The river Bharathapuzha is the lifeline of three districts in Central Kerala namely Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur and also parts of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. This region gets an increase in population during the recent years. Water is unevenly distributed as surface and groundwater resources. An integrated hydrogeological study in the whole basin has not been attempted so far. This is the result of our investigation.

1. HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES AND GROUNDWATER
MODELING IN BHARATHAPUZHA BASIN,
KERALA, INDIA.
By
BRIJESH V. K.
&
PROF.A.BALASUBRAMANIAN
Department of Studies in Earth Science
University of Mysore
Manasagangothri, Mysore-6.

2. Bharathapuzha Basin - Location

3. Scope of the Study
The river Bharathapuzha is the lifeline of three districts
in Central Kerala namely Palakkad, Malappuram and
Thrissur and also parts of Coimbatore district of Tamil
Nadu. This region gets an increase in population during
the recent years. Water is unevenly distributed as
surface and groundwater resources. An integrated
hydrogeological study in the whole basin has not been
attempted so far.

4. Bharathapuzha Basin – Administrative Boundaries

5. Objectives of the Present Study
1. To evaluate the groundwater conditions and develop a groundwater
model of the basin using which the extraction of groundwater potential
can be simulated.
2. To study the quality variations in the groundwater based on the
analytical data obtained from the groundwater samples collected for
both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon.
3. To demarcate the hydrogeomorphic units by applying digital image
interpretation of satellite data and thus aid in evaluating the
groundwater potential.
4. To identify the potential zones of groundwater using geophysical
resistivity methods.
5. To utilise the capabilities of Geographic Information System (GIS) as a
tool for integrating different themes and thus to evolve a scheme for
water resources development.

6. Order of Presentation
• Chapter I –Introduction
• Chapter I – Geology and Soils
• Chapter III – Hydrogeomorphology & Remote Sensing
• Chapter IV – Hydrometeorology & Hydrogeology
• Chapter V – Groundwater Geophysics
• Chapter VI – Hydrogeochemistry
• Chapter VII – Groundwater Modeling
• Chapter VIII – Integrated Approaches
• Chapter IX – Summary and Conclusions

7. Geology and Soils
• Geology of Kerala and Tamilnadu is briefly explained.
• Geology of Bharathapuzha Basin, as obtained from
previous literature, is also explained and thematically
represented.
• Soils of the Kerala part of the basin is also represented
thematically.
• The lineament map of the basin was created from the
digital interpretation of the satellite imagery.
• The subsurface geology of the basin was described by
means of cross section profiles.

8. Bharathapuzha Basin - Geology

9. Bharathapuzha Basin –Soils (Kerala Part Alone)

10. Bharathapuzha Basin - Lineaments

11. Bharathapuzha Basin
Subsurface Geology-Cross Section Profiles

13. Hydrogeomorphological and Remote Sensing Studies
• The Morphometric Analysis of the basin was carried out using
two approaches.
• In the first one, the conventional methodology was used and
the linear, areal and relief aspects were found out.
• The dataset thus generated was subjected to factor analysis.
• In the second Approach, the micro-watersheds were
demarcated following standard procedures.
• Using satellite imagery, the groundwater prospect map was
generated.
• The SRTM data from the NASA website was downloaded and
the DEM generated thereof was utilised to study the riverbed
changes (possibly due to sand mining).

