INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056

Groundwater investigation using Electrical Resistivity imaging technique in and around the Veeranam Tank, District, Tamilnadu,

Arunachalam E1 and Srinivasan K2

1PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Annamalai University 2Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Annamalai University, Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected]

Abstract In all over India groundwater is an important freshwater source for drinking and it is widely used in agriculture and industries. India is essentially an agricultural country two-thirds of its people's lives on agriculture. Cuddalore is one of the primary agriculture districts in Tamilnadu and it was located in the northern part of the delta. Veeranam is a famous lake and the largest water bodies in the . Nowadays groundwater depletion is increasing highly due to excess groundwater discharge, climate change, population growth, and urbanization. The groundwater potential assessment was done by an electrical resistivity survey method of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES). 20 VES survey station has been carried out in the study area by using a signal staging resistivity meter (SSR-MP-ATS) model and a common type of Schlumberger array configuration was used for the resistivity survey with the maximum current electrode spacing (AB/2) 100m. Each survey station was located by a global positioning system (GPS). The survey stations were created into four profiles each profile has five electrical resistivity survey stations. The test data were recorded in the field book for further interpretation. Each survey station data were quantitatively analyzed in the IpI2 win computer software and based on the survey station data four profiles were created in the north to the south direction each profile has five (VES) station. In the 20 VES stations, only 6 VES stations have four geoelectrical layers remaining 14 VES stations that have three geoelectrical layers. The range of resistivity values obtained in the survey was 0.147 Ωm to 2621 Ωm. The study area has sedimentary deposits and alluvium, sandstone, clay are the major type of soil layers in all the four profile-I has good groundwater potential comparing with other profiles with the depth of 50m to 72m. Key words: Command area, Groundwater potential, Subsurface characteristics, Veeranam Tank, Vertical Electrical sounding (VES).

Introduction

Earth has a lot of natural resources in which water is one of the most important in the world. It occurs in both surface water and groundwater, without water we cannot live on. And it is very essential for living things on earth. India is an agricultural country two-third of its population depend on agriculture and also is the main source for agriculture and economic development of our country. In total global water, the major portion is saline water 97% (ocean and sea) and freshwater is 3% in which even only 0.03% is accessible to mankind. This 0.3% of surface water is sometimes scared, sometimes abundant but unevenly distributed in space and time. Groundwater is occurring almost everywhere beneath the earth's surface. All over the world, the main source of drinking water is groundwater. Water enters these formations from the ground surface or bodies of surface water, after which it travels slowly for a varying distance until it returns to the surface by the action of natural flows, plants, or humans. The storage capacity of the groundwater reservoir combined with small flows rate provides large, extensively distributed sources of water supply. Groundwater emerging into surface stream channels aids in sustaining storm flow where surface runoff is low or nonexistent. Similarly, water pumped from wells represents the sole water source in many regions during many years. Particularly all groundwater originates

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as surface water. The principal source of natural recharge includes precipitation, stormflow, lakes, and reservoir. Other contributions, known as artificial recharge, occurs from excess irrigation, seepage from canals, and water purposely applied to augment groundwater supplies.

Geoelectrical Resistivity methods are also used to reveals the subsurface structures and delineate the contaminated zones of groundwater [1], [5] & [6], [8]. Resistivity methods can be used for groundwater investigations where good electrical Resistivity contrast exists between the water-bearing formations and the underlying rocks [9], [10] and [7] showed that formations containing poor quality water were characterized by low resistivity compared with formations containing fresh water. The rapid rural development in and around the Veeranam Lake, Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu, India and the associated increases in population demand excesses utilization of groundwater. Because of the overexploitation of groundwater, the groundwater level has been declined in recenttimes warrants groundwater assessment for sustainable utilization within the study area. The purpose of this paper is to use the resistivity data and interpreting geoelectrical soundings to study the aquifer conditions, such as depth and nature of the alluvium, boundaries, and location of the aquifer and groundwater quality. [1], [4] used the same method to study groundwater zone in a sedimentary terrain of Ilara-Remo, southwestern Nigeria. Their investigation involved the utilization of vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique with schlumberger array system and the results were interpreted using the spatial curve-matching method and computer assisted iteration technique. also used vertical electrical sounding (VES) for groundwater exploration around Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria Kaduna State, Nigeria. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) has been put to effective use in many earlier groundwater studies This study can be used to protect groundwater supplies as a unique source of water for this area. The object of the investigations is to delineate the subsurface lithology and to assess the groundwater resources of the subwatershed. Surface electrical resistivity surveys were conducted at 20 locations to obtain subsurface lithological information, identification of horizontal and vertical disposition of the aquifer system.

