Mapping groundwater recharge potential using GIS approach in Darwha block

Abstract

Groundwater is the most important source of water in meeting irrigation, drinking and other needs in India. Assessment of potential zone for its recharge is critical for sustainable usage, quality management and food security. This study reports alternative mapping of groundwater recharge potential of a selected block by including large scale soil data. Thematic layers of soil, geomorphology, slope, land use land cover, topographical wetness index and drainage density of Darwha block (District Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India) were generated and integrated in a geographic information system environment. The topographic maps, thematic maps, field data and satellite image were processed, classified and weighted using analytical hierarchical process for their contribution to groundwater recharge. The layers were integrated by weighted linear combination method in GIS environment to generate four groundwater potential zones viz., ‘poor, ‘poor to moderate’, ‘moderate to high’ and ‘high’. Based on the generated groundwater potential map, about 9830 ha (12%) of the study area was categorized as high potential for recharge, 25558 ha (31%) as poor to moderate, 33398 ha (40%) as moderate to high and 12565 ha (15%) as poor potential zone. The zonation corresponds well with the field data on greater well density (0.22/ha) and irrigated crop area (27 %) in ‘high’ potential zone as against 0.02 wells/ha and only 6 % irrigated area in ‘poor’ zone. The map is recommended for use in regulating groundwater development decisions and judicious expenditure on drilling new wells by farmers and the state authorities.