district, Tamilnadu, India - Integrated Publishdistrict, Tamilnadu, India Sukumar.S 1 , Sankar.K 2 1...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS AND GEOSCIENCES Volume 1, No 3, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing services Research article ISSN 0976 – 4380

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Delineation of potential zones for artificial recharge using GIS in Theni district, Tamilnadu, India

Sukumar.S 1 , Sankar.K 2 1 Research Scholar, Department of Industries & Earth Sciences, Tamil University,

Thanjavur 613005, TN, India. 2 Associate Professor, Department of Industries & Earth Sciences, Tamil University,

Thanjavur 613005, TN, India. [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Theni district is having an administrative division of 3 taluks, 8 blocks and 94 villages. The Average annual water resources in our district are estimated (as on 31.03.2004 CGWB, Chennai, TN, India) 489.11 MCM of which utilizable resources are of the order of 459.77 MCM and demand for domestic and industrial uses up to 2025 15.43 MCM. 3 blocks are Over Exploited and another 3 blocks also in Critical stage. The district having three major ground water problems as follows 1. Deeper water levels in valley hill areas, 2.75% of the blocks are categorized as over exploited and critical and 3. Select pockets have salinity problems. Watersupply development is challenging. Increasing demands for water joined with concerns for environmental protection require a variety of new water management tools. Such a tool of groundwater supplies is the artificial recharge of groundwater. Application and benefits are worldwide.

Keywords: Geology Map, permeability and soil parameters loaded using GIS integration, artificial recharge Vaigai river basin

1. Introduction

Frequent failure of monsoons and overexploitation of groundwater in some parts of the country has rapid water table depletion. Also, a substantial quantity of rainwater is going waste through surface runoff into the ocean. Hence, in order to maintain the water table condition in balance and to restrict the surface runoff going waste, various measures for artificial groundwater recharge can be implemented in such zones. It helps the aquifers from total water table deeper part of the aquifer system. Many workers in various parts of the world have followed different techniques for generation thematic maps on geology and hydrogeology integrated the data to select favourable areas for groundwater recharge (Johnson and Sneigocki, 1967, Vecchioli et al. 1974, Weston and swain, 1979, Murakami, 1982, Sara et.al.1992).

Some have used mathematical modeling for artificial recharge (Birlies and Nutbrown, 1975 and Cijun Li et ak.1987).The recent year, the satellite data is being widely used for integrated terrain analysis and to identify suitable area for artificial recharge (Sharma, 1992: Anbazhagan, 1994: Ramasamy and Anbazhagan, 1996. Artificial recharge is the process by which the ground water is augmented at rate much higher than those under natural condition of replenishment.

http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Ge-Hy/Groundwater.html



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1.1 Methodology

Preparation of geological map from geological survey of India (GSI) for the study area. Preparation of various thematic data such Permeability, soil depth, Drainage intensity, Water Holding capacity and Soil texture maps using NBSS & LUP Map (National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land use Planning), Bangalore. These maps were scanned and registered with reference to a base map and are prepared as separate layers or coverage using Arc view. GIS has been used for the integration of various thematic maps to delineate the potential zones for artificial recharge. Each theme was assigned a weightage depending on its influence on groundwater recharge. Each class or unit in the map was assigned a knowledge based ranking from one to four depending on its significance in storage and transmittance of groundwater. The final map has been prepared showing four different categories of potential zones for artificial recharge.

1.2 Description of the Study Area

In the present study, potential zones for artificial recharge in Vaigai river basins in Tamilnadu. The study area covers an area of 2889.23 Sq.km (Fig.1). It originates in the Periyar Plateau of the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley, which lies between the Palni Hills to the north and the Varushanad Hills to the south. The Vattaparai Falls are located on these river.The main tributaries of the river Vaigai are, the river Suruliyaru, the river Mullaiyaaru, the river Varaganadi, the river Manajalaru and river Kridhumaal. All these rivers, except kridhumaal join with the great Vaigai river nearer to the places around the Vaigai Dam which is situated in Theni district, whereas Kridhumaal joins Vaigai in Madurai.

