Regional scale groundwater flow modeling for Wakel river basin: A case study of Southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Rajasthan experiences varied climatic condition ranging from extreme aridity to subhumid and humid conditions. About 94 % of the total geographical area of the state falls under arid and semiarid conditions with erratic rainfall pattern. The groundwater is the main source of drinking and irrigation in the Wakel River basin but due to the overextraction of groundwater and consecutive droughts, the water table has been declining. On the basis of analyzing the hydrogeological conditions and water resources utilization of Wakel basin, a two-dimensional distributed parameters’ steady and transient groundwater flow model has been developed to better understand the aquifer system. This was done by developing a suitable conceptual model and then transforming into a steady and transient-state numerical groundwater model using MODFLOW, a groundwater flow model. Using the calibrated steady-state model, three model scenarios were developed to see the effect of decreased recharge and increased pumping. The findings from this study successfully explained the overall behavior of the aquifer and its parameters associated with it for the Wakel River Basin.