EVALUATION OF GROUND WATER POTENTIAL ZONES OF NAKKAVAGU CATCHMENT IN HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA BY USING

REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUE.

Dr. Ishrath

ABSTRACT:

Remote Sensing provides us the quick and useful prelimary information on

parameters controlling the occurrence and movement of Ground water like

geology, lithology, structure, geomorphology, landuse/landcover, drainage etc.

The present study , Nakkavagu catchment covering the total area of about 734

sq kms of Medak and Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad and falling under the

toposheet 56k/5 and 56k/6. Geologically the study area is underlain by Granites

of Archean Age. Occurrence of ground water is resistricted mostly to zones of

secondary porosity which developed due to the fractures, joint and weathering

the area traverse the NW-SE lineaments.

The morphometric parameters of the area is determined to derive the

general geomorphic characteristic of the basin Ground water potential units are

Pediplain Shallow (PPS) are Pediplain Moderate (PPM), Inselberg(I), Piediment

Inselberg Complex (PIC), Piedment(P) Residual Hill (RH) and Denudational Hill

(DH). From the above geomorphic units the Pediplan Shallow the recharge is

good and Ground water potential is more and in Pediplan Moderate the recharge

is moderate to good and in other geomorphic units the recharge is poor and

groundwater potential is very less.

Key Words: Remote sensing, GIS, Ground water, Potential zones, Recharge.

INTRODUCTION:

Ground water is mostly distributed resource on the earth. The world’s

total water resources are estimated at 1.37 x 10 8 million ha-m. Surprising global

water resources about 97 % is saline water, mainly in oceans, only 2.8 % is

available as fresh resources. The available surface water resources are

inadequate to meet the entire water requirement for various purposes. So the

demand for underground water has increased over the years. Generally

groundwater is less prone to pollution in comparison to surface water has

increased over the years.

Generally ground water is less prone to pollution in comparison to surface

water, hence ground water serves as an important source of water for various

purposes in rural and urban areas. Drinking water is supplied via surface and

groundwater resources all around the world (Dastanaie, et al., 2007).

In recent years the use of Satellite Remote sensing had made it easier to

define the spatial distribution of ground water prospects zones on basis of

geomorphology, hydrogeology and other associated features (Babar;

2001;2002;2010) Remote sensing satellite imageries provide the quick and

useful basic information on the parameters controlling the occurrence and

movement of ground water like geology, lithology, structural, geomorphology,

soils, landuse/land cover, lineaments etc.,

Study Area:

The study area is located in the West Central part of Andhra Pradesh

state and is bounded by Ranga Reddy District and lies between North Latitude

17º19' and 17º30' and East longitude 78º23' and 78º30' and forms part of Survey

of India Toposheet Nos. 56K/7 to 11.

Methodology:

The hydrogeological and geomorphological mapping was carried out on

1:50,000 scale alone the visual interpretation of IRS 1B and LISS III and

adequate ground truth. Drainage map (Fig 4) of Nakkavagu catchment was

prepared from Toposheet maps. This map was super imposed on satellite

imagery of same area. The imagery was visually interpretated by using standard

interpretation key such as color, tone, pattern of drainage, shape and topography

etc to prepare geomorphological map (Fig5). The conventional information such

as geological, hydrogeological, well inventory data and all the information is

collected during field checks were finally used in integrated maps for identifying

groundwater prospect zones. Ground water potential zones I;e geomorphological

units such as pediplain shallow (PPS), Pediplain Moderate (PPM) was

determined. The area is mostly underlain by red lateritic yellow sandy clay loams

and alluvial black soils. The laterite red soils are mostly derived form the laterite

capping over granitic complex and cover nearly 60-70% of the area.

Results and Discussions:

Geology of the Area: The area is underlain by Archaean crystalline complex,

comprising pink and grey granite and older metamorphic granite gneisses. The

metamorphic rocks are represented mainly by amphibolites and biotite schists.

The geological succession of the area is given in Table 1.

Table 1. Geological succession of study area

Quaternary

Age Formation

Recent

Alluvium

Younger

intrusive

Dolerite

dykes/Pegmatite/quartz

veins etc.

Archaean

Peninsular

gneissic

complex

Pink granite, grey

granite

Drainage: The area lies in the Nakkavagu a tributary of Manjira River and this

joins into the main river Godavari. River Manjira is a perennial river and

Nakkavagu and Pamlavagu are ephemeral origin and flows to their brim during

and after rains. The drainage patterns can be classifies into trellis, dendritic and

parallel type. The trellis and dendritic describes the grainitic terrain.(Fig 4).

