with filter depth of 16 m at an average rate is 35m3/sec.
 Estimated Recharge Capacity (ERC) is nearly 70 m3/hour. It’s cummulative recharge was
1500m3 from total rainfall of 650 mm during the period of June 2017 to March 2018 with
catchment area of 5000m2. It can be concluded that inverted wells can be of considerable
assistance in management and sustenance of groundwater resources in Lahore city.

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Lahore City Aquifer Situational Analysis

• Recharge is decreasing due to reduced water flow in Ravi river and increase in the
impermeable area in the City
• Currently, there is no artificial recharge mechanism in operation in Lahore Groundwater
quality of Lahore aquifer is deteriorating with time and fresh groundwater is becoming scarce
and out of reach.
• Ravi River has become a source of pollution for GW aquifer underlying the Lahore City due
to low flows & disposal of effluents in it.

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LAHORE CITY GWM RECOMMENDATIONS

 Aquifer recharge (supply-side management) and abstraction control by enhancing water use efficiency
(demand-side management) are vital for sustainability of GW availability and use in Lahore City.
 In addition to natural recharge, ways and means for artificial recharge of aquifer should also be
devised and implemented. Possible options for artificial recharge in Lahore area could be:
 Rainfall harvesting at potential sites
 Lahore Branch Canal;
 BRBD Canal;
 Ravi River by diverting more water in it;
 A ponds/lake between Ravi River and BRBD Canal Recharge wells at suitable locations.

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LAHORE CITY GWM RECOMMENDATIONS

• Cost-effective rainwater harvesting and GW recharge schemes such as installation of inverted

wells could help stabilize groundwater levels. In this regard, rainfall-runoff modeling study
should be conducted to estimate the volume of water available for recharge and to identify
and evaluate different artificial recharge options
• Keeping in view the potential of inverted wells for recharge of GW aquifer, PCRWR has
suggested that for artificial recharge of Lahore City aquifer inverted wells should be installed
at Jallo Park, Lahore, Lahore International Airport, Walton Airport, Ferozpur Road, Lahore,
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, and Field Research Station, Niaz Baig, Multan Road Lahore

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LAHORE CITY GWM RECOMMENDATIONS

 GW regulatory framework/policy framework should be developed and implemented to

regulate GW abstraction and quality protection
 Quantity and quality of wastewater being disposed off into water bodies by public and
private entrepreneurs should be monitored regularly
 Treatment plants should be adopted to make the industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste
waters useable for industries, irrigation etc. (recycling & reuse option)
 The installation of wastewater treatment plants in the industries should be mandatory

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REFERENCES

http://pcrwr.gov.pk/water-quality-reports/
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/parched-punjab-20535#:~:text=In%20the%20past%20
two%20decades,has%20a%20falling%20water%20problem
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater_recharge

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Thank You!