Presentation on: Grain Size Analysis at MDU Rohtak by Jyoti sharma at the National workshop on: 'Water Conservation and Pollution' organised by the National Committee Of International Association Of Hydrogeologists' (INC-IAH) and Manav Rachna Educational Institution. Based on a research study at MDU, Rohtak by Vidyyut Sharma (3rd yr. geology hons.)and Jyoti Sharma. The presentation highlighted issues related to the chronic water logging problem at Rohtak and the scope for Rain Water Harvesting as a solution to the problem.

1. Date: 19th
Dec 2015
Venue: Manav Rachna University, Delhi
Workshop On
WATER CONSERSATION AND POLLUTION
Organized by
THE INDIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF HYDROGEOLOGISTS(INC-IAH).
&
MANAV RACHNA UNIVERSITY.
Research paper:
Jyoti Sharma, President, FORCE
Vidyyut Sharma, Geology(hon.)
3rd
yr.

2. Grain Size Analysis
at MDU Rohtak
Observations and
Issues Raised

7. 1. Established as Rohtak University, came into existence by Act No. 25 of 1975 of the
Haryana Legislative Assembly.
2. Objective of promoting inter disciplinary higher education and research in the
fields of environmental, ecological and life sciences.
3. Rechristened as Maharishi Dayananda University in 1977 after the name of the
great visionary and reformer – Maharishi Dayanand.
4. The university is about 75 km from Delhi on the Delhi Hisar National Highway (NH-
10).
5. MDU also administers programs through its Indira Gandhi PG Regional Centre,
Meerput

8. The purpose of the study is :
1. To help determine potential zones for recharging groundwater.
2. To find the cause of the chronic water logging issue in the area

9. The study of the area was carried out in the following way :
Test well of 32 meters depth dug
Samples taken at regular intervals of 2 meters
Samples were sun dried
Grain size analysis conducted
Observation inferred

11. Three major physical properties that are studied are :
1.Density – affected by weathering and packing of grains.
2.Porosity – it is the void spaces available between grains in a
formation.
3.Permeability – ability to let fluids pass through the
formation.

12. DENSITY
High density Low density

13. Percentage of pore spaces in a formation is the porosity of the formation.
POROSITY
Average soil formations have a porosity of about 50%.
%porosity = [1- (BD)/(PD)]*100
here; BD = Bulk Density
PD = Particle Density
Sands have larger pores but less total pore space than clays.

14. Permeability is the ease with which fluids like water and can pass through a formation.
PERMEABILITY
Determined by the inter-connectivity of pore spaces.

15. A crude comparison of permeability between 3 major soil types
PERMEABILITY

16. POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY

17. A Sieve Test was conducted for the purpose of Grain Size Analysis.
Sieve Test consists of shaking the sample through a set of sieves
with progressively smaller openings.
The sieve with largest opening is on top and the one with smallest
opening is at bottom.

18. S.No ASTM Grain size (in mm) Grain Size (in µm)
1 10 2 2000
2 18 1 1000
3 35 0.5 500
4 60 0.25 250
5 120 0.125 125
6 230 0.063 63
7 270 0.053 53
8 > 270 <0.053 <53
The following mesh sizes were used for the purpose of conducting
the Experiment.

19. Chart showing
measurement of different
grains in different
scales.

20. Labeling was done as follows.
S.No Sample Code Depth (in mbgl)
1 VSRS 1 1
2 VSRS 3 3
3 VSRS 5 5
4 VSRS 7 7
5 VSRS 10 10
6 VSRS 12 12
7 VSRS 15 15
8 VSRS 17 17
9 VSRS 20 20
10 VSRS 22 22
11 VSRS 25 25
12 VSRS 27 27
13 VSRS 29 29
14 VSRS 32 32
1. From each sample 100g were taken and put through the Sieve Test.
2. A reading of amount left at each mesh was taken and percentage
calculated.

22. S.
No DEPTH 2mm 1mm 500 microns 250 microns 125 microns 63 microns 53 microns 53 microns Total
1 1 0% 0.00% 14.96% 14.29% 7.89% 38.66% 24.20% 0.00% 100%
2 3 0% 16.93% 32.14% 17.74% 8.86% 14.06% 9.43% 0.84%
100%
3 5 0% 45.94% 20.44% 11.72% 5.33% 10.95% 5.09% 0.53%
100%
4 7 0% 1% 1.02% 0.46% 9.86% 77.62% 6.36% 3.68%
100%
5 10 0% 12.41% 23.56% 12.93% 12.17% 33.59% 4.95% 0.39%
100%
6 12 1.07% 6.10% 11.67% 7.17% 10.28% 43.05% 14.65% 6.01%
100%
7 15 0% 8.17% 10.55% 10.91% 14.74% 40.35% 10.90% 4.38%
100%
8 17 11.49% 25.22% 19.35% 8.08% 5.88% 14.40% 10.68% 4.90%
100%
9 20 4.34% 29.36% 20.41% 10.97% 6.08% 12.62% 13.95% 2.27%
100%
10 22 45.28% 20.64% 9.73% 3.50% 3.75% 6.92% 6.93% 3.26%
100%
11 25 0.65% 13.95% 16.72% 9.64% 5.89% 10.97% 29.08% 13.10%
100%
12 27 0% 24.86% 33.86% 19.81% 8.76% 6.30% 5.32% 1.09%
100%
13 29 13% 7.21% 7.01% 6.93% 7.69% 26.51% 21.07% 10.72%
100%
14 32 0.42% 5.65% 11.41% 8.76% 8.26% 29.52% 27.09% 8.89%
100%
Table showing percentages of grain sizes in each sample

24. Clayeyformation
Potential
aquiferlayer
Clayey
formation
Potential
aquiferlayer
Clayeyformation
waterlens?
Clayey
formation

25. Best aquifers are those layers that have:
1. Majority of grains that are > 500 microns.
2. Very few grain smaller than 63 microns.
Based on Graph 1, three potential aquifer layers have been
identified in the area:
Layer between 3mbgl-5mbgl
Layers between 17mbgl-22mbgl
A thin water lens at 27mbgl

26. The results observed also give a good reason for the chronic water
logging and presence of saline water.
WATER LOGGING
SALINITY
Graph 1 clearly shows that the top layer of soil is clay dominant.
This layer is impermeable and hence does not allow water to percolate easily.
This causes the problem of water logging that is experienced in the area.
The issue of salinity is also linked to presence of clay dominant formation near
the top.
Due to a clayey formation near the top, increased evapo-transpiration from the
shallow water table takes place.
Thus salts start to accumulate and the water becomes saline.

27. 1.Upto 15 m bgl there are thin alternating layers of aquifers and
clayey strata.
2.After 15 m there is a relatively larger aquifer followed again by
alternating strata.
ISSUES
Does this have any implications for water logging in the area?
Does this hold any potential for finding a solution to water logging?
Despite high industrialization, is the apparent high water table
responsible for creating an artificial feeling of water adequacy ?

28. The results also raise some issues
HOW TO HANDLE WATER LOGGING
Is artificial recharge to groundwater a solution to water logging ?
We have tried this in Rohtak – we have made recharge wells that feed the 15-
22 m bgl aquifer. They are functioning very well.
Should this be replicated?
Should policy makers consider:
a) Encouraging shallow, non motorized dugwells as a source of water
b) Ban the use of canal water by industry ? Instead promote
concurrent groundwater extraction and recharge ?

29. Thank You