Envisaging the Sustainability of an Aquifer by Developing Groundwater Flow Model for a Part of ChoutuppalMandal, Nalgonda District, Telangana, India

Abstract

Recurring droughts and increased exploitation of groundwater to meet the growing water needs have resulted in the decline of regional groundwater level and dry, weathered zone in a part of the Choutuppal Mandal, Nalgonda district, Telangana, India. A groundwater model has been developed using an inventory of 20 observation wells for future pumping schemes to evolve a classic interface (Build: 4.6.0.168) of available wells. The developed model has been reviewed using Visual MODFLOW, and a base map is prepared for the sub-surface structure. The area spreading about 0.43 km2is conceptualized as a two-layered model consisting of a weathered layer overlying a fractured aquifer. The model has been digitized into grids of 5m×5m in each layer. The integrated finite difference method has been utilized to discretize the groundwater flow equation and simulate groundwater flow with the help of calculated parameters along with the boundary conditions and acting stresses. Results show that the computed groundwater levels are in good agreement with the observed heads, and groundwater is flowing from the South to the North direction. The estimated velocities vary from 0.01 to 1.95 m/d. The optimum pumping schemes have also been simulated up to the year 2022. It has been observed that the maximum pumping rate should not go beyond 24m3/day. Since the drinking water demand(10-15m3/day) in the study site is below this limit, it can be inferred that the aquifer will sustain and provide enough drinking water.

Assessment of the Groundwater in Erbil Basin with Support of Visual MODFLOW

“…The study may explore factors influencing groundwater flow, such as geological characteristics, land use patterns, and climatic conditions. The results of this research could provide valuable insights for local authorities, policymakers, and communities, contributing to informed decisions regarding water resource management and sustainability in the specified area [4]. Also, another study used investigates strategies and practices for the sustainable utilization of groundwater in the specified region.…”