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Spatial Variability of Groundwater Depth and Quality Parameters in the National Capital Territory of Delhi

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Abstract

The groundwater quantity and quality scenario is of much concern in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India, which necessitates an investigation to envisage the extent of spatial variability of groundwater depth and pollutant concentration levels in this region. Therefore, in this study, an effort was made to generate the spatial variability map of groundwater depth and quality parameters (viz. chloride, electrical conductivity, fluoride, magnesium, and nitrate). Ordinary kriging was used to analyze the spatial variability of groundwater depth and quality parameters, whereas indicator kriging was used to analyze groundwater quality parameters equal to or greater than the pollution threshold values. It was observed that the semivariogram parameters fitted well in the exponential model for water depth and in the spherical model for water quality parameters. The generated spatial variability maps indicated that in 43% of the study area, groundwater depth was within 20 m. The salinity level was higher than 2.5 dS m−1 in 69% of the study area and the nitrate concentration exceeded 45 mg l−1 in 36% of the area. The probability maps showed that about 24% of the area had the highest probability (0.8–1.0) of exceedence of the threshold electrical conductivity value and an area of 2% exhibited the highest probability of exceedence of the threshold value of nitrate concentration in the groundwater. The generated spatial variability and probability maps will assist water resource managers and policymakers in development of guidelines in judicious management of groundwater resources for agricultural and drinking purposes in the study area.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the help rendered by Dr. G. C. Saha, Officer in Charge, State Unit Office, Delhi, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), for providing groundwater table depth and quality data of the NCT for the desired period to undertake the analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Agricultural Engineering, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India

    J. P. Dash

  2. Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India

    A. Sarangi & D. K. Singh

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  1. J. P. Dash
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  2. A. Sarangi
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  3. D. K. Singh
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Correspondence to A. Sarangi.

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Dash, J.P., Sarangi, A. & Singh, D.K. Spatial Variability of Groundwater Depth and Quality Parameters in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Environmental Management 45, 640–650 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9436-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9436-z

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