1.3 Geology of the area

The geology map was prepared by using already existing geological data collected from the geological survey of India map (the resource map of Tamil Nadu) with the scale of 1:250000 (Fig.2). Predominant geological formations Charnockites, calcareous gritty sandstone and clay, Garnet biotite gneiss, Hornblende biotite gneiss and Granites. The study area (Theni District) is predominantly underlain by hard Archean crystalline formations Krishnan (1972), Jones (1934). Western Ghats comprises Charnockite Group of rocks. The plains are underlain by hornblende – biotite gneiss, silimanite garnet biotite gneiss. Quartzites are seen as ridge and associated with gneisses in the central part of kambam area. The colluviofluvial deposit of sand, silt and gravel deposits forms a thick overburden on the Archeam formations in Kambam, Tevaram, Bodi and south of Andipatti areas. Eolian sand dunes area predominantly seen south of Bodi around Silamalai of Red sandy soil and fine loamy soil are found to occur in this area. The crystalline rocks of Archean age in this study area are highly metamorphosed and structurally deformities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Periyar_Plateau&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbum,_Tamilnadu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palni_Hills

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varushanad_Hills&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vattaparai_Falls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaigai_Dam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theni_district



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Figure 1: Location map of Study Area Figure 2: Geology Map

1.4 Drainage intensity of the area

The study area has a well connected network of drainage channels. All the three rivers feed their surplus water into a large number of tanks. The basin is divided into five categories based on its drainage intensity as excessively well drained, moderately well drained and somewhat excessively drained. The thematic map prepared on this theme of drainage intensity is shown in (Figure 3).

1.5 Soil texture of the area

The study area has been divided into five types of soil texture as clay loam (2030%, clay, less than 50% sand), loamy sand (8085% sand), sandy clay (more than 30% clay, 50 70% sand), sandy clay loam (2030% clay, 5080% sand), and sandy loam (less than 20% clay, 5080% sand). The digitized map of soil texture in the area is shown in (Fig. 4). It



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was found the sandy loam constitutes nearly 35% of the study area, loamy sand and sandy clay comprises nearly 20% of the study area.

Figure 3: Drainage Intensity Map Figure 4: Soil Texture Map

1.6 Permeability of the area

Permeability depends upon the type of soil the particular area. The study area is classified into three permeability classes namely moderate (rate flow – 20 to 65 mm/hour), moderately slow (rate flow – 5 to 20 mm/hour) and moderately rapid (rate flow – 65 to 125 mm/hour). The classification is based on type of soil series in that area. The digitized map of the area showing the permeability details is given in (Fig. 5). It was found that moderately slow occur in major part of the study area.



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Figure 5: Permeability Map Figure 6: Soil Depth Map

1.7 Effective soil depth of the area

The effective soil depth refers to the depth of the unconfined aquifer amenable to artificial recharge. This depth of soil influences the quantity of recharge (Jothiprakash et al., 2001). The study area has been classified into four categories depending upon the depth of the soil above the parent material or solid rock (depth of the weathered zone). They are very deep (more than 1.5 meter), deep (more than 1.5 meter), moderately shallow (50cm to 1 meter) and shallow (25 cm to 50 cm). The digitized effective soil depth map of the area is shown in (Figure 6). It was found that 45% of the study area is comprised of the deep soil.



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Figure 7: Water Holding Capacity Map

1.8 Water holding capacity of the area

It indicates the capacity of the soil to hold water in the pores through capillary action and this depends upon the porosity of the soil. Based on the porosity the study area is divided into four categories as high, medium, low and very low. The water holding capacity classification in the study area is shown in (Fig. 7). It is found that in the area nearly 46% of the soil is of high water holding capacity.

2. Assignment of Weightages and Ranks

Similar to the occurrence and movement of groundwater in an area, the potential for groundwater recharge is also controlled by various factors, such as nature of the underlying materials, their porosity, permeability, infiltration and thickness, the surface topography etc (Table.1). In the present study, each parameter considered is assigned a weightage depending on its influence on the storage and transmission of groundwater. For example, permeability plays a prominent role in groundwater recharging (Elango and Mohan, 1977) than the geology of the area; hence higher weightage is given to permeability. The effective soil depth that is the room for storage and the water. The



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different units in each theme are assigned knowledgebased hierarchy of ranking from 1 to 4 on the basis of their significance with reference to their potential for artificial recharge. In this ranking high favourable zone, moderate favourable zone and least favourable zone for artificial recharge (fig.8). The final score or attribute of each unit of a theme is equal to the product of the rank and weightage. The weightage of each theme, rank of each unit or class in each theme and their corresponding scores are given in (Table 2).

