Assessing the potential of underground storage of flood water: A case study from Southern Punjab Region in Pakistan
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Abstract:
An intensively irrigated area in southern part of Punjab Province, Pakistan, has been selected by the Punjab Irrigation Department (PID) to implement a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) project. This project involves diverting floodwater from the Islam Headwork on Sutlej River into the abandoned Mailsi Canal. Utilizing various structures such as depressions, abandoned canals, flood channels, open fields, and deserts for MAR can reduce the flood intensity while recharging aquifer and wetlands. The study area, known for its fertile lands and serving as a food basket for the Punjab Province, is experiencing groundwater depletion at the rate of 0.30 m to 0.70 m per year, significantly increasing pumping costs. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of the sites for the MAR project and assess the storage capacity of the aquifer for floodwater retention. Historical groundwater level data from 25 observation wells across an area of 1,522 km2 were analysed, with the study area divided in to 25 polygons using ArcMap10.6 software. Specific yield method was employed to assess the available storage capacity of the aquifer. Results indicate that the site is suitable for MAR and has the potential to store approximately 1.88 km3 of floodwater as of 2020, thereby reducing flood intensity and enhancing eco-hydrogeological conditions. MAR is identified as a Nature-Based Solution (NBS) for both flood mitigation and groundwater sustainability.
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Key words:
- Groundwater /
- Managed Aquifer Recharge /
- Indus River Basin /
- Aquifer /
- Vehari /
- Punjab /
- Pakistan
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Table 1. Statistics of DTWT below natural land surface from 2015–2020
Parameter *Pre 2015 **Post 2015 Pre 2016 Post 2016 Pre 2017 Post 2017 Pre 2018 Post 2018 Pre 2019 Post 2019 Pre 2020 Post 2020 Max 23.2 22.6 23.8 22.6 23.8 22.7 24.0 22.7 24.1 22.8 24.3 22.8 Min 5.6 6.0 5.6 6.0 5.8 5.9 6.1 6.0 6.2 6.2 6.3 6.2 Avg 16.6 16.4 16.7 16.6 16.8 16.8 17.0 17.0 17.2 17.1 17.4 17.1 STDDEV 4.5 4.3 4.6 4.4 4.5 4.3 4.5 4.3 4.5 4.4 4.6 4.4 Notes: *Pre monsoon; **Post monsoon 
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Table 2. Statistics of DTWL during Post-Monsoon periods from 2015 to 2020
Total Water level Rise/fall in Post monsoon in 5 years (m) Drop/Rise in water level in Post monsoon in per year (m) Max 3.49 0.70 Min −1.49 −0.30 Avg 0.75 0.15 STDDEV 0.97 0.19
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Table 3. Statistics of DTWL in Pre-Monsoon periods from 2015 to 2020
Total Water level Rise/fall in Pre monsoon in 5 years (m) Drop/Rise in water level in Pre monsoon in per year (m) Max 2.08 0.42 Min −5.16 −1.03 Avg. −0.87 −0.17 STDDEV 1.13 0.23
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Table 4. GWRP for the period of pre-2015 to pre-2020 at different locations in the study area
Parameter Area of polygon
(km2)Natural Surface Level
(NSL) (m-amsl)GWRP (BCM) Pre-2020 Pre-2019 Pre-2018 Pre-2017 Pre-2016 Pre-2015 Total 1522 1.88 1.85 1.82 1.79 1.78 1.76 Max 111.83 148 0.186 0.185 0.184 0.183 0.182 0.181 Min 18.69 134 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.000 −0.001 −0.002 Avg 55.88 139 0.075 0.074 0.073 0.072 0.071 0.070 STD 26.66 4 0.047 0.047 0.046 0.046 0.045 0.045
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Table 5. GWRP for the period of post-2015 to post-2020
Parameter Area of polygon
(km2)Natural Surface Level
(NSL) (m-amsl)GWRP (BCM) Post-2020 Post-2019 Post-2018 Post-2017 Post-2016 Post-2015 Total 1522 1.87 1.85 1.83 1.80 1.77 1.74 Max 111.83 148 0.176 0.175 0.174 0.173 0.172 0.172 Min 18.69 134 0.000 −0.001 −0.001 −0.001 −0.002 −0.004 Avg 55.88 139 0.075 0.074 0.073 0.072 0.071 0.069 STD 26.66 4 0.047 0.047 0.046 0.046 0.045 0.044
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