Evaluation of groundwater resource and estimation of its potential in Pathri Rao watershed, district Haridwar (Uttarakhand)

Abstract

The present study attempts to delineate aquifers in the piedmont zone of Himalayan foothill region in Pathri Rao watershed, district Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India by using integrated hydrogeologic and geophysical techniques. The geophysical techniques included vertical resistivity soundings, two-dimensional resistivity image profiling and electromagnetic surveys. Nuclear isotope studies have been carried out to estimate groundwater recharge and its relative age. An assessment of groundwater availability and stage of groundwater development has also been made from the available and generated field data. On the basis of the study, it was found that the rate of recharge into the aquifers is of the order of 19% and the stage of groundwater development in the watershed is 164% indicating critical over-exploitation of groundwater. Based on the findings, possibilities of artificial recharge of groundwater have been looked into in the study area for augmentation of groundwater resources by proposing a few check dams at the suitable sites in the upstream areas of the watershed.