Hydrogeology:

Hydrogeologicaly the area is divided into two areas viz hard rock area comprising

the Archeans and soft rock area comprised alluvium and laterites. Archean

occupy 79.39% , laterite occupies 20.63 % and Alluvium occupies 0.2 %. Ground

water occur under phereatic conditions in shallow weathered granite and under

semi confined conditions in fractured zones. The depth of water table varies

between 5.50 to 15.0 m bgl. Alluvial aquifers are very limited in extent and occur

about 20.0 sq km area. Alluvium is found to occur on either side of the rivers and

streams along narrow strip along Nakkavagu stream.

These are highly porus and permeable and have good water bearing

capacity. Lineaments are found to be better repositions of Ground water (Murthy

and Jayaram, 1996) Lineaments look as narrow linear features with dark tone

due to high moisture content and look red due to presence of vegetation.

Presence of lineaments in a geomorphic unit increases prospects of ground

water.

Geomorphic surfaces:

Landform mapping of an area is of great importance and provides insight to the

geomorphic evolution and hydrogeological conditions of the area. By delineating

geomorphic units of the area under investigation it is easy to study the

occurrence and movement of ground water depending mainly on landforms.

Based on visual interpretation of satellite imagery and field investigations the

entire area has been classified as

PEDIPLAIN

Pediplain shallow (PPS)

Pediplain Moderate (PPM)

Pediment Inselberg complex (PIC)

Inselberg (I)

Residual Hill (RH)

Denudational Hill (DH)

The term pediplain is most generally used to describe a series of coalescening

pediments (Thornbury 1954). Depending upon in situ conditions such as rock

type, topography, structural features and geomorphic features acted upon them,

the development of individual landforms units differ considerably. Based on

visual interpretation techniques like tone, textures, size, shape, vegetation, the

following pediplains have been identified:

1. Pediplain shallow (PPS)

The landscape unit is identified by its characteristic white to yellowish to light

red tone, medium to coarse texture with irregular shape on the satellite

image.This is a gently sloping surface of weathered pediplain with 0-10m thick

weathered material and usually covered with red soils. These landforms spread

the entire area .

2. Pediplain Moderate (PPM)

It is almost flat to gently undulating plain formed by the coalescence of several

pediments and varying in thickness of weathered material from 10 to 20m. This

landscape unit is identified by its light red to dark red with medium coarse

texture. Aquifer material is weathered and fractured rock. Weathering is not

uniform. If recharge is good ground water prospects are good.

3. Pediment Inselberg Complex (PIC)

It is a gently sloping smooth cut rock surface with or without thin veneer of soil

cover. Dotted with a number of small isolated hills called as inselberg, which

cannot be separated and mapped as separate units. These units are recognized

as straw yellow tone from the imagery. Recharge is poor. Aquifer material is

fissured rock. Ground water prospects limited as pediment part only. Ground

water prospects are poor.

4. Denudation Hill (DH)

Denudation hills are identified from the satellite imagery by its dark grey tone,

coarse grained texture with irregular shape. They occupy south western portion

of the investigated area. They are marked with sharp to blunt lines with rugged

tops indicating that the surface run off at the upper reaches of the hills caused rill

erosion. Dome shaped hills developed due to exfoliation and sheeting present in

massive igneous rocks. Primarily they consists of granites and gneisses

occurring as extensive massive elevated hill ranges. Recharge is poor. Aquifer

material is weathered rock at the foothill portions.

GROUND WATER PROSPECTS MAPS

Ground water prospects maps (Fig 6) are based on the lithology and

Geomorphological units and the structural maps.Based on the ground water

potentiality of each hydrogeomorphological untis they are classified as poor to nil,

very good to good, good, moderate to low and poor categories. From table 2

ground water prospects are very good to good. Fracture valley occurs along the

major river course, consisting primarily boulders, gravels sand, silt, clay detrital

bedrock, granites and gneisses. Ground water prospects are very good to good.

Pediplain moderately consists weathered granite gneissic rock. Ground water

prospects are good. Pediplain shallow consists of weathered granite and

gneissic rock, normally covered with red soils. Ground water prospects are

moderate to low. Buried pediplain shallow primarily consists weathered granites

and gneisses usually covered with thin red soil. Ground water prospects are

moderate. Pediment Inselberg Complex consists of granites and gneissic rock

exposures. Ground water prospects are moderate to poor. Denudation hill

primarily consists of extensive massive elevated hill ranges. Ground water

prospects are poor that to at the foot hill portion.

