Quantifying the dynamics of sub-daily to seasonal hydrological interactions of Ganges river with groundwater in a densely populated city: Implications to vulnerability of drinking water sources.

ABSTRACT

Groundwater resources in South Asian cities are facing immense stress due to over-extraction leading to environmental, social and economic instabilities. The perennial mega rivers of Himalayas form the lifeline for South Asia, underpinning food and water security for a large population both directly and indirectly through exchange with groundwater systems. The present study delineates the spatio-temporal variation in patterns and processes of sub-hourly to annual-scale hydrological exchanges between the Ganges and its adjoining highly exploited aquifer in a urban-peri urban reach. Multivariate statistical analyses established river water-groundwater interaction in this region with ~40% loading of first principal component, i.e river water during monsoon on the shallow aquifer. The part of the aquifer detached from the main confined aquifer show an influence of precipitation (the second principal component) with loading of ~90%. Again the part of the aquifer suffering infiltration of local surface water bodies show effect of precipitation with a second principal loading of ~80%. Fourier transformation is used in the hydrograph to remove influence of heavy urbanization on the hydrographs. This study proves that the phenomenon of infiltrating river water during monsoon plays a primary role in controlling aquifer storage although contaminating the aquifer simultaneously. However, during pre and post-monsoon the flow path reversal helps in maintaining river baseflow. Cross-correlation between the river and piezometric series show increased delay of pressure head propagation of the infiltrating river waterfront, with increasing distance. These observations are also substantiated by stable isotope signatures. The present study provides an understanding of potential groundwater vulnerability resulting from waste water and irrigational contamination through river water intrusion which would eventually lead the government to implement proper water and environmental management policies towards availability of long-term sustainable water resources for the residents.