Groundwater Recharge Estimation: a Case Study in Chennai City
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Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies e-ISSN: 2581-5326 Volume 4 Issue 3 Groundwater Recharge Estimation: A Case Study in Chennai City Sowmya SK1, Jebamalar A2, Ravikumar G3 1ME Student (HWRE), Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 2Professor, Civil Engineering, Velammal Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 3Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Email: [email protected] DOI: Abstract As groundwater is most commonly used for domestic purposes in urban areas, it is being overused without any limit resulting in decline of groundwater levels. The groundwater levels can be improved by artificial recharge method such as rainwater harvesting (RWH). Rainwater harvesting is a procedure of group and storage of rainwater into ordinary reservoirs or it can be refreshed into sub surface aquifers. This study aims to assess the variation of groundwater levels during recent years (20112018) by using the data collected from “Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board”. Chennai city of Tamil Nadu is taken for study. The temporal and spatial distribution of water levels was studied. Change in storage and recharge for the study area is been calculated from the water level, specific yield and area of influence by using “groundwater estimation committee (GEC) norms”. Keywords: Groundwater, rainwater harvesting, recharge INTRODUCTION is improvement in groundwater after the Urban areas, such as Chennai, Mumbai implementation of RWH (20032011) but and Delhi, are facing two major problems. the impact of RWHs may be reduced after One is acute water scarcity and another 2011 due to improper maintenance of one is flooding during the monsoons RWHs [5]. which occur frequently [1]. However, this rainfall occurs during short span of time Pawar et al. [7], overviewed the success with high intensities. Due to this, most of story of rooftop RWH program in Renavi the rain water falling on the surface fails to village in Sangli district of Maharashtra recharge fully and leads to runoff [2]. As India. The methodology involves rainfall Chennai being coastal area, there will be a analysis; calculation of potential rainfall chance of sea water intrusion, this can be supply, groundwater quality assessment overcome by ‘artificial recharge’. One of from bore well and opens well. From the the best artificial methods is the discussion, it is noticed that RWH is “Rainwater Harvesting” (RWH) method essential in Renavi village even though that if capturing the runoff [3]. Collection there is no shortage of water, as the level and storage of rain water at surface or in of fluoride and arsenic is above the sub-surface aquifer, before it is lost as permissible limit. Rainwater is practically surface run off called rainwater harvesting. free of dissolved solids. About 6.57 The Tamil Nadu government passed an act million liters of rain water is collected in 2003 for implementation of RWHs; it through RWHs which can meet the needs was effectively done only in domestic of annual cooking and drinking need of houses and not in public buildings / spaces population. Julius et al. [6], studied about [4]. The study till 2011 revealed that there the evaluation of ground water storage 6 Page 6-14 © MAT Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies e-ISSN: 2581-5326 Volume 4 Issue 3 before and after implementation of RWH development. The results show that stage system in Nagercoil (Pazhayar of groundwater development of Watershed). The groundwater contours Kurmapalli Vagu basin is in semi critical were plotted to identify the trend and stage with the value of 80.6%. spatial distribution of groundwater levels. The influencing area of each well was STUDY AREA AND DATA delineated and calculated based on COLLECTION Thiessen polygon method with the A part of Chennai city is selected as a capabilities of ArcInfo software. The study area for the estimation of ground groundwater storage was considered to be water recharge. Study area is bounded by dependent on water close fluctuation Cooum and Adyar Rivers. These dual technique. The results show that the rivers are nearly stagnant through the year implementation of RWH has increased the and do not have water flow except during groundwater storage even though the rainy seasons [9]. Chennai is a coastal extraction is increased due to increase in plain area where numerous of the water population. forms and normal depressions are vanishing due to several improvements. Pradeep Kumar et al. [8], measured the Unrestrained reproduction of built-up stage of groundwater development of areas, encroachment of river / streams and Kurmapalli Vagu basin using Remote additional drainage stations, damage of Sensing and Geographic Information water forms and reduced natural zones System (GIS) techniques along with the reason flooding in the town [10]. This