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Identification of fresh groundwater areas in the Central Godavari Delta region, Andhra Pradesh, India – an integrated approach


Affiliations
1 Central Ground Water Board (Government of India), Hyderabad 500 068, India; Department of Geology, Adikavi Nannaya University, Rajahmundry 533 296, India
2 Central Ground Water Board (Government of India), Bengaluru 560 102, India
3 Department of Geology, Adikavi Nannaya University, Rajahmundry 533 296, India
 

Groundwater is vital and dependable source of water for drinking, agriculture and industries. The Central Godavari Delta of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, is composed of alluvium wherein fresh and saline pockets exist together in close proximity. The present study is to identify freshwater pockets using geomorphological, land-use/land-cover, geophysical and geochemical analysis. Groundwater samples are analysed for electrical conductivity which revealed that about 35% of area is occupied by freshwater pockets in the north western and eastern parts. Vertical electrical sounding data inferred that resistivities less than 5 ohm-m is clay/sand with saline water; 5–10 ohm-m sandy clay and 10–75 ohm-m corresponds to freshwater zone. Freshwater pockets at depths greater than 8 m observed in northern part and shallower depths in southern parts. This integrated study proved successful in identification of fresh groundwater pockets in the delta region.

Keywords

Delta regions, electrical conductivity, fresh groundwater zones, geomorphology, vertical electrical sounding.
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  • Identification of fresh groundwater areas in the Central Godavari Delta region, Andhra Pradesh, India – an integrated approach

Abstract Views: 267  |  PDF Views: 125

Authors

T. Rajababu
Central Ground Water Board (Government of India), Hyderabad 500 068, India; Department of Geology, Adikavi Nannaya University, Rajahmundry 533 296, India
P. H. P. Reddy
Central Ground Water Board (Government of India), Bengaluru 560 102, India
Y. Srinivasa Rao
Department of Geology, Adikavi Nannaya University, Rajahmundry 533 296, India

Abstract


Groundwater is vital and dependable source of water for drinking, agriculture and industries. The Central Godavari Delta of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, is composed of alluvium wherein fresh and saline pockets exist together in close proximity. The present study is to identify freshwater pockets using geomorphological, land-use/land-cover, geophysical and geochemical analysis. Groundwater samples are analysed for electrical conductivity which revealed that about 35% of area is occupied by freshwater pockets in the north western and eastern parts. Vertical electrical sounding data inferred that resistivities less than 5 ohm-m is clay/sand with saline water; 5–10 ohm-m sandy clay and 10–75 ohm-m corresponds to freshwater zone. Freshwater pockets at depths greater than 8 m observed in northern part and shallower depths in southern parts. This integrated study proved successful in identification of fresh groundwater pockets in the delta region.

Keywords


Delta regions, electrical conductivity, fresh groundwater zones, geomorphology, vertical electrical sounding.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv122%2Fi9%2F1051-1057