TN-39 : Resistivity and SP techniques for study of groundwater pollution

Abstract

Surface geoelectrical methods are now a days increasingly applied in solving a range of hydro geological problems involving both quantity and quality issues, particularly in the problem of detecting and monitoring ground water contamination. While much of this work can be done by monitoring wells alone, the cost of such a program is often prohibitive. Electrical geophysics has proven to be helpful in mapping contaminants and in optimizing the location of monitoring wells.

In this report the two category of methods for detection and analysis of groundwater contamination, viz. hydro geochemical and geophysical methods have been briefly outlined. Considering their low cost of operation and faster coverage, the geophysical methods are preferred during regional surveys, especially for monitoring of contaminant plume before it reaches the groundwater. This report focuses on the fundamental principles of geophysical surveying for pollution and protection studies. Geoelectrical methods, in particular resistivity and S.P. methods, have been reviewed in detail covering some Indian as well as foreign case-histories.