From the Ground water prospects point of view the lineaments present are

categorized as inferred and confirmed. Over all the ground water prospects are

good but due to the increase in pollution the area is totally polluted with the

chemical and the water rendered useless.

IDENTIFICATION OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE STRUCTURES USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

Artificial recharge may be defined as “Augmenting natural movement of

surface water into underground formations by some method of construction, by

spreading of water or by artificially changing natural conditions (Todd 1959). In

most situations artificial recharge projects not only serve as water conservation

mechanism, but also assist in providing subsurface storage of water for local

maintenance and augment the natural ground water recharge, conjunctive use of

surface and ground water reservoirs to overcome adverse conditions such as

progressive lowering of ground water levels, unfavorable salt balance and saline

water intrusion.

An integrated study by using Remote sensing techniques and GIS was

carried on with a view to identifying favorable recharge zones. To delineate

areas favorable for recharge and suitable structures various thematic maps such

as hydrogeomorpholoical, structural, drainage, geomorphological and land use/

land cover maps were prepared using IRS-1D satellite data and other collateral

information. Using ARC/INFO all the thematic maps were digitized integrate and

identified and delineated different zones of recharge such as highly favorable

moderately favorable poor zones. After ground truth verification, depending upon

the terrain conditions, land form, availability of water, land use, soil

characteristics, structural information recharge structures are suggested Table 2

for augmenting natural movement of surface water into underground water for

better management of surface and ground waters available in the study area.

Rain water Harvesting by percolation tanks, recharge pits and check dams Based on detailed analysis of the site conditions, landform, drainage, geology,

structure, hydrological conditions suitable recharge structures are suggested .

However, more detailed and specific studies have to be conducted keeping in

view of the pollutants and their migration. (Fig 5.6).

Percolation tanks (PT)

While suggesting percolation tanks the following aspects are considered.

Surface soil sufficiently permeable to maintain high infiltration rate.

Vadose zone permeable and free from clay layers or other fine materials

that could restrict downward flow of water.

Aquifer type must be unconfined, permeable and should have enough

thickness

Formation of sand , gravel or highly fractured rocks either under ground or

exposed over a large area or in stream channel.

Percolation tanks are suggested on the drainage in the hydro geomorphic units

PPM and PPS where there are fractures in order to increase the percolation of

stored water and to increase the soil moisture.

Recharge Pit (RP)

Recharge pits (RP’s) are suggested at drainage divides, where aquifer material is

weathered, fractured and fissured granites, having good to moderate infiltration

capacity with moderate runoff. The main purpose of recharge pit is to facilitate

percolation of stored water and increase soil moisture.

To construct an Recharge Pit the following conditions has to be considered:

Availability of land and topography

Hydrological conditions

Possible source of water for recharge

Economic consideration

The presence of fractured or faulted zones either underground or exposed

on the land surface or stream channels

The absence of barriers for horizontal or vertical movements of ground

water.

Check Dams (CD)

Check Dams (CD) are suggested to reduce runoff velocity and prevent the

erosion of overlying loose sediment and to extend irrigation facilities in lean

periods across the first and second order streams, where the aquifer material is

weathered and fractured. The hydro geomorphic units are PPS and PIC.

Temporary check dams are suggested to construct across the bed of gully of first

order stream to collect enough soil and water and to check channel erosion

Table 2 Recharge structures for Surface and Ground water management

Recharge Structures suggested

Geomorphic Unit Objectives

Recharge pit (RP)

PPM,PPS These are suggested at drainage divides where aquifer material is weathered, fractured and fissured granites in order to facilitate percolation of stored water and increase in soil moisture

Percolation Tank (PT)

PPM, PPS They are suggested on the drainage where there are fractures, good to moderate infiltration capacity with moderate runoff in order to increase the percolation of stored water and

increased in soil moisture.

Check Dams (CD)

PIC To reduce runoff velocity and prevent erosion of overlying loose sediments and to extend irrigation facilities in lean periods across the first and second order streams where the aquifer material is weathered,fissured and fractured rock.

