Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Mar 2018 Special Issue

Water Table Fluctuation, A Case Study from District

Resna Reghu Lecturer, Department of Geography Sreenarayana College For Women, Kollam, ,

Abstract A major portion of Earth’s fresh water is stored in the form of ground water. Ground water meets the drinking water requirement of nearly 60% of population in Kerala. Large scale development has led to concern about the future availability of ground water to meet domestic, agricultural and industrial needs. Ground water levels in various parts of Kerala are declining as the state could not adequately recharge aquifers in deficit areas where it has been used for irrigation, industries and drinking water needs. Kollam is one of the famous trading town of Kerala, facing various underground water crisis. The present study is for monitoring variation in the water level in different aquifers in .

KEYWORDS: Groundwater aquifer, water table, tube well, water crisis

INTRODUCTION

Rapid development in water resources sector has been taking place over the last few decades result various underground water crisis. Ground water level is an indicator of ground water availability, ground water flow and physical characteristics of an aquifer or ground water system (Sethi et al, 2010). Aquifer system reacts to hydraulic stresses by change in ground water level with respect of space and time. Hydraulic stresses include recharge and discharge from the system. Variation in the water table is closely linked with recharge and discharge. When the recharge exceeds discharge the water table level increase. If the discharge exceeds recharge, the difference is taken from the storage and water table level decreases.

Kollam district is blessed with high rainfall and plenty of natural water resources. The ground water level on Kollam id falling 0.2 to 0.5 mts. Every year indicating a rising trend of over exploitation and lack of recharging facilities. Ground water occurs in the porous granular formation such as alluvium, laterite, the tertiary sediments and weathered and decomposed crystalline rock. (Source: Ground water information) The aquifers in the district can be grouped in to four distinct geological formations in which they occur viz alluvial aquifer, laterite aquifers’ tertiary sedimentary rock aquifers and crystalline rock aquifer

STUDY AREA

Study area belongs to Kollam district. Kollam is located on the south west part of Kerala and extends from Lakshadweep Sea to Western Ghats and is bordered by Trivandrum district on the south and Alleppey and Pathanamthitta districts in the north and Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in East and Lakshadweep Sea in the west. It lies between north latitude 8 045’ N and 9 007’W and east longitudes 76 029’ and 77 017’. It has a geographical area 2491 sq.km which is about 6.481 of the

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Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi -Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Mar 2018 Special Issue totalgeographical area of the state. It falls in parts of survey of Indian Toposheet 58 C, D, G, H.

Kollam is divided into 5 taluks and 104 villages. , Kunathur, Kottarakara, Karunagappally, and Kollam are the five taluk in the district. The district is subdivided into 11 developmental blocks, 43 panchayasts and 104 villages.

METHODOLOGY

Data for the case study were obtained from both primary and secondary source. Primary data obtained through surveys. Field visit have been conducted in the study areas to collect dat a. Secondary data were collected from different sources like Vikasanarekha (Panchayath) ground water international booklet of Kollam district, National Hydrology project (ground water department Kollam )

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

For monitoring variation in th e water levels in different aquifers in Kollam district, 51 observation wells have been identified. The monthly data from these wells have been collected for several years. These data were analysed through software’s and this software treated data is used for further studies of different aquifers systems. For studying water table variations of phreatic aquifers 25 open wells, for studying water table variation of semi confined and confined aquifers of tertiary formations 9 tube wells and for studying wate r table variations of confined aquifers in hard rocks 17 bore wells were identified. The locations of different monitoring wells and changes in water level of January 2015 to January 2016 have been taken for detailed description.