Table 1: Criteria for Hydrological Soil Grouping

3. Conclusion

Central Ground Water Authority has not notified any area in the district. Government of Tamil Nadu vide G.O.No. 51 has banned groundwater development for irrigation in the over exploited blocks of Tamil Nadu. The over exploited blocks in this district are as follows Andipatti, Chinnamanur, Myladumparai, Periyakulam and Uthgamapalayam. Artificial Recharge to be taken on priority in over exploited and critical blocks. It is necessary to recharge the deeper fractures to augment the drinking water resources. On the basis of artificial recharge sites is interdependent on various parameters like permeability, soil depth, drainage intensity, water holding capacity, geology and soil texture. By, thematic data has been integrated for evaluation of groundwater potential zones for the study area. For the study area, artificial recharge sites had been identified based on the number of parameters. Again, the study area was classified into priority 1, 2, 3 and 4 suggested for artificial recharge sites are classified High favourable zone, Moderate favourable zone and least favorable zone. From the study planners and decision makers can get more suggestion to create new plans and models to implement the water resource development and action plan in the study area and it also can apply to check dam or percolation ponds developing.

Character Infiltration Rate HIGH MODERATE SLOW VERY SLOW

Texture Sand or Gravel

Moderately Course to fine

Slow Very Slow

Depth Deep Moderately Deep Deep Shallow over an impervious layer / clay

Drainage Well to excess

Moderately well drained

Deep Shallow over an impervious layer / clay

Water Transmission

High Moderate Slow Very Slow

Soil List Entisols Inceptisols Alfisols Vertisols Character Runoff

Low Moderate High Character Recharge

High Moderate Low



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Table 2: Rank & scores for various themes with respect to AR potential

Permeability Weightage 24 Class Rank Score Forest 1 24 Moderate slow 2 28 Moderate rapid 3 72 Rapid 4 96

Soil depth Weightage 20 Rock land 1 20 Shallow 2 40 Moderately shallow 3 60 Deep 4 80 Very Deep 4 80

Water holding capacity Weightage 18 Rock land 1 18 Very low 1 18 Low 2 36 Medium 3 54 High 4 72

Geology Weightage 14 Granite 1 14 Garnetbiotitesillimanitegneiss 1 14 Hornblende biotite gneiss 1 14 Charnockite 2 28 Calcareous sand & clay 3 42 Calcareous sandy soil 3 42 Calc granulite / limestone 4 56 Alluvium 4 56

Drainage intensity Weightage 8 Rock land 1 8 Excessively drained 2 16 Moderately well drained 3 24 Well drained 4 32

Soil texture weightage 6 Rock land 1 6 Loamy sand 1 6 Sandy loam 1 6 Sandy clay loam 2 12 Clay loam 3 18 Sandy clay 4 24



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Figure 8: Potential Zones for artificial recharge

4. References

1. Ramasamy.SM and Anbazhagan.s (1996) Integrated terrain analysis in site selection for Artificial recharge in Ayyar basin, India, Jour.Geol.Soc.India. 50, pp 449 – 456.

2. Warner, J.W. and Moreland, J A. (1972). Artificial Recharge in the Waterman Canyon East Twin Creek Area, San Bernardino County, California Open File Report, Nov. U.S. Geol. Surv. Menlo Park, California.



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3. Pettijohn, W.A. (1981). Introduction to Artificial Groundwater Recharge. EPA 600/281236. Oct., Robert S. Kar Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Oklahoma.

4. Karanath, K.R. (1987) Studies on Hydrologic parameters of groundwater recharge in water balance computations in Andra Pradesh. Hydrology Review. CSIR, New Delhi.65p.

5. Ramasamy, SM., Thillai Govindarajan, S. and Balasubramainan, T. (1989). Remote Sensing based Appropriate Methodology for Groundwater Exploration A Study of Pre Cambrians in South India. Proc. Vol. International Workshop on Appropriate Methodologies for Development and Management of Groundwater, 28 Feb – 4 Mar, NGRI, Hyderabad, pp.341 344.

6. Venkatachalam, P., Murthy, C.V.S.S.B.R., Chowdhury, S. and Sharma, L.N. (1991). Groundwater Potential Zone Mapping Using GIS Approach. Asian Pacific Remote Sensing Journal, 4(1), pp. 7578.

7. Sharma, S.K. (1992) Remote Sensing techniques to locate areas suitable for artificial recharge of groundwater in granitic terrain Proc Workshop on Artificial recharge of groundwater in granitic terrain, Bangalore, pp.1444.

8. Saraf.A.K. and Choudhury, P.R. (1998) integrated remote sensing and GIS for groundwater exploration and idenfication of artificial recharge sites. International.Jour.Remote Sensing, 19(10). pp.1825 – 1841.

9. Vijith, H. (2007), Groundwater potential in the hard rock terrain of Western Ghats: A case study from kottayam district, kerala using resouresat (IRSP6) data and GIS Tech. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 35(2), 2007.

10. Balachandar, D.et al. (2010). Delineation of potential zones for artificial recharge using GIS. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 31(1): pp 37 – 47.

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