Analysis of Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Quality in Southwest Punjab, India
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Journal of Earth Science and Engineering 4 (2014) 597-604 doi: 10.17265/2159-581X/2014.10.002 D DAVID PUBLISHING Analysis of Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Quality in Southwest Punjab, India Rajinder Pal Singh Chopra1 and Gopal Krishan2, 3 1. Hydro-geological and Hydro-chemical Division, Punjab Water Resources and Environment Directorate, Chandigarh 160017, India 2. Hydrological Investigations Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India 3. IGB-Groundwater Resilience Project, British Geological Survey, NERC, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK Received: August 10, 2014 / Accepted: September 20, 2014 / Published: October 25, 2014. Abstract: A study was conducted in eight districts, viz., Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala and Sangrur in south-western part of the Punjab, India to characterize aquifer strata by preparing a fence diagram depicting sub-surface strata and distribution of groundwater quality. The sub-surface lithology drilled upto a depth of 60 m reveal the presence of top most layer of impervious strata comprising of clay upto the depth of 2 m to 5 m which impedes the percolation of surface runoff into the soil leading to surface flooding and water logging even in areas having saturated zone beyond the depth of 5 m. Thick pervious strata of 45 m to 50 m thickness is encountered in central and south-sentral part of the study area comprising of Bathinda, Muktsar and Mansa districts which at certain places are separated by one or two thin layers of impervious or semi-pervious strata comprising of clay and sand occasionally associated with “kankar” of thickness ranging between 2 m to 5 m. The northern, western and eastern parts, however, exhibit three to four layered pervious zones ranging in thickness from 5 m to 25 m separated by thin layers of impervious and semi pervious strata. The groundwater quality in about 6% of the study area in eight districts is fit, 18% is marginal and 76% is unfit for irrigation purpose. Key words: Groundwater, aquifer characteristics, quality, depth, southwest Punjab. 1. Introduction extraction of groundwater to cater the needs of ever increasing human and livestock population has Groundwater resources in semi-arid areas are highly resulted in decline of water table in more than 80% of susceptible to salinity problems as a result of the state and subsequently deterioration in the unplanned and non-scientific development of ground groundwater quality [2-12]. On the other hand, water resources which has led to an increasing stress substantial rise in groundwater cause waterlogging on the available resources in the form of long-term and salinity/alkalinity problems in south-western part decline of ground water levels, de-saturation of of the state where ground water extraction is limited aquifer zones, increased energy consumption for due to brackish/saline/alkaline quality [1, 2, 13]. lifting water from progressively deeper levels and Various authors have proved that the groundwater quality deterioration due to salinity. The canal quality is controlled by various factors such as soil command areas suffer from problems of water logging characteristics, climate, topography, interaction with and soil salinity due to the gradual rise in ground aquifer minerals, or internal mixing among different water levels [1]. groundwater along flow paths in the subsurface In Punjab, during the past 3-4 decades, excessive [14-18]. Corresponding author: Gopal Krishan, doctor, research In the present study, a fence diagram depicting fields: isotope hydrology, hydro-geochemistry, remote sensing sub-surface strata and distribution of groundwater and GIS. E-mail: [email protected]. 598 Analysis of Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Quality in Southwest Punjab, India quality in eight districts, viz., Faridkot, Moga, 3. Methodology Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala and For preparing the fence diagram, lithological Sangrur in south-western part of the Punjab, India was samples were taken during the drilling of bores at preparing to characterize aquifer strata and every one meter depth and visually examined. distribution of groundwater quality. Samples of sand were subjected to mechanical 2. Study Area analysis for their grain size. Fence diagram was prepared depicting sub-surface lithological set up and State of Punjab has been classified into five ground water quality at respective depth. agro-climatic zones on the basis of homogeneity, The representative groundwater samples were rainfall pattern and distribution, temperature, soil collected from 17 m sites upto a depth of 60 m (Table 1) texture and