International Journal of Scientific Reports

Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

http://www.sci-rep.com pISSN 2454-2156 | eISSN 2454-2164

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20205493
Original Research Article

Identification of ground water recharge potential zones by using remote

sensing and geographic information system
Ballu Harish*, Mahammad Haseena

CSIT-IST-JNTUH, Kukatpally, Telangana, India

Received: 27 August 2020

Revised: 11 December 2020
Accepted: 16 December 2020

*Correspondence:
Dr. Ballu Harish,
E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Background: The ground water is the most precious and important resource around the world and is decreasing day
by day. In connection, there is a need to bound the potential groundwater zones. The geographical information system
(GIS) and remote sensing techniques have become important tools to locate groundwater potential zones.
Methods: This research has been carried out to identify ground water potential zones in Nuthankal Mandal with help
of GIS and remote sensing techniques. In order to evaluate the ground water potential zones, different thematic maps
such as geology, slope, soil, drainage density map, land use and land cover and surface water bodies i.e., lakes and
other using remotely-sensed data as well as toposheets and secondary data, collected from concern department. The
prepared layers are further used for mapping and identification of ground water potential zones.
Results: In this study ground water potential zones are demarked with the help of composite maps, which are
generated using GIS tools. The accurate information to obtain the parameters that can be considered for identifying
the ground water potential zone such as geology, slope, drainage density and lineament density are generated using
the satellite data and survey of India (SOI) Topo-sheets, the groundwater potential zones are classified into five
categories like very poor, poor, moderate, good & very good. The use of suggested methodology is demonstrated for a
selected study area in Nuthankal Mandal.
Conclusions: This groundwater potential information was also used for identification of suitable locations for
extraction of water.

Keywords: GIS software (ArcMap 10.6), SOI Topo-sheets, Cartosat DEM data, Ground water data

INTRODUCTION and higher unfaltering quality measurement, considered

as a basic wellspring of giving strong new water in urban
Ground water is the surface water that saturates the and country regions.3
ground through a procedure called invasion. Creating
populaces in rough territory regions have a fundamental Groundwater is the biggest accessible wellspring of new
need to discover new groundwater in that limit territories water lying underneath the ground and comprises a
normally in general need unending surface water.1 GIS is significant hotspot for different purposes like household
a fruitful instrument for gathering, putting away, needs, flexibly for businesses and for horticulture and so
changing, recovering, showing and investigating spatial on. Also, due to over abuse the accessibility of
Information from this current reality for explicit groundwater is decreasing steeply.
customer.2 Ground water is an essential hotspot for
businesses, networks and rural utilizations on the planet Other than focusing on groundwater possible zones, it has
and as a result of its newness, manufactured blends, now gotten pivotal to target revive zones for counterfeit
consistent temperature, cut down pollution coefficient energize so as to safe watchman the future.4

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 Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

