This document discusses the geology, hydrogeology, and groundwater resources of Solapur City and surrounding areas in Maharashtra, India. It describes the regional geology consisting of Deccan basalt lava flows between 55-65 million years old. The city area contains heterogeneity in the basalt units including variations in thickness, fractures, and weathering which affects groundwater availability. Groundwater recharge primarily occurs in the shallow aquifer during monsoon season. Overextraction and urbanization are depleting groundwater levels, with many borewells now low-yielding or dry. The document provides details on the municipal water supply network and estimates of private borewell usage. Water quality is deteriorating in some parts of the city due to

1. GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY
OF
SOLAPUR CITY AND SURROUNDING
BY
Dr. VADAGBALKAR S. K.
Head, Department of Geology,
Dayanand College of Arts and Science,
Solapur-413002
Maharashtra State, INDIA

2. Physical Map of Solapur District

3. Map of Solapur City with main water bodies and road links

4. Part of Toposheet no. 47-0
Depicting features of
Solapur City and surrounding

5. Satellite picture of Solapur and surrounding area

6. Satellite picture of Solapur and surrounding area depicting 3 river basins

7. 480 M
480 M
480 M 480 M
460 M
460 M460 M460 M
460 M
460 M
460 M
480 M
460 M 420 M 460 M440 M
440 M
420
440 M
440
CONTOUR MAP OF SOLAPUR CITY AND SURROUNDING
OLD CITY
EKHRUK TANK
KAMBAR TANK
HOTAGI TANK
SINA RIVER
ADILA NALA
HATTUR NALA
HOTAGI NALA

8. Regional Geological Map Of Part Of Maharashtra including Solapur and surrounding

9. Geologically the area is covered by Deccan basalt of the
continental tholeiitic province of India having Cretaceous - Eocene
age.(about 55 to 65 million years).
Two distinct lava flows are recognized along with various flow
units. The thickness of the various flow units in the lava flows vary
laterally & vertically through out the city area. Surrounding the
city area two more flows are identified.
Due to which the ground water availability vary. Heterogeneity in
the distribution of fracture pattern, weathering mantle etc. has
hindered the movement of groundwater, which has resulted in
separation of water pockets of different dimensions with variable
storage. There is no continuity in groundwater flow mainly at
deeper depths.
Recharging of upper shallow aquifer during monsoon, takes place.
As the stock/storage of water ceases after use, the groundwater
availability is at stake, specially at depths.

10. Variation in Single Basalt Flow (schematic)
Vesicular/Calcritic/
Zeolitic with Horizontal
(sheet) and vertical
fractures with or
without red bole
Compact/ Massive
With rare or no
fractures
Compact/ Massive
With some fractures
with or without
vesicles

11. Two Basalt flows separated by red bole layer
Top portion of Flow 2
(Weathered vesicular)
Bottom portion of Flow 1
(Cuboidal jointing)

12. Hillock representing 3 lava flows
Flow 1
Flow 2
Flow 3

13. Cal critic surface Representing Top of lava flow

14. Part of a single lava flow
with small thickness weathered unit and Large thickness Massive unit
weathered unit
Massive unit

15. Lithological Variation
Part of stone quarry- Massive basalt
Part of Columnar-Massive basalt

16. Lithological
Variation
From Left top
(clockwise)
1- Alluvium (man)
2- Spheroidal basalts
3- Calcritic sediments
4- Red bole with
weathered zeolitic
basalt
1 2
4 3

17. Seepage of
ground water

18. Lithological Variation
From left top (clockwise)
1- Red bole with shattered rocks 2- Surface joints
3- Contact of two flows. 4- Sheet jointed basalt.
1 2
4 3

19. Vesicular- amygdaloidal basalts have horizontal sheet fractures and
can store more ground water
Compact basalts have no or limited vertical/sub vertical fractures and can
not store ground water but may help in movement of water at depths
Recharge to shallow ground water

20. Flow no. 1
Flow no. 1
Flow no. 2
In well bore
Schematic diagram for a typical dug well and in well bore conditions

21. Bore
No. 1
Bore
No. 2
Bore
No. 3
Lithological section of Palas Basin

22. Topographic 3 dimensional computed model of Solapur city and surrounding

23. South
Lat. 17˚ 30’
Long. 75˚ 55’
North
Lat. 17˚45’
Long. 75˚ 55’
Ekrukh
Tank
Main city
Majrewadi
Kumtha
nala
Sina R.
Sindkhed
Flow 2
Flow 3
Flow 1
Flow 4
North – South Sectional view through Solapur City and surrounding
(Schematic diagram)
Flow no. 1 - ~ 470 meters & above
Flow no. 2 - ~ 470 meters ~ 440 meters
Flow no. 3 - ~ 440 meters ~ 410 meters
Flow no. 4 - ~ 410 meters & below
Flow contacts are normally found favorable for ground water occurrence at depths

