Integrated Groundwater Potential and Quality Assessment in Pezu Dara Using Geophysical, GIS, and Hydrochemical Approaches
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Abstract
Global climate change, increasing water demand, and rapid urbanization pose significant threats to groundwater sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. Globally, approximately four billion people face water scarcity, with many developing countries, including Pakistan, struggling to ensure access to clean water. This study employs a comprehensive approach integrating surface and subsurface geophysical methods (electrical resistivity survey and borehole logs) with GIS-based Multi-Influencing Factor (MIF) analysis and hydrochemical assessment to evaluate groundwater potential and quality in the semi-arid Bannu Basin, Pezu Darra, Lakki Marwat District, northern Pakistan. Within a GIS framework, parameters such as slope, lineament density, drainage density, elevation, distance from rivers, topographic wetness index (TWI), land use/land cover, lithology, and rainfall were incorporated to assess groundwater potential. Additionally, 20 Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) stations and borehole geophysical logs from two tube wells were analyzed to reveal the subsurface aquifer system and groundwater potential zones. Furthermore, nine water samples were analyzed for ten physicochemical parameters. The results indicate that 3.1% of the study area falls within a very low groundwater potential zone, while 11.83%, 63.81%, and 21.26% correspond to low, moderate, and high potential zones, respectively. In the western part of the study area, high-potential aquifers occur at depths of approximately 170 m, whereas in the eastern part, which represents a very low potential zone, aquifers occur at depths of about 235 m. Hydraulic properties of the layers overlying the aquifer were calculated from VES data to evaluate protective capacity. The longitudinal conductance ranges from 0.5 to 2.9 mhos, and the transverse resistance varies from 13,711 to 101,622 Ω·m², indicating heterogeneous aquifer protection. Overall, the findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating geospatial and geophysical techniques with hydrochemical analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of groundwater potential and quality. These insights are crucial for sustainable water resource management, informed groundwater development, and climate-resilient planning in semi-arid regions.
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