cropping pattern (Fig. 1). Out of the five during development of each observation well and agro-climatic zones Barnala, Sangrur and a part of subjected to chemical analysis for its quality for Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur district come under the irrigation use. EC (electrical conductivity) of each Central Plain zone which is characterized by semi-arid sample has been determined in the laboratory by (sub-moist) and less hot zone. Annual average conductivity meter through direct reading. Prior to temperature ranges from 23 C to 24 C and mean determining EC (in micro mhos/cm at 25 C), the annual rainfall varies from 600 mm to 900 mm. instrument was calibrated through standard solution. Bathinda, Mansa and a part of Faridkot, Ferozepur and RSC (residual sodium carbonate) was determined by Muktsar districts fall under Western Plain zone, which the following formula: is characterized by semi-arid (dry to sub-moist) zone. 2- - 2+ 2+ RSC = (CO3 + HCO3 ) (Ca + Mg ). Annual average temperature ranges from 24 C to 25 The above ions were determined volumetrically in C and mean annual rainfall varies from 400 mm to the laboratory using titration method. Ground water 600 mm. A part of Ferozepur and Muktsar districts quality was categorised as fit, marginal and unfit on also falls under Western zone, which is characterized the basis of criteria of EC and RSC values as by arid (dry) and hot zone. Average annual mentioned below [19]: temperature ranges from 25 C to 26 C and mean (1) EC values (µmhos/cm at 25 C): annual rainfall varies from 200 mm to 400 mm. (a) upto 2,000 fresh/fit; Depth to water level in the area ranges from 1.5 m (b) 2,000-4,000 marginal; to 31 m below ground level (mbgl). Water table is at (c) above 4,000 unfit. shallow depth at several areas of Muktsar, Ferozepur, (2) RSC values (meq/L): Bathinda and Mansa districts where it ranges from 1.5 (a) upto 2.5 fresh/fit; mbgl to 7.5 mbgl causing waterlogging at many places. (b) 2.5 to 5.0 marginal; The bores drilled in the area upto 60 m depth reveal (c) above 5.0 unfit. the presence of predominance of fine sand occasionally associated with “kankar” and comprise of 4. Results and Discussion two main aquifer zones each ranging in thickness from 4.1 Aquifer Characteristics 4 m to 25 m separated by clay layers of 3 m to 5 m thickness. Water table has been rising in the area The sub-surface lithology drilled upto a depth of 60 m comprising blocks of Muktsar, Lambi, Kot Bhai, reveal the presence of top most layer of impervious Khuiyan sarwar, Abohar and Fazilka creating water strata comprising of clay upto the depth of 2 m to 5 m logging at many places. which impedes the percolation of surface runoff into Analysis of Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Quality in Southwest Punjab, India 599 Fig. 1 Agro-climatic zones of Punjab. the soil leading to surface flooding and water logging are separated by one or two thin layers of impervious even in areas having saturated zone beyond the depth or semi-pervious strata comprising of clay and sand of 5 m (Fig. 2). Thick pervious strata of 45 m to 50 m occasionally associated with “kankar” of thickness thickness is encountered in central and south-central ranging between 2 m to 5 m. The northern, western part of the study area comprising of Bathinda, and eastern parts, however, exhibit three to four Muktsar and Mansa districts which at certain places layered pervious zones ranging in thickness from 5 m 600 Analysis of Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Quality in Southwest Punjab, India Table 1 Groundwater quality in south-western part of Punjab upto 60 m depth. Sample Water level Aquifer depth Depth tapped EC (µmhos/cm) RSC Site District Quality No. (mbgl) range (m) (m) at 25 C (meq/L) 1 Khokri Kalan Moga 26.5 49-58 51.0-54.0 985 3.16 Marginal 2 Daulatpur Niwan Moga 25.0 52-60 54.0-57.0 2,065 6.40 Unfit 3 Kauni Faridkot 4.8 43-60 53.5-56.5 1,489 5.44 Unfit 4 Jalalabad Ferozepur 14.8 56-60 51.6-54.6 1,765 6.08 Unfit 5 Asafwala Ferozepur 6.6 50-60 50.5-56.5 1,410 6.32 Unfit 6 Sherewala Ferozepur 9.9 27-52 45.6-49.6 9,200 −ve Unfit 7 Chak Tamkot Muktsar 1.5 47-60 50.5-54.5 22,100 −ve Unfit 8 Chotian Muktsar 6.9 27-55 50.5-53.5 4,010 −ve Unfit 9 Killianwali Muktsar 6.6 3-42 36.6-39.6 17,090 −ve Unfit 10 Mahima Bhagwana Bathinda 10.0 7-49 44.5-47.5 8,740 −ve Unfit 11 Kalyan Sukha Bathinda 17.7 2-60 53.5-56.5 1,565 2.28 Fit 12 Dulewal Bathinda 23.9 30-60 54.0-57.0 1,245 7.80 Unfit 13 Kot Baghtu Bathinda 5.5 27-60 53.5-56.5 6,350 −ve Unfit 14 Behniwala Mansa 7.6 47-55 49.0-52.0 13,430 −ve Unfit 15 Hariau Sangrur 13.2 24-52 47.5-50.5 3,370 3.52 Marginal 16 Rupaheri Sangrur 23.1 42-60 53.5-56.5 1,460 5.92 Unfit 17 Kurar Barnala 31 46-59 54.0-57.0 1,030 3.28 Marginal −ve: When electrical conductivity is very high then RSC comes negative.