Counterfeit energizing structures are one of the were assigned according to their influence for soil (40%),
successful strategies for the administration of land use/land cover (25%), drainage density (10%),
groundwater assets. Since the eighteenth century rainfall (10%), lineaments (5%) and slope (10%). The
onwards, groundwater capacity structures like lakes, resulting maps presents the ground water potential zones
channels, and supplies have been utilized to store surface in terms of very good (3.91 km2), good (22.27 km2), fair
water all over India, however it is neither completely (25.65 km2), moderate (22.31 km2) and poor zones (1.23
logical nor geographic area based. So as to evade these km2).
issues in distinguishing the groundwater revive zones, the
ongoing geospatial advancements like remote sensing and The result depicts the groundwater potential zones in the
GIS could be utilized with generally precise results.5 study area and found to be helpful in better planning and
management of groundwater resources.10
GIS strategies can be utilized for giving ground water
quality zones to various utilizations, for example, water Integration of remote sensing data and the GIS for the
system, household needs. GIS can likewise be utilized to exploration of groundwater resources has become a
get ready layers of guides dependent on water quality and breakthrough in the field of groundwater research, which
availability.6 assists in assessing, monitoring, and conserving
groundwater resources. In the present paper, various
Depending on the seasonal rainfall GWS recharge rate is groundwater potential zones for the assessment of
changed from one spatial location to other and also over groundwater availability in Then district have been
usage of ground water also make changes in recharge of delineated using remote sensing and GIS techniques.
ground water. The unbalanced recharge and usage of Survey of India toposheets and IRS-1C satellite imageries
ground water cause depletion of groundwater from year are used to prepare various thematic layers viz. lithology,
to year.7 slope, land-use, lineament, drainage, soil, and rainfall
were transformed to raster data using feature to raster
Remote sensing and geographical information system converter tool in ArcGIS. The raster maps of these factors
(RS-GIS) have become a leading tool for modeling and are allocated a fixed score and weight computed from
mapping of groundwater resources. An attempt has been multi influencing factor (MIF) technique. Moreover, each
made to delineate the groundwater potential zones of weighted thematic layer is statistically computed to get
Puruliya district using the integrated RS-GISand AHP the groundwater potential zones. The groundwater
techniques. All the themes and their features have been potential zones thus obtained were divided into four
assigned weights according to their relative importance categories, viz., very poor, poor, good, and very good
and their normalized weights were calculated after the zones. The result depicts the groundwater potential zones
hierarchicalranking.8 in the study area and found to be helpful in better
planning and management of groundwaterresources.11
Several methods are used for mapping of ground water
zones. The parameters that are used for controlling Integration of remote sensing and GIS has become a
groundwater zones are soil, drainage density, land breakthrough in the field of groundwater studies. The
use\land cover, geology, geomorphology, rainfall, slope, demand for water is increasing exponentially each year
and contour. Groundwater mapping techniques are showing an increase in dependence on groundwater
described and derived from satellite remote sensing and sources as surface water sources are no longer satisfying
additional data sources. This technique includes both the demand. The present study attempts to identify the
conventional methods and advanced methods. The potential recharge zones and locations for artificial
thematic layers are used for mapping and identification of recharge structures in Amaravathy Basin, Tamil Nadu.
groundwater potential analysis. The importance of each Weighted overlay analysis tool in Arc GIS application is
thematic layer and its weight is discussed for the location used to identify the areas. The input data for this analysis
groundwater potential zones using groundwater are different layers like geology, geomorphology, soil,
conditions. This groundwater potential information will rainfall, land use-land cover, soil lineament density and
be useful for effective identification of appropriate drainage density. The result depicted the groundwater
locations for extraction of water.9 potential zones into four categories, viz., good, moderate,
low and poor that and can be used for better planning and
The various thematic maps are boundary, drainage, management of groundwater resources. Various
digital elevation model (DEM), drainage density, slope, groundwater recharge structures like boulder dams, check
soil, lineaments, land use/land cover, rainfall maps. The dams, percolation tanks, recharge pits etc., were
DEM has been generated from the 20 m contour interval suggested in appropriate locations of Amaravathy Basin
contour lines derived from SOI toposheets. The Slope according to the derived results.12
map has been prepared from DEM. These maps have
been overlaid in terms of weighed overlay method using The main objective of this study is to identify ground
Spatial Analysis tool in Arc GIS 9.3. During weighed water potential zones in Noothankal Mandal by using RS-
overlay analysis, the ranking has been given for each GIS tools.
individual parameter of each thematic map and weights

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 Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

Study area to 3.6 observed as moderate ground water potential zone

and covers area 35.388 km2, the area having slope 5º to
Nuthankal Mandal (Figure 1) is located in the GPS 10º, drainage density 3.6 to 4.8 observed as poor ground
coordinates of latitude: 17 °20’13.8’’N to 17°19'23.7"N water potential zone and covers area 24.7685 km2 and the
and longitude: 79°41'35.2"E to79°42'06.6"E. area having slope 10º to 15º, drainage density 4.8 to 6
observed as very poor groundwater potential zone and
covers area 12.384 km2. This ground water potential
information will be useful for effective identification of
suitable locations for extraction of water.

DISCUSSION

General

The ground water potential map can be predicted by the

investigation of different physical features i.e., geology,
land use/land cover, soil, drainage density, confirms by
utilizing merging proof idea, other than the collateral data
Figure 1: Study area. acquired from State ground water department. The
ground water potential map gives the accessible quantum
METHODS of ground water. This map is portrayed into zones
showing up great, moderate, poor and extremely helpless
ground water likely regions. The precise good and
From Figure 2 to by interpolating the primary data (SOI
moderate zones speak to zones with sufficient ground
toposheets and satellite imagery), collateral data obtained
water assets, poor and very poor speak to zones where
from the ground water department and by using GIS and
unnecessary with drawls may prompt ground water
remote sensing tools results to recommend sites for
exhaustion. The penetration map is readied dependent on
artificial recharge structures.
essential and auxiliary porosity of the geological
conditions.