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Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Mar 2018 Special Issue

WATER LEVEL DATA FROM MONITORING WELLS

OPEN WELLS Water level Water level Change in Water Level Sl.No Locations Jan 2016 Jan 2017 (Jan 2016 to Jan 2017) 1 7 8.46 -1.46 2 4.91 5.26 -0.35 3 6.90 12.10 -5.20 4 9.62 11.72 -2.10 5 8.12 9.06 -0.94 6 Karunagappally 2.69 3.68 -0.99 7 Kazhuthurutty 7.53 7.5 0.03 8 Kollam 3.16 4.06 -0.90 9 7.02 6.56 0.46 10 5.89 7.22 -1.33 11 9.21 10.5 -1.29 12 Mandrothuruth 11.87 12.65 -0.78 13 4.85 4.92 -0.07 14 Nneendakara 1.92 1.86 0.06 15 2.18 2.51 -0.33 16 Ochira 2.03 2.46 -0.43 17 Pathanapuram 8.41 9.33 -0.92 18 7.43 8.08 -0.65 19 5.07 5.24 -0.17 20 Poothakkulam 11.12 10.78 0.34 21 7.51 7.97 -0.46 22 Tenmala 8.91 9.39 -0.48 23 9.52 11.86 -2.34 2.88 3.88 24 -1 25 Karavoor 4.67 5.72 -1.05

Among these 25 locations (open wells) four open wells show rise in water level (Kazhuthurutty, Kottarakkara, and Poothakkulam). All others were shown fall in water level. Maximum fall in water level was observed in Edamon (5.20 meters). 2 open wells located at veliyam and Kadakkal shows fall in water level, ranges between 2 to 3 meters. 1 to 2 meters fall in water level was observed in 5 open wells and 0 to 1 meter fall in water level was observed in 13 open wells.

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Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Mar 2018 Special Issue

BOREWELLS Water level Water level Jan 2016 Jan 2017 Change in Water Level Sl.No Locations (Jan 2016 to Jan 2017) 1 5.84 6.71 -0.87 2 Kazhuthurutty 7.98 6.95 -1.03 3 6.21 8.07 -1.86 4 Edamon 8.71 9.51 -0.80 5 Ayoor 6.31 7.0 -0.69 6 Kadakkal 9.8 11.38 -1.58 7 Karavoor 8.70 9.17 -0.47 8 Kottarakkara 1.77 1.90 -0.13 9 Melila 4.16 5.41 -1.25 10 5.32 6.26 -0.94 11 Nilamel 4.77 5.52 -0.75 12 Urukunnu 7.34 7.34 0 13 Ambalamkunnu 7.86 8.61 -0.75 14 10.7 12.24 -1.54 15 8.77 9.72 -0.95 16 Karavaloor 6.01 6.68 -0.67 17 7.79 9.05 -1.26 Source:National hydrology project ground water department kollam In 17 bore wells, the bore located at Avaneeswaram shows maximum fall, ie 1.86m. 1 to 2 meters fall in water level showed by 6 bore wells and remaining 11 showed 0 to 1 meters fall in water level. TUBE WELLS Water level Water level Change in Jan 2016 Jan 2017 Level (Jan 2016 Sl.No Locations to Jan 2017) 1 29.84 29.86 -0.02 2 Kundara 6.98 8.77 -1.79 3 Mayyanad 3.78 4.57 -0.79 4 Manrothuruth 11.51 12.43 -0.92 5 2.61 3.10 -0.49 6 Paravoor 13.76 15.17 -1.41 7 Poothakkulam 14.3 17.70 -3.4 31.94 33.47 8 -1.53 9 34.72 35.70 -0.98

Out of 9 tube wells, Poothakkulam tube well show maximum fall in water level (3.40). 1 to 2 meters fall in water level showed by 3 tube wells and remaining 5 showed 0 to 1 meters fall in water level.

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Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Mar 2018 Special Issue

References ‹ Chakrapani ,R(2014) Drinking water sanitation in Kerala: Asituation analysis published by water aid chalakudy puzha samrakshanasamithi ‹ Ground water information booklet of Kollam district ,Kerala state ‹ Kerala state planning board economic review Trivandrum, Kerala ‹ Jha,Mani Gopal et.al Assessment of ground water pollution Kathmandu, Nepal ,page 5 ‹ Bernard j ,Nebel, Richard T.wright,Enviormental science, sixth edition, page number 279 to 282 ‹ National Hydrology project : monitoring wells, groundwater department Kollam district ‹ Hima Hari 2015 Dimensions of water pollution in Kerala :threat and management issue international journal of Business and administration, research review ,page 253 to258

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