14. Bharathapuzha Basin – Drainage Network

15. Bharathapuzha Basin
with the sub-basins Demarcated

16. Bharathapuzha Basin – Morphometric Parameters

17. Bharathapuzha Basin – Morphometric Parameters contd….

19. Symmetrical Correlation Matrix of Morphometric Parameters.

21. Bharathapuzha Basin – Topography

22. Bharathapuzha Basin – Slope

23. Bharathapuzha Basin – Aspect of the Slope

25. Hierarchical order followed in the classification of
watersheds

26. Bharathapuzha Basin – Watersheds

27. Bharathapuzha Basin – Microwatersheds

28. Bharathapuzha Basin
Microwatershedwise Drainage Density

29. Bharathapuzha Basin – As viewed by IRS-ID

30. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeomorphology

31. Bharathapuzha Basin- Groundwater Prospect Map

32. Bharathapuzha Basin – Digital Elevation Model
From SRTM Data

33. River bed Changes at Kumbidi
(as inferred from CWC data)

34. Areas in the River Course showing Negative Elevation

35. Hydrometeorologic and Hydrogeologic Studies
• The Bharathapuzha Basin receives an average annual rainfall
of 1973 mm.
• The nature of water level fluctuation denotes the behaviour
of the groundwater system with reference to
recharge/discharge.
• The transmissivity of aquifers belonging to crystalline rocks
depend on the product of hydraulic conductivity and height of
the water column (K*h) and the height of water column (h) is
mainly varying with reference to time and space.
• The distribution of recharge and discharge zones based on
Grid deviation Water Table Contour Map shows more
heterogeneity in the upper basin, and also the nature of
hydraulic gradient.

36. Bharathapuzha Basin – Average Annual Rainfall

37. Bharathapuzha Basin – Observation wells

38. Bharathapuzha Basin – Depth to water level

39. Bharathapuzha Basin – Water table (AMSL)

40. Bharathapuzha Basin – Grid Deviation water Table Map

41. Bharathapuzha Basin – Annual Water level Fluctuation

42. Bharathapuzha Basin - Transmissivity

43. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeophysical Studies
• A highly heterogeneous terrain characterizes the
Bharathapuzha basin and the resistivity values are location
specific.
• The presence of litho-margic clay layer seems to be the
reason for the central-low type resistivity-sounding curve.
• The thickness of aquifer is mainly controlled by the depth to
the basement.
• In the present study, geophysical soundings were used to find
out the Depth to basement rock.
• In order to demarcate the groundwater potential zones using
the criteria selected in the present study, closely spaced
Vertical Electrical Soundings have to be conducted as the
terrain is composed of varied lithology.

45. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeophysical Studies
• The results of geophysical data interpretation have
been made use of in identifying the groundwater
potential zones. The criteria selected were as follows.
For open wells, areas with aquifer thickness less than
10m and resistivity (second layer) less than 100 ohm-
m was chosen. For bore wells, areas with aquifer
thickness of more than 20m and resistivity (third
layer) less than 100ohm-m was selected.

46. Bharathapuzha Basin – Groundwater Potential Zones

47. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeochemical Studies
• The overall analysis of groundwater chemistry data has shown the
following inferences:
• There is a marked variation in the distribution of total dissolved solids.
Towards eastern part of the basin the parameter tends to increase.
• The mechanism controlling the chemistry of groundwater in the bore wells
of the basin is rock interaction whereas for the lateritic open wells it is
precipitation.
• With reference to the Corrosivity ratio of groundwater, most of the area is
coming under the safe zone.
• The hydrogeochemical model evolved through factor analysis of the
chemistry data shows the predominance of positive scores of different
factors towards the eastern side of the basin.
• The Bharathapuzha Basin is characterized by both temporary and
permanent hardness.

48. Bharathapuzha Basin – Locations of Water Sample Collection

49. Bharathapuzha Basin –
Total Dissolved Solids (Post-monsoon)

50. Piper’s Trilinear Diagram (Pre-monsoon)

51. Piper’s Trilinear Diagram (Post-monsoon)

52. USSL Diagram for Classification of Irrigation Waters (Pre-monsoon)

53. USSL Diagram for Classification of Irrigation Waters (Post-monsoon)

54. T
D
S
(p
p
m)
Na+K/ Na+K+Ca
Mechanism Controlling the Chemistry of Groundwater (Pre-Monsoon)

55. T
D
S
(pp
m)
Na+K/ Na+K+Ca
Mechanism Controlling the Chemistry of Groundwater (Post-
Monsoon)

56. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeochemical Model (Pre-monsoon)

57. Bharathapuzha Basin – Hydrogeochemical Model (Post-monsoon)

58. Groundwater Modeling :
• The groundwater flow model of the study area has been developed using
standard finite difference technique and has been used for simulating the
water level up to 2008.
• The water table data of January 2002 have been used for the start of
simulation.
• The aquifer basement in metres above mean sea level derived from a
detailed study and analysis of geophysical soundings and the available well
litho-logs was used in the simulation.
• Initial nodal transmissivity values for the model have been taken from
transmissivity contour map and the permeability values were calculated
for each node.