Drainage and drainage density map

Drainage network helps in delineation of watershed

structures. Drainage density and type of drainage gives
information related to runoff, infiltration and
permeability.

The study area consists of dendritic drainage shown in

Figure 3 (A), indicates homogenous rocks or soil.
Drainage pattern reflects surface characteristics as well as
subsurface formation and follows 4th order drainage
pattern shown in Figure 3 (C). Measure of average
length of stream channel for entire basin. The Strahler
number or Horton-Strahler number of a mathematical tree
Figure 2: Methodology flow charts.
is a numerical measure of its branching complexity.
The Strahler stream order is used to define stream size
RESULTS
based on a hierarchy of tributaries.
The study reveals that integration of five thematic maps such as
drainage density, slope, geology, lineament density and land Low drainage density is more likely to occur in region
use/ land cover give first-hand information to and highly resistant of highly permeable soil material
local authorities and planners about the areas suitable for under dense vegetation and where relief/slope is low.
groundwater exploration. The given study area is classified into High drainage density is the resultant of weak or
excellent, good, moderate, poor and very poor groundwater impermeable subsurface material, vegetation and
potential zones and indicated in Figure 8. Area having drainage mountainous relief. Low drainage density leads to coarse
density 0 to 1.2, slope 0º to 1º that means it is plain surface soil texture while high drainage density leads to fine soil
and cover with crop land is observed as excellent groundwater texture. The drainage density characterizes the runoff in
potential zone and covers an area 17.694 km2, the area having
an area or in other words, the quantity of relative
slope 1º to 3º, drainage density 1.2 to 2.4 is observed as good
rainwater that could have infiltrated. Hence the lesser the
ground water potential zone and covers an area of 25
drainage density, the higher is the probability of recharge
km2, the area having slope 3º to 5º, drainage density 2.4
or groundwater potential zone. A drainage basin is a

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 Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

natural unit draining of water to a common point. porosity i.e., lesser permeability. Loamy soils have good
The Nuthankal Mandal map consists of water bodies, infiltration of water. The different types of soils available
rivers, perennial and ephemeral streams, tributaries, in that area are fine soils, calcareous soils, loamy soils.
ponds. The study area is fourth Very fine Calcareous soil covers 74% of the area, Loamy
order basin joining rivers, tributaries base topography soil covers 18.9% of the area and Fine soil cover 7.1% of
depicted in Figure 3 (B). the area. The results are in loamy soil permeability is
very high, fine soil permeability is medium to moderate.
In very fine calcareous soils permeability is poor.

Land use/land cover

Land use/land cover plays an important role in the

development of groundwater resources. It controls many
hydro geological processes in the water cycle i.e.,
infiltration, evapo-transpiration, surface runoff etc. Land
cover provides roughness to the surface, reduce discharge
thereby increases the infiltration. In forest areas,
A B infiltration will be more and runoff will be less whereas
in urban areas rate of infiltration may low. From the land
use point of view, Agricultural lands are an excellent site
for groundwater potential. Built up land is given a low
score because of the influenced revive of the groundwater
system by hindering precipitation through the springs.
C
The Figure 4 (B) shows Nuthankal Mandal and it mostly
consists of crop land followed by water bodies, built up
Figure 3: (A, B and C) land, waste land. Nuthankal Madal is consists mostly of
forest land, moderately water body and built-up land, less
The entire drainage map is divided into five categories waste land.
they are very low, low, medium, high and very high
which means the land has very less drainage density,
less drainage density, moderate drainage density, high
drainage density & very high drainage density
respectively. The drainage density of the Nuthankal
Mandal is shown in Figure 3 (B) and the drainage
density classification in terms of values as very less
drainage density (0-1.2), less drainage density (1.2-
1.4), moderate drainage density (1.4-3.6), high
drainage density (3.6-4.8) and very high drainage
density (4.8-6) in terms of km/km2 are shown in
Table 1.