Study Area The area chosen for this study is Veeranam Lake, System is located in Cuddalore District Tamilnadu and it is one of the major irrigation tank systems. which was created during the Chola period in the tenth century, built from 1011 to 1037AD and is a 16-kilometer (9.9 mi) long dam in northern . Veeranam Lake is located 14 km (8.7 mi) SSW of in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The lake falls between north latitudes 110 15’ to 110 25’ N and east longitudes 790 30’ to 790 35’ E (Figure 1). It falls in the geological survey of India toposheet no. 58 M/11. The lake is bounded by the Vellar River in the north and the Coleroon River in the south. It has a good network of roads and railways. The Veeranam Tank System is the second largest in terms of tank capacity (1465 Mcft), next only to the Chembarambakkam Tank

(3,645 Mcft), which is near [3] and is also a source of drinking water for the city, the capital of Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1).

Fig.1. Study area Map

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Materials and Method

The geo-electrical methods are to pass current into the ground utilizing two electrodes and to measure the potential difference between a second pair placed in line between them from the value of the potential difference, the current applied and also the electrode separation. A quantity termed the apparent resistivity (ρa) is obtained. The variation of the apparent resistivity with the change in electrode spacing and position gives information about the variation in subsurface layering. A pioneer in hard-rock geology in India estimated the groundwater resources of the Deccan trap using electrical Resistivity methods. The Electrical resistivity method is mainly using in two 1. Schlumberger Array 2. Wenner array The commonly Schlumberger array used for electrical resistivity survey in field. Schlumberger Array This array is most widely used in electrical prospecting four electrodes (A, M, N, and B) are placed along a straight line symmetrically over- center point ‘O’. Current is sent through the outer electrodes AB and potential across MN (the inner electrodes) is measured similar to Wenner array (Fig.2). In the Schlumberger configuration, the separation between potential electrodes (MN) is kept small when compared to the current electrode separation AB. The IGIS instrument called SSR MP AT user for electrical sounding in the field and IPI2WIN software used for interpretation of geophysical data. Subsurface Self-potential and resistivity logging data collected from in around Veeranam Lake Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu. The location map of resistivity sounding and Subsurface SP and resistivity logging is given in the (Fig 2) and their names of the locations are listed in Table 1 and subsurface SP and resistivity log data interpretation is carried and making a profile and lithological strata.

Fig.2. Schlumberegr configuration

Results and Discussion

The pseudo and resistivity section of profile –I (Fig.3 and 4) shows the range of resistivity value is lies between 0.316 Ωm to 10000Ωm. The resistivity value of 10 Ωm to 4217 Ωm indicates the presence of sedimentary deposit ( sandstones). The depth of sandstone layer is 15m to 72m. The geoelectrical resistivity value 10Ωm to 750 Ωm indicates alluvium deposit the geoelectrical resistivity value 1.78 Ωm to 56.2 Ωm indicates clay and the depth of clay layer is 50m to 99.8m the resistivity value 10 Ωm to 56.2 Ωm indicates the fresh groundwater the depth of groundwater is 50m to 72m.