59. Groundwater Modeling Contd…
• A value of storage coefficient of 0.01 has been used to determine the
aquifer responses.
• Groundwater extraction has been treated as the out flow of the area.
Rainfall recharge has been taken as the inflow into the domain.
• The Computer Programme has been written in Quick BASIC and executed.
The t has been kept as 61 days. Bimonthly simulations have been done.
Resultant heads of selected nodes where observation well data are
available have been taken as output and compared.
• The calibration has shown a good match and the model has been used for
simulating the water levels up to 2008.

60. Fig. 7.1

61. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 60 70 70 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 15 20 30 20 30 40 50 60 65 70 75 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 300 290 0 0 0 0
0 0 10 15 20 20 20 30 40 50 60 65 70 80 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 215 250 290 290 295 295 0 0
0 10 10 15 18 20 25 30 40 45 55 70 75 85 90 90 95 0 0 0 0 185 200 235 275 320 315 320 0 0
5 10 0 15 18 20 20 30 35 40 60 60 70 70 85 80 90 100 100 110 130 165 195 225 275 320 320 330 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 20 20 30 30 35 40 50 60 65 70 75 80 90 105 115 130 160 200 225 250 290 310 320 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 30 33 35 38 40 45 50 55 65 70 80 95 110 115 125 155 200 250 255 290 310 310 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 50 50 55 60 65 85 100 110 110 130 160 200 230 275 300 310 310 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 60 50 60 60 70 80 90 100 115 150 185 200 235 270 290 300 310 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 55 60 65 75 80 90 100 100 160 220 250 260 270 285 300 340 340 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 60 65 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 300 290 290 295 295 340 340 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 315 315 300 0 0 0 340 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Initial Water level used for simulation-
Water Level of January 2002

62. Depth to Basement Rock Values
Used for Simulation
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 55 60 60 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 20 20 20 20 30 40 50 55 60 60 70 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 250 0 0 0 0
0 0 20 20 20 20 20 30 40 50 55 60 65 70 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 210 250 275 270 285 295 0 0
0 10 10 15 20 24 27 30 40 50 60 60 65 70 70 80 80 0 0 0 0 190 210 250 225 280 310 315 0 0
10 10 0 20 20 24 27 30 35 40 50 60 60 65 70 70 80 90 100 110 130 165 200 220 250 290 300 310 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 27 30 30 35 40 40 50 60 64 67 70 75 90 105 115 130 150 175 215 235 255 280 290 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 30 30 30 30 40 45 50 55 60 65 75 90 105 115 130 145 175 215 235 265 280 295 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 50 50 50 50 60 60 75 90 100 110 130 165 200 225 250 270 300 310 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 60 60 60 60 70 80 90 100 115 150 175 220 235 250 275 300 315 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 60 60 65 70 80 90 100 120 150 190 230 265 275 280 290 310 320 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 65 67 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 310 300 295 295 300 310 325 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 320 300 300 0 0 0 335 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

63. Initial Aquifer Transmissivity (Sq.m/d)
used for Simulation
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 39 39 24 18 9 9 6 6 9 12 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 30 0 0 0 0
0 0 33 42 42 24 18 9 9 6 9 15 18 18 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 27 27 30 33 30 0 0
0 30 35 33 30 21 18 6 6 12 15 15 24 27 9 3 3 0 0 0 0 21 24 27 31 33 33 33 0 0
27 27 0 26 21 21 15 10 10 12 15 18 24 36 21 3 3 3 18 24 24 21 27 29 31 33 33 35 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 18 12 12 12 14 15 18 18 15 12 6 6 6 6 24 21 21 30 30 30 27 33 36 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 12 15 15 18 15 15 12 6 6 6 24 18 21 30 33 33 33 33 33 39 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 18 18 15 18 16 15 12 6 6 18 27 42 36 36 36 39 39 39 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 24 27 38 24 15 12 6 3 18 33 42 36 39 39 33 33 36 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 30 48 21 21 15 6 3 18 42 39 39 39 36 27 30 27 30 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 30 21 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 36 27 27 30 30 30 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 36 27 0 0 0 27 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

