The quest for water for all purposes in life has drifted from ordinary search for surface water to ground water through boreholes with the advent of technology. Rapid industrialization, population growth, agricultural related activities and natural climatic imbalance has forced mankind into overexploitation of natural resources, of which groundwater is one of the vital commodity. Groundwater in lithological formations is generally identified by several physical parameters of the subsurface which are determined by geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity methods, seismic methods, magnetic methods, gravity methods etc. By and large, vertical electrical sounding (VES) with mostly Schlumberger and Wenner configurations are conventionally practised by geologists from Central Groundwater Board, Geological Survey of India, State Groundwater Division, Universities etc. It is reported that the electrical resistivity method for groundwater exploration in a sedimentary environment has proven reliable. Several investigation records have shown that the depth to aquifer differ from place to place depending on various factors like variational geo-thermal and geo-structural occurrence.
Author(s) Details:
Rolland Andrade
Central Water & Power Research Station, Pune-24, India.
Recent global research developments in Groundwater Exploration in Hard Rock Terrain Using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Techniques
Title: “Groundwater investigation through vertical electrical sounding: a case study from southwest Neyveli Basin, Tamil Nadu”
Abstract: The study employed the Schlumberger technique with four electrode configurations to conduct an electrical resistivity study at different locations. A total of 27 VES tests were carried out, with each test representing a distinct litho unit. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted using the curve matching method with IPI2Win software.
Findings:
- 22% of VES locations were dominated by H-type (ρ1 > ρ2 < ρ3), indicating potential water sites.
- QH-type (complex lithology overlain by softer strata) accounted for 19% of the area, also indicating groundwater potential.
- A-type curves (ρ1 < ρ1 < ρ3) covered 15% of the area, signifying complex rock with poor terrain for groundwater storage.
- The study demonstrates the effectiveness of electrical resistivity methods in identifying prospective groundwater zones [1].
References
- Vijayaprabhu, S., Aravindan, S., Kalaivanan, K. et al. Groundwater investigation through vertical electrical sounding: a case study from southwest Neyveli Basin, Tamil Nadu. Int J Energ Water Res 8, 17–34 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-022-00182-4
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