Identification of Groundwater Potential Zones using Remote Sensing and GIS: a case study of watershed, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Water is one of the vital source for all livings beings for their survival. Water is needed for many activities like agriculture, industries, domestic, drinking and many other purposes. If we consider the earth as a whole, water covers the major portion of the earth. But among the total water on the earth, fresh water reserves are very less that is only 2.5%. Also the water availability is unevenly distributed all over the earth. The water availability changes from place to place and variation depends on many factors like geology, faults and fractures present, soil type, land use and land cover, rainfall etc. As the demands are increasing day by day, water is getting diminished at higher rate. It also plays a very important role in progressing one self and hence contributing to the progress of the nation. It is available in the form of groundwater and surface water. As the demands are increasing, along with the surface water and sub surface water is also being exploited at a high rate. Hence the study, analysis and management of groundwater have become very important. As the population of the planet earth is increasing at an alarming rate, water has to be used judiciously and wisely.The present study deals with the assessment of groundwater potential zones of major watershed comprising of 3 mega watersheds, Maharashtra, India. The study area covers an area of  about 534.388 sq.kms. Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) are used for the study. The thematic maps such as geomorphology, geology, land use land cover, DEM, slope, Lineament density, watershed, soil maps are prepared using Arc GIS Software 10.3.  RS and GIS provide precise and real time information of groundwater potential zones. All the other features like geology, geomorphology, and soil etc. helps in knowing ground water availability directly or indirectly. Finally delineated the groundwater potential zone like Very High, High, Moderate, Poor and Very Poor Potential Zone.