64. Fig.7.5 Results of Model calibration

65. Simulated water level for January 2008
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 51.59 59.82 67.62 68.89 60.71 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 17.35 19.41 22.54 26.06 31.78 37.37 48.51 58.29 65.95 70.09 70.78 62.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 278.56 246.65 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 12.83 15.95 19.39 22.61 27.29 33.03 36.57 40.24 55.74 64.24 70.90 74.29 67.44 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 224.62 239.27 272.47 281.11 282.65 245.40
0.00 0.00
0.00 8.97 10.30 14.09 17.57 21.68 26.47 31.76 36.74 45.09 54.03 62.77 69.90 73.81 79.92 87.01 79.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 183.20 213.61 237.47 264.50 282.48 276.29 244.09
0.00 0.00
5.00 6.11 0.00 12.06 14.60 19.68 24.40 30.24 37.11 43.92 49.99 55.74 64.19 66.55 73.85 81.97 88.63 101.30 116.19 133.80 151.60 171.03 194.81 231.63 260.23 285.11 286.52
254.24 0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 17.48 24.13 28.92 34.42 42.34 49.01 53.57 59.30 63.31 65.76 75.21 84.92 98.59 119.20 138.50 149.64 162.00 198.34 229.82 258.00 280.07 289.76 257.12
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 24.29 24.80 30.14 43.07 48.22 51.97 56.05 61.13 64.31 71.92 85.46 110.23 120.19 134.63 150.14 165.32 196.83 227.56 257.82 278.46 286.12 246.74
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 36.56 48.25 51.95 55.14 59.63 63.42 67.72 81.04 97.64 118.96 131.57 152.23 177.35 197.12 214.32 259.56 279.51 280.22 251.57
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 42.13 51.44 55.70 58.56 61.96 68.08 78.36 91.77 112.69 122.11 136.98 179.34 207.87 242.20 264.55 279.56 278.94 267.18
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 48.05 55.88 57.20 59.22 61.70 66.97 77.99 91.70 105.61 118.30 173.33 238.00 260.57 266.01 270.34 282.61 301.08
270.46 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 48.82 53.09 55.74 48.82 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 269.80 270.56 265.42 242.32 246.26 266.17 240.85
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 242.83 236.71 202.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 151.05
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

66. In this Computer code, statements have been included to compute the groundwater in storage of
every period or time step using the predicted water level, this has been computed and the
following are the aquifer water in storage:
Groundwater in Storage (MCM)
Year January March May July September November
2002 547 488 447 488 531
2003 574 529 472 472 472 516
2004 560 510 464 460 460 504
Predicted
2005 547 495 454 465 465 508
2006 552 500 453 457 457 500
2007 544 492 448 451 451 495
2008 538

67. Integrated Approaches
• The study of lineaments, topography and the drainage network of the basin show
that the flow of many of the major and minor tributaries of the River
Bharathapuzha is controlled by the direction of lineaments and its general
topography.
• Areas of heavy rainfall and positive zone of the grid deviation water table map
synchronise in the upper reaches of the catchment denoting the effect of
topography and forests on precipitation.
• A study of the precipitation record the monthly stream flow volumes of the river at
the 5 stream gauge stations and the grid deviation water table map show that (i)
the river is perennial and (ii) is being fed only by groundwater system during
summer months.
• Study of the Geology Map and the Grid Deviation Water Table Map shows that the
recharge zones of the basin are mainly confined to the gneissic terrain. The
comparison with the hydrogeomorphic map shows that the recharge zone is
occupied by shallow and moderate pediplains.

68. Integrated Approaches contd…
• A comparative study of the spatial relation between the lineaments and
the spatial distribution of the lithologs of the wells shows the control of
lineaments over the conduit properties of the aquifers by the presence of
fracture zones.
• It is interesting to note that the quality of water in the basin is highly
influenced by the nature of country rocks. The TDS map when overlaid
with the Geology of the basin explains the same.
• The hydrogeochemical model of the basin for pre-monsoon and the TDS
map of pre-monsoon when overlaid, shows that beyond a TDS value of
300 ppm, all the factors are showing positive scores. But in the post-
monsoon, this limiting value has been slightly increased to 400 ppm.

