Groundwater Resource Evaluation

Resource Evaluation, Augmentation, Contamination, Restoration, Modeling and Management

Ground Water

Preface of the Book

Groundwater plays a major role in the livelihood of mankind by providing water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. The rapid population growth in the last three decades all over the globe resulted in exploiting more groundwater. The distribution of groundwater—both in space and time— is more erratic as it depends on the subsurface geological and climatic conditions. In many countries, the decline of water level indicates that the resources are depleted very fast. 

It is, therefore, necessary to assess the available subsurface resource in a more judicious scientific manner and then apply it for evolving optimal utilization purposes. There is an urgent need to have a comprehensive book, which contains the entire spectrum of groundwater assessment and management aspects. I had seen many books, which cover only the specific aspects on groundwater exploration, exploitation, augmentation, pollution and remediation and mathematical modeling but not many books on the integrated aspects of all. It was, therefore, planned to bring a book, which covers the above said aspects by inviting specific topics from various experts of the globe. 

The aim of the book is to provide theoretical background on the application of remote sensing and GIS techniques in the delineation of subsurface resources as described in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 discusses the principles of electrical resistivity and imaging (tomography) techniques in the identification of potential boreholes in hard rock region. Principles of pumping test analysis and interpretation of data to evolve aquifer parameters transmissivity ‘T’ and storativity ‘S’ through numerical technique have been brought out in Chapter 3. Basic principles and the application of theory of regionalized variables (Geostatistics-Kriging) for the interpolation of sparse hydrogeological data and its estimation error have been stressed in Chapter 4.

Augmentation of groundwater resources through aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) along with the quality problem due to reaction of rocks and injection fluid is dealt in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 deals with the environmental problem. The sources and the process of fluoride and arsenic contamination have been brought out clearly in this article. Chapter 7 deals with the characterization of fracture properties in hard rock areas through hydrogeological investigation at different scales. 

A methodology was evolved to delineate the vertical distribution of conductive fracture zones and their permeability through flow meter vertical profiles during fluid injection and evolving the spatial distribution of permeability by making use of slug test data. The above methodology was tested in Maheswaram watershed, a hard rock region in Andhra Pradesh (India). Groundwater flow and mass transport modeling play a major role in the assessment and management of groundwater resources. Modeling principles and various types of models, which are in vogue for various applications are presented in Chapter 8. 

An exclusive chapter on the model calibration and issues related to validation, sensitivity analysis, post-audit, uncertainty evaluation and assessment of prediction data needs is also presented. Groundwater development and management of coastal and island aquifers through field investigations and mathematical modeling is brought out in Chapter 10. Basic principles of SUTRA (USGS) finite element model are also highlighted. The management of groundwater resources through community participation approach and some aspects of remedial measures of contaminated aquifer may provide some insight to the groundwater professionals, which form the Chapter 11.
Groundwater management needs assessment, which in turn needs a model. A model needs a set of mathematical equations to describe the system. The equations have to be solved through a set of characteristic parameters, initial and boundary conditions of the aquifer system, which in turn have to be obtained through field investigations. 

Field investigations need a set of procedures, which in turn needs guidelines to carry out field investigations. I believe and hope that this book may provide the needed guidelines and answers for all the above.
I am thankful to Dr. V.P. Dimri, Director, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, India for providing infrastructure facilities at NGRI to complete this book. I extend my gratitude to all the contributors for this book who are well known experts in their respective fields. 

The following have contributed: F.M. Howari, Mohsen M. Sherif and Mohamed S. Al Asam from UAE University, Al Ain, UAE; V.P. Singh, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA; Ron D. Barker, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; V.S. Singh, NGRI, Hyderabad, India; Shakeel Ahmed, NGRI, Hyderabad, India; Chris Barber, Center for Groundwater Studies, Adelaide, Australia; N. Madhavan and Prof. V. Subramanian from the School of Environmental Sciences, JNU, New Delhi, India; J.C. Maréchal and B. Dewandel from BRGM, France; K. Subrahmanyam, NGRI,
Hyderabad, India; Claire R. Tiedeman and Mary C. Hill from USGS, USA; and A. Ghosh Bobba, National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Canada. My colleagues at NGRI, Hyderabad viz. Dr. S. Thiagarajan, Mr. G. Ramandha Babu and Y.S.N. Murthy are thanked for their support in preparation of the manuscript. I take this opportunity to thank both Prof. V.P. Singh and Prof. Mary C. Hill who inspired me to bring out this book. Finally, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi, India is thanked for their keen interest in publishing this book.

M. Thangarajan 

Former Scientist-G & Head, Groundwater Modeling Group National Geophysical Research Institute Hyderabad, India

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Ground Water