Identification of suitable sites for different artificial groundwater recharge structures for sustainable water resources management in Ken River Basin

With the increasing water crisis and changing climate conditions, effective management of groundwater resources is crucial for ensuring food and water security as well as economic growth. However, mapping groundwater poses a significant challenge due to its elusive nature. This study focuses on the Ken River Basin in India, known for its highly variable geological conditions, where the potential of groundwater resources remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to utilize advanced remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to identify and delineate areas with varying groundwater potential in the Ken Basin. The nine thematic factors, namely geology, geomorphology, slope, lineament density, land use/land cover, soil texture, rainfall, drainage density, and water level fluctuation, and three analytical methods, Multi-Influencing Factor (MIF), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Frequency Ratio (FR), were utilized to map groundwater potential zones. The accuracy of the results was validated using the ROC curve method, with the AHP method proving to be the most accurate. Using the Model Builder in ArcGIS, geoinformatics and multi-criteria decision-making were used to identify sites for artificial groundwater recharge structures with a 66-74% accuracy rate. The combination of remote sensing, GIS, and decision-making techniques proved effective in identifying critical areas for groundwater recharge. The outcomes of this research can contribute to informed groundwater management and planning efforts in the Ken River Basin, providing valuable insights into the region's water resources.