Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater quality evaluation by electrical resistivity method for optimized tubewell site selection in an ago-stressed Thal Doab Aquifer in Pakistan

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modeling Earth Systems and Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rapid and unchecked growths of private tubewells in poor water quality zones of Punjab province, Pakistan are the major sources of environmental degradation through the deployment of agricultural stresses on the underlying aquifer. There are broadly two environmental menaces associated with these agricultural stresses, increase of non-point source pollution loads at the surface and instigation of problem of secondary salinity (SS). The present study is applied vertical electrical soundings with Schlumberger electrode configuration having maximum current electrodes separation 300 m to assess the potential of freshwater layer lying over the saline groundwater. Primarily, the collected earth’s resistivities were converted to groundwater quality using groundwater electrical conductivity (EC) from exploratory wells drilled at regular interval in the entire Thal Doab. Secondly, based on these EC values, the study area is divided into three different tubewell suitability classes as high, moderate and low with interpreted EC values as less than 1.5 dS/m, between 1.5 and 2.5 dS/m and greater than 2.5 dS/m, respectively. The spatial distribution maps of these suitability classes are done at six depth zones (0–50, 50–100, 100–150, 150–200, 200–250, 250–300 m). Results indicate that there is an inverse relationship between the surface water recharge and SS which should be used for both tubewell depth as well as site optimization and a check on their future growth rates. In this way the eco-friendly agricultural growth rates can be established in Tehsil Kot Adhu, Thal Doab, Pakistan and the other areas having similar hydrogeological conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akhter G, Hasan M (2016) Determination of aquifer parameters using geoelectrical sounding and pumping test data in Khanewal District, Pakistan. Open Geosci 8(1):630–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amos-Uhegbu C, Igboekwe MU, Chukwu GU, Okengwu KO, Eke TK (2014) Geoelectrical delineation and geochemical 2 characteristics of aquifer systems in Kwa-Ibo River 3 Watershed, Abia State, Nigeria. J Sci Res Rep 3:818–843

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashfaq M, Griffith G, Hussain I (2009) Economics of water resources in Pakistan. Pak TM Printers, Lahore

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogoslovsky VV, Ogilvy AA (1973) Deformations of natural electric fields near drainage structures. Geophys Prospect 21(4):716–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga ACO (2008) Estimation of the natural vulnerability of aquifers: a contribution from the resistivity and longitudinal conductance. Braz J Geophys 26:61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright K, Sherman FB (1972) Electrical earth resistivity surveying in landfill investigations. In Engineering geology and soils engineering symposium, proceedings of the 6th annual

  • de Lima OAL, Sato HK, Porsani MJ (1995) Imaging industrial contaminant plumes with resistivity techniques. J Appl Geophys 34(2):93–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farid H, Mahmood-Khan Z, Ali A, Mubeen M, Anjum M (2017) Site-Specific aquifer characterization and identification of potential groundwater areas in Pakistan. Pol J Environ Stud 26(1):17–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georgaki I, Soupios P, Sakkas N, Ververidis F, Trantas E, Vallianatos F, Manios T (2008) Evaluating the use of electrical resistivity imaging technique for improving CH4 and CO2 emission rate estimations in landfills. Sci Total Environ 389(2):522–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosal G (2004) Physical geography of the Punjab. JPS:19–37

  • Greenman DW, Swarzenski WV, Bennett GD (1967) Groundwater hydrology of the Punjab, West Pakistan with emphasis on problems caused by canal irrigation. US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper

  • Hussain Y (2014) Hydrogeophysical investigations and GIS vulnerability mapping of Kot Adhu, M. Phil. Thesis, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

  • Hussain Y, Ullah SF, Dilawar A, Akhter G, Martinez-Carvajal H, Roig HL (2016a) Assessment of the pollution potential of an aquifer from surface contaminants in a geographic information system: a case study of Pakistan. Geo Chicago 2016. Sustain Resil Geotech Eng. doi:10.1061/9780784480120.063

  • Hussain Y, Ullah S, Hussain M, Martinez-Carvajal H, Aslam A (2016b) Protective capacity assessment of vadose zone material by geo-electrical method: a case study of Pakistan. Int J Geosci 7(5):716–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain Y, Dilawar A, Ullah S, Akhter G, Martinez-Carvajal H, Hussain M, Aslam A (2016c) Modelling the spatial distribution of arsenic in water and its correlation with public health, Central Indus Basin, Pakistan. J Geosci Environ Protect 4(2):18–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain Y et al (2017) Modelling the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination in an unconfined alluvial aquifer in Pakistan. Environ Earth Sci 76(2):84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearey P, Brooks M (1984) An introduction to geophysical exploration. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford

