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A Geo-Environmental Analysis of the Groundwater Resource vis-a-vis Surface Water Scenario in Guwahati City

Neelkamal Das1 and Dulal C. Goswami1

1 Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014 India

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.8.2.13

Guwahati city is located on a unique geo-environmental setting with an interface of hills and valleys along with a prominent river front. The existence of various surface water sources, geo-hydrological set up and rainfall intensity play a significant role in the ground water regime of the city. However, rapid urbanisation of the city during the last few decades has altered the landscape of the city and disturbed the water retention capacity as well as the flow dynamics of various surface water sources, thereby affecting the infiltration rate to a great extent. Unprecedented rise in the population of the city has exerted more pressure on the various sources of water, particularly the groundwater resource. It has thus become imperative to utilise the various sources of water in a more systematic and scientific manner, giving due emphasis to the water requirement and the prevailing hydrological conditions of the area. Moreover, it is also observed that the city experiences an average annual rainfall of 162 cm with about 110 rainy days per year. The city thus has enough potential for harvesting the rainwater it receives, instead of allowing it to flow untapped.  Rainwater can be tapped and utilised to revive the various surface water sources of the city, thereby facilitating natural groundwater recharge, as surface water bodies like wetlands, lakes and ponds do act as potential groundwater recharge zones.

Ground water; Infiltration; Recharge; Surface water; Water table; Urbanisation

Copy the following to cite this article:

Das N, Goswami D. C. A Geo-Environmental Analysis of the Groundwater Resource vis-a-vis Surface Water Scenario in Guwahati City. Curr World Environ 2013;8(2) DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.8.2.13

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Das N, Goswami D. C. A Geo-Environmental Analysis of the Groundwater Resource vis-a-vis Surface Water Scenario in Guwahati City. Curr World Environ 2013;8(2). Curr World Environ 2013;8(2). Available from: http://www.cwejournal.org/?p=4471

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