estimation of ground water resources using highlights the essential to implement water conventional methods. Estimation of reaping procedures used for through groundwater balance involves estimation storage and use of rain water and for of GW from rainfall, canals, recharge due renewing the groundwater aquifers [11]. to return flow of irrigation, recharge from The map of the study area with the specific minor irrigation tanks, recharge from region chosen for the study is shown in water conservation structures, total ground Fig. 1. Study area is spread over 67.9 km2. water draft, stage of groundwater Figure 1: Study area map. 7 Page 6-14 © MAT Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies e-ISSN: 2581-5326 Volume 4 Issue 3 Monthly water level data for 23 Change in storage, ∆S = h *A * Sy observation wells located within the study Where, h = change in water table elevation area were collected from the “Chennai during the given time period (m); metro water supply and sewage board” for A = area influenced by each well (m2); and the period of 20112018. Monthly rainfall Sy = specific yield data was collected from 19712018 from RG - DG - B + IS + I = ∆S India Meteorological Department (IMD), RG = gross recharge due to rainfall and Nungambakkam, Chennai. other sources including recycled water. DG = gross ground water draft. METHODOLOGY B = base flow into streams from the area. The rainfall analysis was done for the IS = recharge from streams into ground period of 19712018. Temporal analysis water body. of groundwater (20112018) was analyzed I = net ground water inflow into the area using the monthly weighted water level across the boundary (inflow - outflow). data. For the year 2011 to 2018, the ∆S = increase in ground water storage. difference of water table in the study area B, Is, I are neglected, area assumed as is calculated between pre monsoon (May) watershed. and post monsoon (Jan.), to understand the R = ∆S + DG= h x Sy x A + DG spatial variation of monsoon influence. R= Possible recharge, which is gross “Groundwater Estimation Committee recharge minus the natural discharges in (GEC)” norm was used to estimate the the area in the monsoon season (RG - B + change in storage and groundwater I +IS). recharge. The change in storage and h – Rise in water level; Sy – specific yield; recharge is obtained by following A- influence area of well. relationship from GEC: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Temporal Analysis of Rainfall ANNUAL RAINFALL (mm) y = -2.8854x + 1436 R² = 0.0107 ANNUAL (mm) ANNUAL RAINFALL YEAR ANNUAL RAINFALL (mm) Linear (ANNUAL RAINFALL (mm)) 2 per. Mov. Avg. (ANNUAL RAINFALL (mm)) Figure 2: Variation of annual rainfall. Average monsoon rainfall values of respectively. The summer and winter northeast are 811.12mm (59%) and rainfall constitute only the remaining 8% southwest monsoons 453.31mm (33%) of the total annual rainfall shown in Fig. 2. 8 Page 6-14 © MAT Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies e-ISSN: 2581-5326 Volume 4 Issue 3 Temporal Analysis of Groundwater weighted water level data. The GW Temporal analysis of groundwater hydrograph was drawn with moving average (20112018) was analyzed using the monthly curve in order to analyze the trend. Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 Series5 Series6 Series7 Series8 Series9 Depth to Water (mbgl) Depth Water Level to Series10 Series11 Series12 2 per. Mov. Avg. (Series1) Figure 3: Hydrograph of study area well. Observing the above Fig. 3 shows that pre monsoon month (May) and post there is a sharp increase in the water level monsoon month (Jan.), the spatial from the year 2015 to 2016 as there is a variation of groundwater levels in the significant amount of rainfall during the study area has been studied. The spatial year 2015. variation of groundwater levels are calculated from 20112012 and Spatial Analysis of Groundwater 20172018 shown in the Fig. 4 and 5. By comparing the water table levels for Figure 4: Variation of GW level 20112012. 9 Page 6-14 © MAT Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies e-ISSN: 2581-5326 Volume 4 Issue 3 Figure 5: Variation of groundwater level 20172018. Groundwater Recharge Estimation using Theissen polygon method and its In Ground Water Resource Estimation value are given in Table 1 and shows in Committee (GWREC), the water table Fig. 6. The groundwater storage has been fluctuation method has been used for estimated using the change in water level, calculating the possible recharge for the specific yield and area of influence. Also monsoon season. The water balance with the assumption of population and approach used here is a lumped parameter usage of water, the groundwater draft has approach, hence, the spatial variations of been estimated. Then, recharge is individual components are not considered. calculated by adding groundwater draft Area influenced by each well is calculated with change of groundwater storage. Table 1: Area influenced by each well.