Assessment of the Current Status and Future Prospects of Groundwater Resources in Hathras District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundwater is the principal source of drinking water and irrigation in Hathras District, Uttar Pradesh, located within the semi-arid tract of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain. Increasing agricultural intensification, population growth, land-use change, and climatic variability have placed considerable stress on the region’s groundwater resources. This study assesses the current status, temporal trends, water-quality conditions, and future prospects of groundwater in Hathras District using a decadal dataset (2014–2024) across five administrative blocks—Hathras, Sasni, Mursan, Sadabad, and Sikandra Rao. Groundwater-level trends for pre- and post-monsoon seasons were analyzed using non-parametric Mann–Kendall tests and Sen’s slope estimator, while key water-quality parameters including fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, nitrate, and iron were evaluated against BIS 10500:2012 drinking-water standards. Spatial analysis and groundwater-depth mapping were carried out using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, supported by rainfall records and land-use/land-cover (LULC) assessment. The results indicate statistically significant declining trends in groundwater levels across most blocks, with Sen’s slope values ranging from approximately 0.12 to 0.35 m/year during the pre-monsoon period, reflecting unsustainable extraction. Seasonal monsoonal recharge is found to be inadequate to offset annual withdrawals. Water-quality analysis reveals localized exceedances of fluoride and nitrate, posing potential risks to drinking-water safety. LULC analysis shows expansion of irrigated agriculture and built-up areas, contributing to increased groundwater abstraction and reduced recharge potential. Future scenario assessment suggests that continuation of current extraction practices may further exacerbate groundwater stress. The study recommends integrated aquifer management strategies, including targeted artificial recharge, adoption of micro-irrigation, crop diversification, and strengthened groundwater monitoring, to ensure long-term groundwater sustainability. The findings provide critical inputs for regional water-resource planning and sustainable groundwater governance in the Gangetic plain.