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Vertical Electrical Sounding for finding Groundwater potential zones in IIT Kandi
Campus, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
P.Srinivasa Rao1*,A.Lokesh Kumar2, P.V.N.Gautam3, S.Karthik4 and T.Shashidar5
1,2Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
3,4M.Tech. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
5Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Abstract
The aquifer parameters in the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Campus at Kandi,
Medak district of Telangana were delineated by using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)
technique. VES is one of the best suitable methods over all other geophysical methods to find the
subsurface groundwater and hydrogeological parameters. In this study 11 VES soundings carried
out using SSR-MP resistivity meter, min and max spread length was 200 and 240 respectively by
schlumberger configuration. The data generated analyzed and interpreted using the IPI2win open
source software. These results showed three to five layers up to a depth of 60m. HA type curve
were dominate in most geoelectric soundings. Different hydro-resistivity maps were prepared
from VES data interpretation are total longitudinal conductance map (S), total transverse
resistance map (T) and iso-resistivity contour maps at 10, 20 and 30 m depth. Different
geoelectric cross sections Prepared from North to South and West to East direction by using
interpreted results entire study area. These results depicts that the potential zones were observed
at depths of 15 to 40m entire area. And the groundwater movement observed.
Keywords: VES, Groundwater, Aquifer
Introduction
Groundwater is the main source for potable water supply, domestic, industrial and agricultural
uses. Because of the overexploitation of groundwater, the groundwater level has been declined in
recent. Geophysical methods are very useful for identification of groundwater potential zones
and groundwater contamination. In present study we were choosing the Vertical Electrical
Sounding (VES) methods to identification of groundwater potential zones. In this method
instrumentation is simple; field operations are easy and straight forward while the analysis of
data is less wearisome and economical (Zhody et al 1974, Ekine and Osobonye 1996, and Ako
and Olorunfemi 1989). The objective of this study were designed to determine different
subsurface geoelectric layers, the aquifer units, deterimination of Dar-Zarrouk parameter
(Longitudinal Conductance (S) and Transverse Resistance (T))at different depths as well as
preparing isoresistivity contours to identify potential zones.
Study Area:
The study area (Fig.1) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad was situated towards
North of Kandi village located at 60 km from Hyderabad on NH-9 in Medak district, state of
Telangana. The campus situated at 17° 34 40.008" to 17° 36 21.99" North Latitudes and 78° 6ˈ ˈ ˈ
56.9" to 78° 7 59.98" East longitudes.ˈ
Fig.1 Study Area
Geology of the Study Area:
The important rock types in Medak District are Peninsular Gneissic Complex,
DharwarSupergroup associated with younger intrusive of Archaean age separated by
unconformable with overlying Basaltic flows of late Cretaceous to early Ecocene age with sub-
Recent to Recent alluviam along with stream courses. The chief rock present in the study area
was medium to course Granite. There are no major structural features such as faults, folds and
joints etc. associated in rocks in this area.
Materials and Methods:
Data Acquisition and Interpretation:
Geophysical investigations consisting of 11 (interpreted 9) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)
using schlumberger four-electrode array were taken within study area. The electrode spread of
AB/2 was maximum of 120m. The measurements made with SSR-MP Resistivity meter
developed by IGIS, Hyderabad. VES data have been qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed
and interpreted using software IPI2win version 3.1.0, a Russian software package of Moscow
University. By using Surfer 11, resistivity contour maps and T & S maps have been generated for
different depth ranges. Data were interpreted in terms of four to six layers (Fig.2).