Fig 1 Flow chart of Geographical Information systems

Data source and collection

Landsat 7 ETM data SOI Toposheet

Base Map

Existing Maps/ Collateral Data

Delineation of

structural

Units

Overlying of

Structural units

Visual Interpretation Base Map Preparation

Using SOI Sheets

Delineation of

Lithological units

Delineation of Landforms

Land Forms

Overlaying of

Lothological

Units

Preparation of final Map

Field verification

Preliminary Hydrogeomorphological map

Fig 2

Fig 3

Fig 4

Pedda Ch eru vu

Chel ima Kunta

Irla Kunta

Kotta Kunta

Makte Ku nta

Patel Cheruvu

Maktamahbubp et Tank

Patti Kunta

Kalva Cheruvu

Damara Cheruvu

Dub a Kunta Bamma Cheruvu

Sin gam Kunta

Darmi Ch eruvu

Rayasamud rm Ch eruvu

Aminpu r Cheruvu

Mallesh Kunta

Kaj i Cheru vu

N

Ta nk with Wa ter

Dry Ta nk

Ta nk Encrochment

Ta nk Bund

Stre am

Undefined Stream

Fra cture d Li ne ament - Inferr ed

Fra cture d Li ne ament - Confi rmed

LEGEND

20'

1 7

32'3 0"

17

29'

78 22 ' 30 "

17

30'

78 22 '30"17

35'

20'

17

30'

78 17 ' 30 "

17

29'

1 7

32' 30"

17

35'

78 17 ' 30 "

Medak & Ranga Reddy Dis tr icts. 56 K6 /SW & K 7/NW

DRAINAGE MAP

Met res 1000 0 1 2 3Kilometres500

250 m to 1 cm 2 cm t o 1 km

Fig 5

GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL

SEQUENCEMAP SYMBOL

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL

UNITS

GROUNDWATER

PROSPECTS

Dolorite Intrus ives

RecentR ecent

Alluvium

Gra

nit

es

& G

neis

ses

Pen

insu

lar

Gn

eis

sic

Co

mp

lex

DH

I

PD

PIC

PPM

PPS

RH

Pediplain Shallow

Pediplain Moderate

Pediment Inselberg

Comple x

Pediment

Inselberg

Res idual H ill

Denudational Hill

A qu ifer ma te ria l u nc o nso l id ated se dime n t of

gr avel, san d , s il t & detrital m aterial dep os ited

in na rro w elo n gate d s tr uc tu ra l va lley . Re ch arg e

is go o d .

A qu fe r m aterial is w eathere d an d fr actu red .

Rec ha rge is m od e rately goo d .

Sucess ra te is low ped im en t act a s ru n -o ff zone .

Prosp ects l im ited to pe dime nt pa rt on ly .

Rec ha rge is p o o r.

Inselb erg act a s b arrier zo n e. H en ce , there is

no recha rg e.

Ru n -o ff Z on e.

LEGEND

BASE DETAILS

Built-up Area

State Highway (SH)

