Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Groundwater Potential Zonation: A Case Study of Bori-Chikli Watershed, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Groundwater is important fresh water resource. It plays vital role in drinking as well as irrigation practices. In study area, majority of people doing agricultural practices and it’s directly reflected on groundwater draft. Geological features, landforms, drainage morphometry and landuse/landcover of any area control groundwater potential. Geologically, area is composed of massive and/or fractured and weathered basaltic flows (simple and compound) and small patches of sand, gravel and silt along major nallas with E-W, NW-SE and N-S trending dykes. Present research paper shows demarcation of groundwater potential zones using weighted overlay analysis in Bori-Chikli watershed of the Jalgaon district, Maharashtra state. The groundwater potential map is generated by integrating and overlaying of thematic layers/data (lithology, geomorphology, land used and land cover, slope, drainage etc.) using GIS platform. The results indicate that majority of area having poor to moderate groundwater potential zones. Remote sensing and GIS are advent tools used for groundwater potential zonation. The results provide significant information and maps to water policy maker as a base data to select the suitable sites for sustainable groundwater development and management.