Geoelectrical resistivity curve and layer table profile- I Station name: Kothanda villagam latitude:(11o37' 45"N) Station number: 20 longitude:(79o51' 23" E)

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Station name: Vattathur latitude:(11o34' 57" N) Station number: 19 longitude:(79o50' 21" E)

Station name: Pudaiyur latitude:(11o31' 49" N) Station number: 18 longitude:(79o49' 00" E)

Station name: Agaraputhur latitude:(11o29' 49" N) Station number: 17 longitude:(79o48' 23" E)

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Station name: Karunaganallur latitude:(11o27' 26" N) Station number: 16 longitude:(79o49' 00" E)

Fig.3. VES Profile I

Fig 4.Pseudo section and resistivity section profile - I

Electrical resistivity Profile – II

In this electrical resistivity profile -II (Fig.5 and 6) has five stations they are Parathuravadi, Narthangudi, Puthur, Kollumedu and Elleri. This profile was created in North to South direction and it is located at downstream side of the Veeranam tank, 2 Km East to the main bund. It is fully located in the main bund command of the Veeranam tank. In profile II only two stations has four geoelectrical layers (Puthur and Kollumedu) and the remaining three stations has three geoelectrical layers (Parathuravadi, Narthangudi, and Elleri).Graph and table 5.2 shows the results of profile-II. The range of resistivity value obtained from this profile is lies between 0.295Ω m to 9785Ω m and the depth of resistivity range is 0.503 m to 89.3 m.

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Geoelectrical resistivity curve and layer table profile- II

Station name: Parathursavadi latitude:(11o37'51"N) Station number: 13 longitude:(79o52'08"E)

Narathangudi Latitude 11o35' 11" N Station No 10 Longitude 79o51' 07" E

Station name: Puthur latitude:(11o32' 25" N) Station number: 07 longitude:(79o50' 06" E)

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Station name: Kollumedu latitude:(11o35' 11" N) Station number: 06 longitude:(79o51' 07" E)

Station name: Elleri longitude:(79o49'16"E) Station number: 01 latitude:(11o30'10"N)

Fig.5. VES Profile II

Pseudo section and resistivity section profile - II

The pseudo and resistivity section of profile –II (Fig.6) shows the range of resistivity value is lies between 0.295Ωm to 9785Ωm. the resistivity value of 13.3 Ωmto5623Ωm indicates the presence of sedimentary deposit (sandstones). The depth of sandstone layer is 2 m to 60m the geoelectrical resistivity value 5.62 Ωm to 422Ωm indicates alluvium deposit and the depth of alluvium deposit is 22m to 60 m. The geoelectrical resistivity value 1 Ωm to 75Ωmindicates clay and the depth of clay layer is 40 m to 80 m and the resistivity value 13.3 Ωm to 75 Ωm indicates the fresh groundwater the depth of groundwater is 40m to 55m.

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Fig.6. Pseudo section and resistivity section profile - II

Electrical resistivity Profile – III

In this electrical resistivity profile -III (Fig.7) has five stations they are Aiypettai, Mathuranthaganallur, Mugaiyur, Melanedumbur and Veeranatham. This profile was created in North to South direction and it is also located at downstream side of the Veeranam tank, 4 Km east to the mainbund of the Veeranam tank. It is fully located in the main bund command of the Veeranamtank, in profile III only one stations has four geoelectrical layers (Mugaiyur) and the remaining four stations has three geoelectrical layers (Aiypettai, Mathuranthaganallur, Melanedumbur and Veeranatham). Graph and table 5.3 shows the results of profile-III. The range of resistivity value obtained from this profile is lies between 0.161Ω m to 26215Ω m and the depth of resistivity range is 0.264 m to 77.2 m.

Geoelectrical resistivity curve and layer table profile- III

Station name: Ayipettai latitude: (11o37'59" N) Station number: 14 longitude: (79o52' 33"E)

Station name: Mathuranthaganallur latitude: (11o35'20" N) Station number: 11 longitude (79o51'34"E)

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Station name: Mugaiyur latitude: (11o32' 36" N) Station number: 08 longitude: (79o50' 32" E)

Station name: Melanedumbur latitude: (11o30'18" N) Station number: 05 longitude: (79o49'43"E)

Station: Veeranatham latitude: (11o28'54"N) Station number: 02 longitude: (79o49'05"E)

Fig.7.VES Profile III

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Fig.8. Pseudo section and Resistivity section profile - III

