Hydrogeologic characteristics of groundwater aquifers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

This paper reviews, compiles and comprehensively analyzes spatial variations in hydrogeologic characteristics of shallow and deep groundwater aquifers in Kathmandu Valley. To estimate transmissivity (T) (and then hydraulic conductivity) as a function of specific capacity (SC), an empirical relationship between T and SC is developed for shallow and deep aquifer. The results show that T and SC are log linearly related by an equation T = 0.8857(SC)1.1624 [R2 = 0.79] in shallow and T = 1.1402(SC)1.0068 [R2 = 0.85] in deep aquifer. The estimated T ranges from 163 to 1,056 m2/day in shallow aquifer and 22.5 to 737 m2/day in deep aquifer. Finally, mapping of spatial distribution in hydrogeologic characteristics (thickness, T, hydraulic conductivity and storage coefficient) in shallow and deep aquifers are accomplished using ArcGIS9.2 and such maps would be useful in delineating potential areas for groundwater development and simulating groundwater flow in the aquifer system.