  • Keller GV, Frischknecht FC (1970) Electrical methods in geophysical prospecting. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly WE, Stanislav M (1993) Applied geophysics in hyrogeological and engineering practice. Elsevier, Amesterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan MB, Khan MY, Khan MI, Akbar MT (2012) Quality of ground water for irrigation of Tehsil Kot Adu, District Muzaffar Garh Punjab, Pakistan. World Rural Obs 4(2):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan AD, Hagras MA, Iqbal N (2014) Groundwater quality evaluation in Thal Doab of Indus Basin of Pakistan. Int J Mod Eng Res 4(1):36–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreira CA, Munhoz T, Cavallari F (2015) Electrical resisitivity to detect zones of biogas accumulation in a landfill. Geofís Int 54(4):353–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreira CA, Lapola MM, Carrara A (2016) Comparative analyzes among electrical resistivity tomography arrays in the characterization of flow structure in free aquifer. Geofís Int 55(2):119–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosuro GO et al (2016) Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to leachate infiltration using electrical resistivity method. Appl Water Sci. doi:10.1007/s13201-016-0393-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickson RT, McArthur JM, Shrestha B, Kyaw-Myint TO, Lowry D (2005) Arsenic and other drinking water quality issues, Muzaffargarh district, Pakistan. Appl Geochem 20(1):55–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PCRWR (2014) Groundwater resources of Thal Doab, exploration, evaluation and management. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resource (PCRWR). http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk

  • Peinado-Guevara H, Green-Ruíz C, Herrera-Barrientos J, Escolero-Fuentes O, Delgado-Rodríguez O, Belmon-te-Jiménez S, Ladrón de Guevara M (2012) Relationship between chloride concentration and electrical conductivity in groundwater and its estimation from vertical electrical soundings (VESs) in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Ciencia e investi-gación agraria 39(1):229–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi AS, Shah T, Akhtar M (2003) The groundwater economy of Pakistan (19)

  • Sainato CM, Losinno BN (2006) Spatial distribution of groundwater salinity at Pergamino: arrecifes zone (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Revista Brasileira de Geofísica 24(3):307–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah ZUH, Ahmad Z (2015) Hydrochemical mapping of the Upper Thal Doab (Pakistan) using the geographic information system. Environ Earth Sci 74(3):2757–2773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah ZUH, Ahmad Z (2016) Hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Upper Thal Doab (Pakistan). Environ. Earth Sci 75(6):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma VP (1997) Environmental and engineering geophysics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sheriff ER (1989) Geophysical methods. University of Houston. Prentice Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikandar P, Bakhsh A, Ali T, Arshad M (2010) Vertical electrical sounding (VES) resistivity survey technique to explore low salinity groundwater for Tubewell installation in Chaj Doab. J Agric Res 48(4):547–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonkamble S (2014) Electrical resistivity and hydrochemical indicators distinguishing chemical characteristics of subsurface pollution at Cuddalore Coast, Tamil Nadu. J Geol Soc India 83(5):535–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan S (2013) Identification of groundwater potential zone by using GIS and electrical resistivity techniques in and around the Wellington Reservoir, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu, India. Eur Sci J 9(17):312–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Swartz JH (1937) Resistivity-studies of some salt-water boundaries in the Hawaiian Islands. Trans Am Geophys Union 18(2):387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Water and Power Development Authority (1981) Atlas—soil salinity survey of irrigated areas of Indus basin 41 million acres. Survey and Research Organization. Planning Division, WAPDA, Lahore

    Google Scholar 

  • Yadav GS, Dasgupta AS, Sinha R, Lal T, Srivastava KM, Singh SK (2010) Shallow sub-surface stratigraphy of interfluves inferred from vertical electric soundings in western Ganga plains, India. Q Int 227(2):104–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The first author is thankful to Mr. Naveed Iqbal (Scientific officer PCRWR) and Dr. A.D Khan (PCRWR) for providing usual information as well as guidance required for the analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil

    Yawar Hussain

  2. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil

    Sadia Fida Ullah

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Gulraiz Akhter

  4. College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Abdul Qayyum Aslam

Authors
  1. Yawar Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sadia Fida Ullah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gulraiz Akhter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Abdul Qayyum Aslam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yawar Hussain.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hussain, Y., Ullah, S.F., Akhter, G. et al. Groundwater quality evaluation by electrical resistivity method for optimized tubewell site selection in an ago-stressed Thal Doab Aquifer in Pakistan. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 3, 15 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-017-0282-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-017-0282-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation