Integrated approach for delineating groundwater potential and quality in District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

The current research integrates vertical electrical sounding (VES) and hydrochemical analysis to delineate water bearing zones, assess their vulnerability to surficial contamination, and implications on water quality of District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In order to achieve the desired results, a total of 45 VES points and 25 water samples were collected from springs, open and bore wells in the study area. The VES data was acquired using ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000. The interpretation of VES data revealed confined to unconfined aquifer systems, furthermore, the aquifer thickness ranges between 5–95 m with the resistivity values of 10–70 Ohm m. Darzarouk parameters were utilized to demarcate the protective capacity of the aquifer system based on a vulnerability map. This map classified the surficial protective capacity from moderate to very good associated with good clay cover that will restrict the surficial infiltration from contaminating the groundwater. The hydrochemical analysis of the area further justified the vulnerability assessment as only 2 samples (9 and 24) out of 24 were found not feasible for drinking. The study will prove useful for the local administration as the population has been drastically increasing in the Bagh District and provision of safe drinking water will be difficult in the future.