GROUNDWATER RECHARGE STUDIES IN ARID REGION OF JALORE, RAJASTHAN USING ISOTOPE TECHNIQUES

Environmental isotopes 2H, 18O, 3H and 14 C have been employed to identify the groundwater recharge processes in the Jalore area of Western Rajasthan. The isotope results show that most of the shallow groundwaters near the Sukri river course have δD, δ18O enriched compared to the shallow groundwaters away from the river course and have tritium values of 5-20 TU showing that they are possibly recharged from river channels during flash floods. The deep groundwaters (depth > 50 m) near the river course also show some component of recent recharge indicating probable inter-connection of the shallow and deep aquifers. The other deep groundwaters away from the river course on the other hand have negligible or no measurable tritium and depleted δD and δ18O, indicating recharge during more humid periods in the past. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.