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Electrical resistivity surveys to delineate groundwater potential aquifers in Peddavanka watershed, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Vertical electrical resistivity soundings were conducted in order to delineate groundwater potential aquifers in Peddavanka watershed, which is a catchment of about 398 km2 in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The main lithologic units in the watershed are quartzite, limestone, shale, and alluvium. Ninety-nine vertical electrical soundings were conducted using the Schlumberger configuration, covering the entire watershed. The data were interpreted with the help of master curves and auxiliary point charts. Interpretations of VES were used to generate a top layer apparent resistivity contour map and longitudinal conductance map. Isoresistivity contour maps were prepared and interpreted in terms of resistivity and thickness of various sub-surface layers using computer software (SURFER), and isocontour diagrams depicting the depth to bedrock were prepared. Resistivity results were correlated with the existing lithology. Based on the depth to bedrock, the thickness of the saturated layer and the resistivity of the second layer, a groundwater potential map has been prepared, in which good, moderate, and poor zones are classified. The study reveals that the weathered and fractured portions in shale and limestone that occur in the southernmost and central portions of the watershed area constitute the productive water-bearing zones categorized as good groundwater potential aquifers.

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Acknowledgements

I gratefully acknowledge Dr. V.P. Dimri, Director of NGRI, for his constant encouragement and consent to publish this work. I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. P.K. Govil, Sri. G.L.N. Reddy and Dr. N.N. Murthy, Environmental Geochemistry Division, NGRI, for their constructive comments and useful suggestions. I owe my deep sense of indebtedness to Dr. A.S. Sudheer, Dept. of Geology and Dr. S. Srinivasulu, Dept. of Geography, S.V. University, Tirupati for their worthy guidance with their untiring initiative in completion of this work. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Sri. A. Chakravarthi, NGRI, for his sagacious suggestions and for improving the quality of work. The financial assistance provided by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, through the award of my Research Associate fellowship is gratefully acknowledged. I also thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive review of the manuscript and for editorial revision.

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  1. Environmental Geochemistry Group, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, India - 500 007

    S. Srinivasa Gowd

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  1. S. Srinivasa Gowd
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Srinivasa Gowd, S. Electrical resistivity surveys to delineate groundwater potential aquifers in Peddavanka watershed, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Env Geol 46, 118–131 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1023-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1023-2

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