24. West
Lat. 17˚40’
Long. 75˚ 45’
East
Lat. 17˚40’
Long. 76˚
Sina R.
Tirhe
Adila nala
Degaon
Main city
N - Kumbhari
West – East Sectional view through Solapur City and surrounding
Flow 1
Flow 2
Flow 3
Flow 4
W - Shingoli
(Schematic diagram)
Flow no. 1 - ~ 470 meters & above
Flow no. 2 - ~ 470 meters ~ 440 meters
Flow no. 3 - ~ 440 meters ~ 410 meters
Flow no. 4 - ~ 410 meters & below
Flow contacts are normally found favorable for ground water occurrence at depths

25. Groundwater as source
Solapur Municipal Corporation is one of the main body in the Maharashtra State
which has successfully launched the extraction of ground water through bore
wells for the public.
Mainly the bore wells are supplied with the hand pumps and very few are with
electric pump. However private bore wells are generally having electric pump
on large scale for pumping of ground water.
In general hand pump working is seasonal and in summer they didn’t work due
to depletion of water table. However they get recharged during monsoon.
As per record of municipal corporation-
1st bore well in Solapur city – in 1975 for 150’ depth
Upto 1977 - 60 bores wells were drilled mainly in old city area.
Upto 2001 - 2195 bore wells were drilled including extended area.
In Solapur city area by electrical resistivity method, three different possible
aquifer zones are investigated. The first one is shallow aquifer met at the depth
of around 10 to 20 mts, or 20 to 40 mts. The second one is at deeper depths
meeting at either 60 to 80mts. or 80 to 100mts. The third one is at still deeper
depth of 120 to130 mts. or 140 to150 mts.

26. Of these the shallow aquifer is found to get recharged during regular
monsoon, while the other two at depths are normally not recharged and
are probably stock waters.
Reduction in percolation quantity and there by in storage due to
urbanization, metallic & tarring of roads, concrete buildings, hardening
and packing of grounds etc. caused depletion in ground water
availability.
Earlier in 1980 and 1990’s bore wells of about 100’ depth were sufficient
in general for a small unit of 5 to 6 members of family, with daily
requirement of about 500 To 600 liters per day. However with present
situations, bores are yielding very less water or no water or
intermittently stock water if is available through weak percolation, does
not full fill the needs.
However some bores are with depth of 300’ to 500’, which are tried in
different areas by few individuals, contractors, and industrialist are
yielding good waters. However it is found that these are having short
duration and a temporary phase. The success rate of good yield of
bores for relatively long duration is around 4 to 6 %.

27. However only 5% bores waters are considered usable
for drinking purpose as per Standards i.e.95% are only
usable waters.
However the individual householders / fiat owners,
societies industries, commercial centers etc. have
drilled bore wells in their private area as standby or as
regular source mainly in extended areas where
corporation filter water is not available
It is roughly estimated that probably there are total
about 10,000 bore well drilled in the city area of which
nearly 60% are seasonal and with low discharge
(about 200 to 500 lit/day) nearly 30% are giving
medium discharge (about 500 to 2000 lit /day) while
nearly 10% are with high to very high discharge (more
than 2000 lit /day)

28. As per review study it is estimated that nearly 3 MLD water is
made available through groundwater resources.
Presently with consecutive drought years and more extraction of
ground water more than 60% of bore wells have been modified to
low to very low or no yield.
With improper casing or damage of casing mixing of sewerage
water, industrial liquid waste etc. these bore waters get polluted.
The maintenance of these bores is very poor or nil.
The quality of bore water is not regularly examined and no data
on standards is available, though the water is used for drinking,
washing, household and by many industrial sectors too.
Ground water quality is deteriorating in many parts of the city.
With no regular quality check up, the bore waters are used
without any information by the citizens especially in adverse
situations, even for drinking purpose with out any treatment. This
has produced health regards in these parts.

29. In different part of the city where the water are low to
moderately polluted, include areas around MIDC areas and
small scale hand looms & power looms & dying industries
running through the residential houses and quarters mainly
concentrated in eastern part of the city, the wells & bore
water are polluted with traces of toxic compounds, metals &
metalloids complexes.
In and around the main Shelgi nala in parts of NE, North,
NW and western part of the city the wells and bore water at
places are of saline in nature due to thick black soil cover
and sewerage mixing.
In southern part of the city the water are relatively good but
are naturally medium hard. It is an extension area, with no
proper under ground drainage system. There is fear of
mixing of surface drainage water with ground water and may
pollute the source.