Assessment of Impact of Urbanization on Groundwater Resources using GIS Techniques- Case Study of Hyderabad, India

Abstract

Hyderabad is one of the fastest growing Indian megacities which have significant impact on its<br />environment. The surface and groundwater resources are severely affected by uncontrolled expansion and<br />densification of the city. For the better understanding, recovery and to prevent future deterioration of these<br />significance resources, it is necessary to have knowledge of the impact of urban growth in various ways on<br />environment. Historical groundwater level and quality data obtained from different sources as well as by field<br />study data is used for this analysis. In some cases missing data points were interpolated and verified by<br />providing certain criteria. The map of rate of groundwater level change per year showed the locations of<br />recharge activity by sewage and other effluents as well as overexploitations by industrial and some upper<br />middle class residential areas. The results obtained from groundwater quality analysis are then compared with<br />the BIS (Bureau of India) as well as WHO (World Health Organization) standards for drinking water. It had<br />been observed that many water samples had heavy metal elements and bacterial formation above permissible<br />limits and it is not suitable for drinking purpose. The water samples obtained from locations which do not<br />qualify for drinking water use according to WHO as well as BIS standards are identified. These results are then<br />overlapped with map of rate of groundwater level change to establish the relation between urban groundwater<br />recharge and its effect on groundwater quality.