The Application of Geophysical Methods in Identification of Subsurface Fractures in The Vicinity of a Poor Performance Percolation Tank

Abstract

Percolation tanks are constructed to conserve the rainwater in large quantities and allow more infiltration in its area of influence. Sometimes due to heavy fracture concentration/thick weathered zone, the water in percolation tank migrates fast in short period and tank becomes dry, which leads to early scarcity conditions. The village karkatta of taluka and district Latur is one such village, where water is provided by constructing two wells in the vicinity of percolation tank. The water level in the percolation tank depletes fast and the tank becomes dry in early summer. Also one cement nala bandhara was constructed in the downstream of the nala. The village is funded by UNICEF to implement MUS (Multiple Water Users) project. The area is surveyed by applying both electrical resistivity methods and low frequency electromagnetic methods in submergence of tank as well as in the downstream of percolation tank. The studies reveal that the leakages are due to thick vesicular basalt followed by fractured massive basalt. Suitable remedial measures are recommended to slow down the subsurface flow so as to improve the performance of the percolation tank.