The pseudo and resistivity section of profile –III (Fig.8) shows the range of resistivity value is lies between 0.161Ωmto 26215 Ωm, the resistivity value of 10 Ωm to 4217 Ωm indicates the presence of sedimentary deposit (sandstones). The depth of sandstone layer is 0 m to 50 m the geoelectrical resistivity value 08 Ωm to 750 Ωm indicates alluvium deposit the geoelectrical resistivity value 1.78 Ωm to 56.2Ωmindicates clay and the depth of clay layer is 52 m to 65 m and the resistivity value 10 Ωm to 56.2 Ωm indicates the fresh groundwater the depth of groundwater is35m to 52m.

Electrical resistivity Profile – IV

In this electrical resistivity profile -IV (Fig. 9) shows five stations they are Thathampettai Kezhanatham , Kodiyalam, Kezhanedumbur, and Melavaniyur. This profile was created in North to South direction and it is also located at downstream side of the Veeranam tank, 6 Km East to the main bund of the Veeranam tank. It is fully located in the main bund command of the Veeranamtank,in profile IV only one stations has four geoelectrical layers (Kezhanatham) and the remaining forur stations has three geoelectrical layers (Thathampettai, Kodiyalam, Kezhanedumbur, Melavaniyur).Graph and table 5.4 shows the results of profile-IV. The range of resistivity value obtained from this profile is lies between 0.147Ω m to 3508 Ω m and the depth of resistivity range is 0.33 m to 75.1 m.

Geoelectrical resistivity curve and layer table profile- IV Station name: Thathampettai latitude: (11o38'04"N) Station number: 15 longitude: (79o52' 57" E)

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Station name: Kezhanatham latitude: (11o35' 23" N) Station number: 12 longitude: (79o51'57"E)

Station name: Kodiyalam latitude: (11o32' 45"N) Station number: 09 longitude: (79o50' 58" E)

Station name: Kezhanedumbur latitude: (11o30'35"N) Station number: 04 longitude: (79o50' 08" E)

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Station name: Melavaniyur latitude: (11o29' 33" N) Station number: 03 longitude: (79o49'41"E)

Fig.9.VES Profile IV

Pseudo section and resistivity section profile - IV

The pseudo and resistivity section of profile –IV (Fig.10) shows the range of resistivity value is lies between 0.147Ωmto 3508 Ωm. the resistivity value of 10 Ωmto3728Ωm indicates the presence of sedimentary deposit (sandstones). The depth of sandstone layer is 5m to 60m the geoelectrical resistivity value 10Ω-m to 518Ω-m indicates alluvium deposit and the depth of alluvium deposit is 25m to 59m, the geoelectrical resistivity value 1.39Ω-m to 72Ω-mindicates clay and the depth of clay layer is 45m to 73m and the resistivity value 10Ω-m to 72Ω-m indicates the fresh groundwater the depth of groundwater is 45m to 60m.

Fig.10. Pseudo section and resistivity section profile - IV

Based on the Electrical resistivity survey result the subsurface characteristics of the study area were analyzed. In twenty VES stations only six stations has four geoelectrical resistivity layers and remaining stations has three geoelectrical resistivity layers. The range of resistivity value obtained from the survey was 0.147Ω-m to 26215Ω-m. It indicates the study area is come under the sedimentary deposit. In the study area top soil is clay, alluvium. Sandstone alluvium and clay area the major type of soil layers presented in the study area. In the study area all the VES stations and profiles has moderate groundwater potential comparing these four profiles profile I has very good groundwater potential 50m to72m, with the resistivity value of 10 Ω-m to 56.2 Ω-m, this profile is very near (1 Km) to the Veeranam tank. And profile III has very less depth 35m to 52m with the resistivity values range is 10 Ω-m to 56.2 Ω-m. In table 5.6 shows the depth of groundwater potential in all the profiles of the study area. The field data were interpreted and processed qualitatively and quantitatively by using partial curve matching techniques and computer to obtain the resistivity values of different subsurface layers and their corresponding thickness (Table 1).

