Integrated Assessment of Groundwater for Agricultural Use in Mewat District of Haryana, India Using Geographical Information System (GIS)

Groundwater is the primary source of irrigation in the Mewat District of Haryana, India. Thus the population of Mewat is considerably reliant on groundwater for meeting their livelihood and domestic needs. An integrated framework was developed using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the assessment of groundwater resources for agricultural use. Groundwater quality was assessed using weighted index method and classified into good (36 %), moderate (47 %) and poor (17 %) zones. Groundwater potential on the other hand was analysed using the weighted overlay approach using eight independent variables. The groundwater potential was further classified into good, moderate and poor zones which occupied 29, 61, and 10 % of the study area respectively. Groundwater vulnerability was assessed using DRASTIC method and was found low, moderate and high in 46, 23 and 31 % of the region respectively. A positive correlation value of 0.23 was observed between groundwater quality and potential. Correlation between groundwater quality and vulnerability was found -0.31. Multivariate clustering method was used to integrate the results of groundwater quality, potential and vulnerability in the study area. The integrated groundwater map was classified into five zones in the study area. The result was validated with the soil fertility, irrigation source, and crop yield. Integrated assessment of groundwater resources in the study area; thus provides useful information to decision makers for undertaking measures for sustainable groundwater resource management in the study area.