Simulation of Shallow Basaltic Aquifer for Estimating Groundwater Resources in a Watershed of Central India

Abstract

Aquifer simulation is essential to understand the groundwater resources and its sustainable manageme nt. We have simulated the shallow basaltic aquifer of a watershed in central India acquiring the field data                  using Visual Modflow ver. 3.1.0. The models are run in the steady state of year 2012, and also in the transient state during year 2012 -14. The results indicate that the calibrated water level at the selective sites is matched with the obse rved water level in the steady state. The simulated well hydrogra phs of the transient state are also reasonably matched with the observed well hydrographs. In the shallow aquifer, groundwater flows from the west to north -east direction with the velocity range of 0.01 to 0.76 m/d. An average overall input to the shallow aquifer system is ~48.01 MCM. The pumping of the shallow aquifer is estimated to be around 35.92% of the rainfall recharge. The simulated rainfal l reserve in the flow model is compared with the results obtained from the GEC norms and information -based model. It indicates that the rainfall reserve is nicely matched with the GEC norms but it is under -estimated compared to the information-based model. This study will support to the decision makers for the management of groundwater resources in this study area.