Abstract
Increasing demand of the irrigation water led to improper surface water irrigation policies resulting in water logging problems in southwest Punjab coupled with apprehension of saline zones formation by salinity ingression towards central Punjab due to excessive groundwater abstraction. A network of piezometers exploring 4 upper aquifers was constructed at 6 sites in Sri Muktsar Sahib district of south-west Punjab. Groundwater samples were collected from these piezometers, TDS was measured and analysed for stable isotopes (ẟ18O and ẟD). Based on isotope characterization 4 zones were identified as: (1) zone A: source as fresh water or precipitation (2) zone B evaporation either during precipitation or infiltration (3) zone C intermediate of evaporated and recycled water (4) recycled water. This study can be useful in proper management of the water resources in this region by identifying the fresh water and saline groundwater zones in the area.
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Funding received from Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab is duly acknowledged and is a part of CDP study awarded to the NIH by the department.
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Krishan, G., Vashisht, R., Sudarsan, N. et al. Groundwater salinity and isotope characterization: a case study from South-West Punjab, India. Environ Earth Sci 80, 169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09419-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09419-7