Table 1: Drainage density category. B

A
Drainage density
Class Density (km2) Figure 4: (A and B)
category
1 0-1.2 Very Low
2 1.2- 2.4 Low Slope characteristics
3 2.4-3.6 Moderate
4 3.6-4.8 High Slope is one of the important earth parameters which are
5 4.8-6 Very High explained by horizontal spacing of the contours. In
general, the vector form closely, spaced contours
Soil distribution represent steeper slopes and scanty contours exhibit
gentle slope whereas in the elevation output raster every
cell has a slope value. The Cartosat DEM data were used
Figure 4 (A) showing that the Nuthankal Mandal consists
to derive the slope map, which is presented in terms of
of (14) villages and soils have been divided into different
percentage using the ‘slope’ function in ArcGIS 10.6. It
groups namely Fine soils, calcareous soils, Loamy soils.
was then converted from slop to raster format and
Each soil has its own attributes. Ground water depends on
reclassified into different slope classes using re-classify
the particular variables like soil vulnerability and
option in the spatial analyst tool in ArcMap 10.6. Ranks
porosity, etc. Clayey soils have more voids and less
were assigned for each class of the slope map. Here, the

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 Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

lower slope values indicate the flatter terrain (gentle the rainy seasons in Nuthankal Mandal. So that the
slope) and higher slope values indicated to steeper slope ground water table is high in those months that means
of the terrain. In the elevation raster, slope is measured by seepage of water is more in those months due to
the identification of maximum rate of change in value rainfall. Figure 6 (A) shows the water table levels in
from each cell to neighboring cells. The slope values are every month from 2011 to 2019.
calculated either in percentage or degrees in both vector
and raster forms. The slope amount derived from Ground water data of Maddirala village from 2011 to
digitized contours and spot heights have shown the 2019: Maddirala is one of the Village in Nuthankal
average elevation with slope 0º to 10º in flat and Mandal. Ground water data collected from the year
mountainous areas respectively. Figure 5 shows the slope between 2011 to 2019 i.e., 9 years. The graph shows that
conditions. in the month of May, June and July the ground water
level is more compared to other months. May to July are
In the almost level slant territory (0-1) degree, the surface the rainy seasons in Nuthankal Mandal. So that the
overflow is moderate permitting more opportunity for ground water table is high in those months that means
water to permeate and consider great groundwater seepage of water is more in those months due to rainfall.
expected zone, whereas solid incline zone (10-15) degree, Figure 6 (B) shows the water table levels in every month
ease high spillover permitting less living arrangement from 2011 to 2019.
time for water, thus similarly less invasion and helpless
ground water potential. The entire slope map of study Ground water data of Nuthankal Village from 2011 to
area is divided into five categories as in Table 2 and 2019: Nuthankal is one of the villages in Nuthankal
slope map is shown in Figure 5 as the nearly level surface Mandal. Ground water data collected from the year
(0-10), very gently sloping (1-30), gently sloping (3-50), between 2011 to 2019 i.e.,9years. The graph shows that
moderately sloping (5-100) and strong sloping (10-150). in the month of May, June and July the Ground water
level is more compared to other months. May to July are
the rainy seasons in Nuthankal Mandal.

So that the ground water table is high in those months

that means seepage of water is more in those months due
to rainfall. Figure 6 (C) shows the water table levels in
every month from 2011 to 2019.

A B

Figure 5: Slope maps of Nuthankal.

Table 2: Slope gradient categories.

Class Degree (0) Slope category C

1 0-1 Nearly level
2 1-3 Very gently sloping
3 3-5 Gently sloping Figure 6: (A, B and C)
4 5-10 Moderate sloping
5 10-15 Strong sloping Ground water potential zones: Ground water potential
zones in Nuthankal Mandal are classified as very good,
Ground water data of Dirsenapally village from 2011 to good, moderate, low and very low as shown in Figure 7
2019: Dirsenapally is one of the villages in Nuthankal and 14.72% area is in very good condition, 25% area is in
Mandal. Groundwater data collected from the year good condition, 29.41% area is moderate condition,
between 2011 to 2019 i.e.,9 years. The graph shows that 20.58% area is poor condition, 10.29% area is very poor
in the month of May, June and July the Ground water condition for groundwater storage as shown in Table 3.
level is more compared to other months. May to July are

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 Harish B et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2021 Jan;7(1):33-38

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11. Magesh NS, Chandrasekar N, Soundranayagam JP.
Author would like to T. Jayababu and CSIT department Delineation of groundwater potential zones in Theni
for their invaluable guidance and scholarly advice district, Tamil Nadu, using remote sensing, GIS and
imparted during this research work. I am also thankful to MIF techniques. China University Geosciences
those people who help in different stages of this work. (Beijing). 2012;3(2):189-96.
We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers and editors 12. Raviraj A, Kuruppath N, Kannan B. Identification of
for their valuable comments to improve the quality of the Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones Using
research article. Remote Sensing and Geographical Information
System in Amaravathy Basin. J Remote Sensing and
Funding: No funding sources GIS. 2017;6:4.
Conflict of interest: None declared
Ethical approval: Not required

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