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Table 1: The results of VES stations (1 to 20) of the study area.

VES Village ρ1 ρ2 ρ3 ρ4 h1 h2 h3

No - - 1 Elleri 0.298 55.3 1111 0.752 19.6

- - 2 Veeranatham 0.25 36.6 72.4 0.904 76.3

3 Melavaniyur 2.17 3.84 3508 - 3.26 19.6 -

4 Melanedumbur 0.657 18.6 1645 - 1.78 27.8 -

5 Kezhanedumbur 0.493 16 1918 - 0.817 18 -

6 Kollumedu 0.33 114 0.942 1356 0.732 0.399 6.52

7 Puthur 0.313 234 1.82 1211 0.824 0.281 5.42

8 Mugaiyur 0.61 0.236 26215 5.78 0.266 0.264 60.6

9 Kodiyalam 0.147 80.7 18 - 0.306 82 -

10 Narthangudi 0.295 9785 10.2 - 0.503 88.8 -

11 Mathuranthaganallur 1.38 502 502 - 2.24 3.36 -

12 Kezhanatham 2.2E+5 1.18 9.67 1529 0.33 0.926 27.3

13 ParathurSavadi 1.36 8.92 3246 - 1.03 21.6 -

14 Ayipettai 0.451 38.1 1434 - 1.11 77.09 -

15 Thathampettai 0.545 253 40.8 - 1.12 75.1 -

16 Karunaganallur 0.301 85.9 940 - 0.669 99.1 -

17 Agaraputhur 0.307 4955 54.7 - 0.617 60 -

18 Pudaiyur 1.08 176 46.4 105 1.12 0.761 91.4

19 Vattathur 0.324 8963 4.91 - 0.586 1.07 -

20 Kothandavillagam 1.01 691 4.8 3392 0.883 0.693 8.25

Table 2: The results of Profiles (1 to 4) of the study area are shown below

Si. No Profile Number Resistivity Value in Ω-m Groundwater Potential depth in (m)

1 Profile I 10 - 56.2 50 – 72

2 Profile II 13.3 - 75 40 – 55

3 Profile III 10 - 56.2 35 – 52

4 Profile IV 10– 72 45 – 60

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Interpretation of Resistivity Data The interpretation of resistivity data is done in two stages, 1. Processing of data to get the geoelectric parameters in s of true resistivities, depth/thickness and 2. These parameters are used to infer the nature of surface lithology on the basis of the local geological knowledge and correlation studies.

Conclusion

The analysis of the interpreted result revealed the nature of subsurface and groundwater potential zones in the study area. The VES curve and multilayer geoelectrical sections were generated in the software for the all 20 VES stations. After that four VES profiles were created the profile I has five VES stations 20,19,18,17 and 16 in this profile located at foreshore command of the Veeranam tank and VES profile II has five VES stations they are VES station 13, 10, 7, 6, and 1. The profile III has five VES stations 14, 11, 8, 5, and 2, similarly profile IV also has five VES stations 15, 12, 9, 4, and 3 all the four profiles were created in North to South direction. In the resistivity survey of 20 VES stations has different types of resistivity value and the resistivity vale is 0.147Ω-m to 26215Ω-m. It indicates the study area is come under the sedimentary deposit. In the study area top soil is clay, alluvium. Sandstone alluvium and clay area the major type of soil layers presented in the study area. In the study area all the VES stations and profiles has moderate groundwater potential comparing these four profiles profile I has very good groundwater potential 50m to72m, with the resistivity value of 10 Ω-m to 56.2 Ω-m, this profile is very near (1 Km) to the Veeranam tank. And profile III has very less depth 35m to 52m with the resistivity values range is 10Ω-m to 56.2Ω-m. In table 5.6 shows the depth of groundwater potential in all the profiles of the study area. This study given the information about the subsurface characteristics and groundwater potential of the Veeranam command area and it was carried out in period of post monsoon and the tank has full capacity, we have to repeat the same survey procedure at the time of when the tank will empty for comparative study of groundwater assessment in the study area (Table 2).

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