Assessment of Groundwater behavior in Kulpahar Watershed, District Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, India

In hard rock terrain, the groundwater occurs in two zones viz. shallow zone (in overburden) and deeper fractured zones mainly through secondary porosity. The groundwater level through 23 observation wells (fifteen dug wells and eight piezometers) has been monitored during pre and post-monsoon periods. An attempt has been made to evaluate the impact of rainfall on the groundwater level in the hard rock area of Mahoba district in the Bundelkhand region. The study depicts the impact of rainfall over the long-term groundwater level trend and establishes a conceptual structure to understand the hydrological stress conditions. Due to overexploitation, the groundwater condition has reached to the category of a critical stage. The severity and duration of water-level responses to hydrologic stresses have been analyzed statistically as well as graphically. The groundwater level is spatially and temporally variable in hard rock area and essentially depends upon the amount of rainfall, geological condition, and topographic slope. The analyzed rainfall data have been graded as a good year and bad year based on the amount of precipitation. The long-term groundwater level trend (2006-2016) indicates a sharp decline in groundwater level trend in the western part due to higher base flow and poor recharge. On the other hand, due to the presence of thicker overburden and runoff accumulation therein, the groundwater level is rising in the northern part of the study area. It also validates that there is very fair control of slope and thickness of overburden on the groundwater regime apart from the rainfall.