SR-1/2000-01 : Status report on saltwater intrusion and groundwater management studies in Coastal and deltaic regions

Abstract

A fundamental question that confronts any engineer in coastal and deltaic areas is to efficiently manage water resources without any adverse affects from adjoining sea. The coastal aquifers are highly productive and have a sensitive balance with adjacent seawater. If the seawater intrudes into the freshwater aquifer due to increased pumpages then the water portability as well as its usefulness diminishes. Therefore a quantitative understanding of the patterns of movement and mixing between freshwater and saline water, and the factors that influence these processes become necessary to manage and protect these resources on a sustainable basis.

In south, India, there are several deltaic formations along the east coast. Coastal and deltaic environments are typically characterized by highly productive and alluvial aquifers involving use of surface water and ground water. Although the government policies have been for sustainable use of water resources, there is little control with groundwater, a common resource presently under private control. The government and institution funding agencies are primarily concerned with groundwater assessment, monitoring and evolving policy guidelines for drilling boreholes. There is a need to develop management models and evolve policy guidelines for optimal utilization of surface water and groundwater. With increasing population groundwater legalization involving policy instruments such as power pricing, subsidy, tax etc are inevitable. In the present report a literature review and status of seawater intrusion and groundwater management studies relevant to coastal and deltaic environment is presented for further studies. The report was prepared by Sh S V N Rao, Sc El.