69. Conclusions of the Present Study
• The Bharathapuzha river is found to be of 8th order river with three
major sub-basins of order 7.The number and length of streams of each
order in the sub-basins follows the general law of Maxwell.The slope
and relief of the terrain influence the number and length of the
streams.
• The remote sensing data is a strong supplementary tool in mapping the
hydrogeomorphic units and lineaments.The ground water prospect map
has been prepared from IRS-ID satellite imagery and the spatial data of
geology, topography and drainage.
• The study of Shuttle Radar topographic Model (SRTM) satellite data has
shown that there are areas within the river course of Bharathapuzha,
which are below mean sea level. This elevation difference could be
attributed to the intensive sand mining in the river and the subsequent
change in the riverbed.

70. Conclusions of the Present Study contd…
• In the Bharathapuzha Basin, groundwater occurs in phreatic conditions in the
laterites, alluvium and in weathered crystallines. It is in semi-confined to
confined conditions in the deeper fractured rocks.
• Since the area experienced several episodes of tectonic deformations, a large
number of interconnected fractures offer very good groundwater potential.
• Alluvium encountered along the banks of Bharathapuzha acts as potential
phreatic aquifers. The thickness as well as the width of the alluvium increases
towards west.
• The study of water levels and annual water level fluctuations shows that in
some areas the bore wells and dug wells are in hydraulic continuity.
• The groundwater potential zones demarcated by geoelectrical investigation
synchronise well with the productive hydrogeomorphic units of satellite
imagery interpretation.

71. Conclusions of the Present Study contd…
• Ground water chemistry of the basin is mainly controlled by the geology
of the area. Towards the western part of the basin, where the
underlying lithology is mainly charnockite and laterite, the quality is
better than that in the eastern part, predominated by hornblende-
biotite gneiss.
• The precipitation pattern in the basin also seems to be a controlling
factor in the overall chemical quality of the basin.
• From the Groundwater model it could be seen that the water level of
this basin gradually declines and the amount of Ground Water in
storage also gets reduced during these periods.

72. Conclusions of the Present Study contd…
• An integrated approach is a must for the choice of sites of
high yields and good quality waters for industrial and
irrigational purposes.
• The different spatial themes generated could be utilized for
further research as the Bharathapuzha Basin is occupying a
highly complicated geologic terrain namely the Palakkad
Gap.

73. Papers Presented/ Published:
1. Brijesh.V.K and A.Balasubramanian., “Role of Geoinformatics in Geoenvironmental Studies’’ paper presented in the
.National Seminar on “Recent Developments in the Geo-environmental Studies”, Dept of PG Studies and Research in
Geology, Govt.College, Kasaragod,Kerala,October 18 & 19,2005.
2. Brijesh.V.K. and A.Balasubramanian., “Hydrogeomorphologic Evaluation Of Bharathapuzha Basin, Kerala” , paper
presented in the National Seminar on “ Education Satellite (EDUSAT) of ISRO and facilitation of colleges for availing such
facilities”, Dept of PG Studies and Research in Geology, Govt.College, Kasaragod,Kerala, March 29 & 30,2005.
3. Brijesh.V.K. and A.Balasubramanian., ‘‘GIS as a quick and accurate decision making tool’’ paper presented in the National
Seminar on “Resource Management for Sustainable Development”, Dept. of Geography, University of Mysore,March
1&2, 2004.
4. Brijesh.V.K. and A.Balasubramanian., ‘‘ Hydrogeochemistry of water from Bharathapuzha Basin, Kearala,India’’, paper
presented in the National Water Meet 2003- National Conference on “Balancing Competing water Uses and
Management”, Dept of Geology, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, March 27-29,2003.
5. Brijesh.V.K. and A.Balasubramanian., ‘‘Need and Role of GIS in Developmental Planning’’, published in the abstract
volume of the proceedings of the National Seminar on “ Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System in Natural
Resource Management-Current Status and Emerging Trends”, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kerala,, March 15– 17,2003.
6. Brijesh.V.K., J.Ravishankar., and A.Balasubramanian., ‘‘GIS in Groundwater Quality Management’’, paper presented in the
National Seminar on “Geographic Information System in Geosciences”, Department of Geology, Osmania University,
Hyderabad, December 17-18, 2002.
7. Brijesh.V.K., B.M.Lingaraju, G.Sathish Kumar and A.Balasubramanian., “ Web based GIS for e-governance” ,paper
presented in the National Seminar on “ World Wide Web Education”, Centre for Information Science and Technology,
University of Mysore ,January , 13-16, 2002.