Metalled Road

Distr ic t Boundary

Taluk Bounda ry

Village Boundary

Railway Line

Tank with Water

Dry Tank

Tank Encrochment

Tank Bund

Stream

Undefined Stream

Fractured Lineament - Inferred

Fractured Lineament - Confirmed

DRAINAGE DETAILS

Recharge Pit

Check dam

Ü

Percolation Tank

RECHARGE STRUCTURES

JAMMU & KASHMIR

PUNJAB

HIMACHAL

ANCHALHARYANA

UTTAR PRADESHRAJASTHAN

GUJARAT MADHYA PRADESH

MAHARASHTRA

ANDHRA PRADESH

KARNATAKA

TAMILNADUKERALA

CHATTISGARH

ORISSA

BIHAR

JHARKHANDBENGAL

Pondicherry

ASSAM

Andaman andNicobar ISLANDS

DELHI

Goa

DAMANDIU

SIKKIM

NAGALAND

MANIPUR

MIJORAMTRIPURAMEGHALAYA

WEST

PRADESHARUNACHAL

PRADESHUTTAR

ANDHRA PRADESHANDHRA PRADESH

Ind ia

LOCATION MAP

HYDER ABAD

Adilabad

NizamabadKarimnagar

MedakWarangal

Khammam

Vishakhapat nam

East Godavari

Kri shna

Nalgonda

Mahabubnagar Gunt ur

KurnoolPrakasam

CuddapahNellore

Chittoor

Anantapur

Ranga Reddy

West Godavari

Sri kakulam

Vizianagaram

â

â

â

ââ

â

â

â

ââ

â

â

â

â

ââ

ââ

â

â â

â

Andhra Pra de sh

Medak

Ranga Reddy

Me da k & R.R. D ist ri cts

#

56 K6 SW &

56 K7 NW

N

Landsat 7

Spot Image 2004

ETM Data

SOURCE

SO I Toposheet56 K/6/SW

&

56 K/7/NW

IMAGERY TOPOSHEET

GEOLOGICA L MAP GSI Un-Published Quarangle Maps

Kotta Kunta

Makte Ku nta

Patel Cheruvu

Mallesh Kunta

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

Kotta Kunta

Makte Ku nta

Patel Cheruvu

Mallesh Kunta

PPS

PPM

PPM

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

PD

DH

DH

RH

RH

RH

RH

RH

RH RH

RH

RH RH

RH

RH

RH

PPM

Pedda Cheruvu

Chelima Kunta

Ir la Kunta

Maktamahbubpet Tank

Aminpur Cheruvu

Patti Kunta

Kaji Cheruvu

Damara Cheruvu

Duba Kunta Bamma Cheruvu

Singam Kunta

Darmi Cheruvu

Rayasamudrm Cheruvu

Kalva Cheruvu

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

II

I

I

I I

I

II I

I

I II

Kri shna Reddypet Cheruv u

PPS

PD

PPS

PPM

DH

PPS

PD

PPS

PPM

PPM

PD PPS

PD

PD

PPS

PD

PD

PPS

PPS

DH

PPS

PPS

PPS

PD

RH

PPS

DH DH

PD

PPS PD

PPS

PD

PD

PPS

PPS

PPS

PPM

PPS

PIC

PPS

PPS

PPS

PD

PPS

PPS

PPS

RH

PD

PD

PPM

PPMPPM

PD

PP

M

PPS

PIC

PPSPD

PIC

PPM

PPM

PPM

PD

PD

RH

PD

PD

PPS

PPS

%%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Jankampet

Bamankunta

VADAGUPALLI

SULTANPUR

Dayara

Gandigudem

KAZIPALLI

MALLAMPE T

Gollagudem

KRISHNAREDDIPET

AYILAPURLambadi Tanda

BOLARUM

Bolarum Industrial Area

BACHUPALLI

Chimney

HMT Colony

MAKTAMAHBOBPET

MIANPUR

MIANPUR

BHEL TOWNSHIP

CHANDANAGAR COLONY

Diptisr inagar Colony

CHANDANAGARMADINAGUDEM

Allwyn Colony

Shamshiguda

Dubakunt a

Narregudem

RAMACHANDRAPURAM

Biramguda

NSL Colony

Bandamkommu

BHEL Colony

IskebaviAMINPUT

Maktamahabubpet

Jitapiradargah Colony

SHAMBUPURAM

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

GROUNDWATER PROSPECTS MAP

N

Medak & Ranga Reddy Dis tr icts.

78 17 ' 30 "

17

35'

1 7

32' 30"

17

29'

78 17 ' 30 "

17

30'

20'

17

35'

78 22 '30"

17

30'

78 22 ' 30 "

17

29'

1 7

32'3 0"

20'

56 K6 /SW & K 7/NW

Met res 1000 0 1 2 3Kilometres500

250 m to 1 cm 2 cm t o 1 km

References Babar Md (2001) Hydrogeomorphological studies by Remote Sensing application in Akoli Watershed (Jintur) Parbhani District. Maharastra, India. In Spatial Information Technology :Remote sensing and GIS ‘ICORG’ edited by IV Murali Krishna, vol.II pp. 137-143. Babar Md (2002) Application of Remote Sensing in hydrogeomorphological studies of Purana Basin in Parbhani District. Maharastra, India. Proceed. Vol. of International Symposium of ISPRS Commssion VII on Resource and Environment monitoring held during December 3-6 2002 vol.XXXIV part 7, pp. 519-523. Babar Md (2010) Hydrogeomorphological Mapping by Remote Sensing application in Terna sub basin, Latur Osmanabad Mahar.astra, India Proceed. Vol.3 of International Conference on Hydrology and watershed management held in Hyderabad during Feb 3-6 2010. vol II pp.1022-1030. Dastanaie, J.A.; Bidhendi, G.; Nasrabadi, T.; Habibi, R.; Hoveidi, H., (2007). Use of horizontal flow roughing filtration in drinking water treatment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 4 (3), 379-382. Thornbury, W.D. 1954: Principles of Geomorphology New York, Jon Wiley and Sons. Todd, D.K., (1980) : Ground water Hydrology, John Wiley and sons Newyork , pp.687.