Fig.2 Interpreted VES layers
Results and Discussions:
The field data were interpreted and processed qualitatively and quantitatively by partial curve
matching techniques and computer to obtain the resistivity values of different subsurface layers
and their corresponding thickness (Table 1)
Table 1: VES data interpretations with positions
S.N
O
Locatio
n Latitude Longitude Geo-Electrical layers
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 VES-1
17.58130
5 78.119416 ρ 54 186 53.9 25684
h 8.64 13 18.1
d 8.64 21.6 39.7
2 VES-2
17.58588
8
78.120694
4 ρ 26.4 2.3 15.3 795
h 0.75 0.4 19.4
d 0.75 1.15 20.5
3 VES-3
17.58091
6 78.121694 ρ 67.1 237 35.8 6691
h 1.77 8.3 21.1
d 1.77 10.1 31.2
4 VES-4 17.5897 78.12072 ρ 64.5 15.7 79.7 912 15.1
h 0.75 6.07 12.9 24.6
d 0.75 6.82 19.8 44.4
5 VES-5
17.60271
6 78.12254 ρ 65.64 29.67 106.5 369
h 1.04 7.146 28.16
d 1.04 8.19 36.35
6 VES-6 17.60103 78.127029 ρ 43.5 23.1 84.5 1728 6858
h 1.3 3.51 27 15.5
d 1.3 4.81 31.8 47.4
7 ves-7
17.59294
7
78.125739
6 ρ 92.4 5.97 84.2 3774 37.4
h 0.75 0.838 17.1 7.63
d 0.75 1.59 18.7 26.4
8 ves-8
17.59189
2 78.122416 ρ 109 23.5 12.9 214 4479 5902
h 0.75 5.43 4.63 2.12 48.3
d 0.75 6.18 10.8 12.9 61.2
9 ves-9
17.59720
6
78.121863
5 ρ 10.2 10.3 42.3 283 48.2
1424
3
h 0.75 1.12 6.08 9.08 24.8
d 0.75 1.87 7.95 17 41.9
Cross sections:
Fig.3 shows resistivity cross section constructed for VES points 1,2,4,8,9 and 5 along North to
South of study area. From the figure, at shallow depths hard rock was observed in VES no 4 and
9. VES 4 indicates that after 40m depth a saturation zone is observed. This means that at study
area from south to north potential zones were vary, south end we have observed 15 to 40m
depths potential zone (Fig.4) while at north end it is observed at 10 to 35m depths (Fig.6). In the
middle of study area at shallow depths hard was observed (Fig.5).
Fig.3 Resistivity and Pseudo Cross section along South to North
Fig.4 Resistivity and Pseudo Cross section middle of study area with 4, 8 and 6 VES
Fig.5 Resistivity and Pseudo Cross section of VES 1 &3
Fig.6 Resistivity and Pseudo Cross section of VES 5 & 6
Iso-Resistivity Maps:
Iso-Resistivity maps are the resistivity contour maps and Iso is Greek word meaning ‘equal’ and
contours are imaginary lines on map connecting equal value. The values may be any parameter,
like elevation, layer resistivity and layer thickness and so on. Accordingly the layer resistivity
contour maps of the study area have been generated incorporating all the 9 VES data for different
depths at 10, 20, 30 and 40m (Fig.7). The contour maps were generated by using Surfer 11
software packages. The Iso resistivity maps can be used for qualitative interpretation of the
groundwater potential zones. Fig.7 shows that east of study area have high resistivity values
compare with west, also at middle it is very high observed clearly at deeper depths. This also
observed in above cross sections.
Fig.7 Iso-Resistivity contours at 10, 20, 30 and 40m Depths
T and S maps:
Dar-Zarrouk parameters consist of transverse resistance (T) and longitudinal conductance (S).
The values of the longitudinal conductance were used in evaluating the protective capacity of the
aquifer. Mogaji et al (2007), states that the earth medium act as a natural filter to percolating
fluid and that its ability to retard fluid is a measure of its protective capacity. Fig.8 shows that
longitudinal conductance maps at 10, 20 and 30m depths indicates a good conducting zone along
the western part which may indicate possible concentrations of conductive materials in the study
area.
Fig.8 T & S maps of 10, 20 and 30 m depths
Conclusion:
Vertical Electrical Sounding using Schlumberger electrode configuration was conducted in the
study area to determine the potential zones. The study has shown that a good potential zone at
ends of the study area and in middle of the area hard rock was found at shallow depths. By Dar
Zarrouk parameters we expect that the groundwater movement was at center of study area
following south to north ends.
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